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GAO-10-178R 1 (2009-11-05)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaanqc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: A ~GAO Accountibiity , Integrity I Reliabflity United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 November 5, 2009 Congressional Committees Subject: Afghanistan's Security Environment In March 2009, out of concern that the overall security situation in Afghanistan had not improved after more than 7 years of U.S. and international efforts, the administration completed a 60-day strategic review of U.S. policy and the security environment in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Based on this review, and recognizing the vital U.S. interest in addressing security threats posed by extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the administration announced a strategic goal of disrupting, dismantling, and eventually defeating these extremists and eliminating their safe havens in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.2 Subsequently, in August 2009, the United States issued an integrated civilian-military campaign plan for support to Afghanistan. The strategy and campaign plan call for, among other things, the execution of an integrated counterinsurgency mission and continued efforts to build the capacity of military and civilian elements of the Afghan government to lead counterinsurgency and counterterrorism efforts and provide internal security for the Afghan people. Accordingly, the focus for U.S. forces in Afghanistan will be to (1) secure Afghanistan from insurgent and terrorist threats and (2) rapidly train Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF)4 to lead military and law enforcement operations. We have previously reported on security conditions in Afghanistan and the need for additional personnel to help build capable ANSF.5 This report provides updated information on (1) the security situation as gauged by trends in enemy-initiated attacks, (2) challenges for U.S. reconstruction efforts posed by security conditions, and (3) the recent increase in U.S. and coalition troop presence. To address these objectives, we incorporated information from our past and continuing work; 1A subsequent assessment of the situation in Afghanistan by the commander of the iternational Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan is currently under way. The commander's initial assessment was completed in August 2009. 'The President announced his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan on March 27, 2009. 3GAO is currently performing a separate congressionally mandated review of the U.S. campaign plan for Afghanistan. 4The ANSF consists of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police. We reported on U.S. efforts to develop capable ANSF in June 2008. See GAO, Afghanistan Security: Further Congressional Action May Be Needed to Ensure Completion of a Detailed Plan to Develop and Sustain Capable Afghan National Security Forces, GAO-08-661 (Washington, D.C.: June 18, 2008). 5See GAO, Afghanistan: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight, GAO-09-473SP (Washington, D.C.: Apr. 21, 2009). GAO-10-178R Afghanistan's Security Environment Page I

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