General: Afghan Forces Hold Key to Success

By Jim Garamone WASHINGTON, July 22, 2008 – Training Afghan security forces is the key to success in the country, but the effort continues to be plagued by a shortage of trainers, the general in charge of that training said today. Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of the Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, said Afghanistan has “made positive strides in fielding professional security forces that are competent, diverse and capable of providing security,” but that much remains to be done. Cone spoke to reporters gathered at the Foreign Press Center here in a teleconference from Kabul. The command is responsible for training Afghan soldiers and police. The Afghan National Army is doing quite well, Cone said, but the police need continued work. The idea, the general said, is to get the Afghans in the lead. “I... [read full story]