U.S. senators visit focal point of new strategy in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

01.16.2010

Story by Sgt. Stephen Decatur 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan- A delegation of U.S. Senators including former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Homeland Security Committee chairman Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, visited the Operational Coordination Center- District in the Arghandab river valley Jan. 7 near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Also accompanying the group were International Security Assistance Force commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, and Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

Lt. Col. Frank Jenio, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and others including Col. Baluch, commander of 3rd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 205th Corps, Afghan National Army briefed the group about the situation in the Arghandab and the purpose of the OCCD.

"If we're working together and planting roots in the population [the Taliban] are absolutely going to lose," Jenio said.

The OCCD is a combined headquarters in the Arghandab where coalition and Afghan forces live and work together in order to synchronize counterinsurgency efforts and increase the level of cooperation between agencies. The facility was built during the past month as part of an effort by coalition and Afghan forces to establish a permanent presence in Arghandab, which had previously been thinly guarded, and create stability in the districts surrounding Kandahar city. McChrystal's new strategy for Afghanistan hinges around the security of large population centers like Kandahar.

The OCCD won't just serve as a headquarters for combat outposts throughout Arghandab where Afghan and coalition forces are working together to gain the trust of the people and clear out insurgents. ANA, Afghan National Police, U.S. Army, Canadian army, Department of State and Department of Agriculture, the district government will also be located there to ensure better coordination and cooperation between agencies.

Both Jenio and Baluch emphasized to the senators the importance of Afghan and coalition troops being physically in each other's presence and working together to accomplish their mission. Baluch said that because of their different strengths, Afghan Soldiers should lead the way in operations and coalition troops should follow behind to assist when necessary.

"Whenever there's a fight we go together," Baluch said. "Being Afghans, we are familiar with the terrain and the people. It's best for Afghans to lead operations and coalition forces to support with their technology and air power."

After their briefing, the delegation met with Arghandab district leader Hajji Abdul Jabar. Jabar explained to McCain and company that Arghandab is the gate to Kandahar, and many great kings and leaders of nations from Alexander the Great to current Afghan president Hamid Karzai have passed through that gate.

"You may know that I ran for president and lost," McCain said. "I wish I had gone through that gate."

Lieberman, a former vice-presidential candidate was also intrigued.

"We thought we were supposed to start in New Hampshire," Lieberman said.

McCain told Jabar during the meeting that Americans are most proud of their young men and women serving in the armed forces, and that those troops cannot succeed without the help of Afghans. When Lieberman asked Jabar why he chose to serve in the Afghan government when it would be easier and safer to stay at home, Jaber told him that it was because of the young people he sees coming from foreign nations to fight for Afghanistan's future.

"When I see young men and women of coalition forces from all over the world coming to serve and protect our nation, we as Afghans should feel ashamed and embarrassed, with a turban on our head, to just go sit in our homes and do nothing." Jabar said. "We should be the first to [serve] for the protection of our nation and our country."