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On the heels of the deadliest month ever for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal submitted a report to the Pentagon Monday on what he believes needs to be done to win the war.
The classified report has fueled speculation of a forthcoming request for more soldiers. But could a revamped strategy offer another way?
We’re tracking perspectives from CNN’s Situation Room, France 24, Al Jazeera English, and the BBC on what the top commander of NATO forces might have in mind.
CNN exemplifies much of the coverage in the American media, focusing on how the report may impact troop levels on the ground.
“General Stanley McChrystal also says that there needs to be a unity of effort in that not just more NATO troops but troops that restrictions placed on them by their countries on where and how they can fight.”
But France 24 correspondent Jerome Stareky says NATO forces don’t necessarily need to be increased, but rather put to a different purpose.
“Less about killing the Taliban and the insurgencies and more about protecting ordinary people from those insurgents. Those are the people they need to win over in order to win this war.”
Al Jazeera English offers a similar perspective, reaching out to Afghan Member of Parliament Mir Ahmed Joyanda about how to develop people’s confidence in their government.
“The human secret is very important. Beside we have to protect them from the fighting, from the fighting, from everything. We have to protect them from the anger, from the poverty, from unemployment, from joblessness.”
Finally, the BBC talks with a source on the ground – Afghan minister Wais Barmak – who puts forth a unique suggestion on how to handle the Taliban. “We want to engage more of the Taliban, that has to be consulted with the main Afghan institutions.”
How do you think the U.S. should handle the war in Afghanistan? Are more troops needed, or a new strategy?
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