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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, engaged national media via satellite here highlighting the one-year mark of Operation Moshtarak in Marjah, Feb. 14.
The commander also addressed a variety of topics on the war in Afghanistan, to include an update on the situation in Marjah, security in the Sangin District, what RC(SW) has accomplished during the last year, and future allocation of military forces around southern Afghanistan.
Mills talked about how the coalition forces’ steady progress in security and the impact of the surge have essentially won the battle for Marjah.
“A year ago it was the Taliban capital of Helmand province, a completely controlled Taliban area,” he said. “That has changed 180 degrees in the past year, and it’s now a small farm town that is vibrant with five bazaars (markets) with a great number of customers and business on every day of the week. It’s a great success story by the government of Afghanistan and what they have done to stand up a secure environment.”
The general highlighted the importance of Marjah, explaining how during the past year coalition and Afghan forces have routed the Taliban from the town which has allowed numerous changes to take place.
On recent visits with tribal elders, especially in the Sangin District which is conservative in nature, Mills said the elders are asking for schools to be built and want their women to attend.
“This is a rural area, an area in which the Taliban wouldn’t allow [women] to go to school, and now we’re seeing a growth in the female population, which is very heartening. We estimate over 20,000 young girls are going to school this year within the province,” he said.
The commander spoke about the security situation a year ago compared to where it is today.
He said if you look back a year ago when the surge began, there was a very robust insurgency network in place that controlled the province. Since then, the Taliban have suffered defeats by coalition and Afghan security forces. The population has turned on the Taliban and now many areas of the province are secure and government agencies are beginning to flourish.
Due to increased security in the province, future forces may be allocated to different locations based on where territory will need to be secured, according to the general.
“If we continue on the path that General Petraeus has laid down, we continue to use that glide slope as we raise the caliber of the Afghan army, as we raise the caliber of the Afghan security police forces and as we raise the caliber of the Afghan local governments to take over, I think that there is a time in the not too foreseeable future where we can begin to move our forces away,” said Mills.
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2011 08:59 |
| Story ID: | 65515 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 504 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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