Combat Power for Afghanistan Published Aug. 20, 2009 By Col. Gary Goldstone 375th Airlift Wing commander SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill -- Today, Aug. 20, is election day in Afghanistan where voters will decide on a new president, and where our American servicemembers are helping to provide security and defend against continued Taliban attacks. Our nation continues to ramp up its missions there in an effort, as President Obama said, to refocus on the war against al-Qaida and its extremist allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are marking the eighth year of our involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom, and we are seeing more of our troops being sent to that region. Team Scott has more than 700 people deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan performing various missions, and we know that both of those areas are still hostile environments for our Airmen. In Afghanistan, the Taliban ruled there until 2001 when the U.S.-led invasion drove it from power, but it has continued to be a cultural force aimed at undermining the country's central government. Recent reports of infighting among the Taliban has helped to weaken its structure, but many Taliban leaders are able to evade capture and the movement continues to exert enormous influence over the people. That is one reason why our Chief of Staff is asking us to read what he calls "a fascinating chronicle" about Afghanistan, called "Afghanistan: A Short History of its People and Politics," by Sir Martin Ewans. Mr. Ewans examines the historical evolution of Afghanistan, from a succession of early dynasties through the Soviet invasion, civil war, and the birth of the Taliban and its support of al-Qaeda. The book concludes with initial OEF victories, and provides a warning to take the long view toward Afghanistan's future. The Chief advises that it's a must read for anyone deploying to the region. There are many strategic successes which are not broadcast in mainstream media; however, it is still a difficult fight as the drug trade there flourishes while the country continues to try to build a stable central government and infrastructure. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, said that security, governance, civil rights and essential services have improved greatly over the past year, yet acknowledged that security efforts were under-resourced. It is indeed a situation that we must understand and watch closely. Our Airmen are operating in a dangerous environment, and they are doing an extraordinary job as demonstrated by the U.S. Air Force, which has a significant presence in the region. Just last week there were F-15s and unmanned aerial systems providing 83 close-air-support missions for Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols, and C-130 and C-17 combat airlift that brought in 474 short tons of cargo, of which 146,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan. Air Force refueling crews flew 50 sorties and off-loaded 2.6 million pounds of fuel to 205 receiver aircraft. That's Enabling Combat Power! However, we still have a tough road ahead. President Obama said, "The insurgency in Afghanistan didn't just happen overnight. And we won't defeat it overnight. But we must never forget. This is not a war of choice. This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9-11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al-Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans." Our job is to be equipped, trained and ready to respond to the call whenever and wherever needed. Admiral Mullen recently visited troops serving in Afghanistan and told them they were serving at a pivotal time in the war on terrorism. "You are living in a great time of change in Afghanistan, and leading in this time of change is absolutely critical. I believe with the depth of my heart and soul that we can succeed here. We've got to be patient and focused on protecting the Afghan people." I ask that you continue to be ready to provide precise combat capability to the warfighter ... always. Our upcoming mobility exercise is aimed to do just that. It's not just an exercise, it's to support those who are already in the fight with boots on the ground and iron in the air. As our leaders have said, we're in this for the long haul, so let's stay focused so we can help them win today's fight.