OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM

Progress:

Since Coalition forces entered Afghanistan Oct 7 th , 2001:

•  Eliminated al Qaeda/terrorism safe havens

•  Removed Taliban from power

•  8.5 million Afghans voted for democratic government

Transition to NATO/International Security Assistance Force:

•  With transfer of authority October 5 th for the eastern provinces, NATO/ISAF forces will be responsible for security assistance for all of Afghanistan .

•  This transfer will improve security and stability operations by improving command and control within country with no less capability.

•  The commander of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan (CFC-A), Lt Gen Karl Eikenberry, will transfer command of Regional Command East (RC-East) to Headquarters NATO/ISAF.

•  Approximately 12,000 US forces already in Afghanistan will come under NATO/ISAF command.

•  Current NATO/ISAF Rules of Engagement are robust and provide commanders with sufficient flexibility to support NATO/ISAF objectives. Essentially, the ROE remains unchanged. U.S. forces assigned to counter-terrorism operations follow separate ROE.

•  10 US Provincial Reconstruction Teams will transfer to NATO/ISAF

•  The US will maintain its enduring missions within Operation Enduring Freedom including:

•  Leading counterterrorism operations

•  Leading the training and equipping of the Afghan National Security Forces

•  Reconstruction

•  Operating a national support element (including capabilities such as combat support, aviation, intelligence, communications, medical, logistics, counter-IED, and USAF air expeditionary wing)

• Approximately 8,000 US troops will continue to perform these OEF missions.

•  The Commander of CFC-A will maintain national command of US forces as the senior US military commander until HQ CFC-A inactivation.

•  With the concurrence of the Commander, U.S. Central Command, and upon the inactivation of HQ CFC-A, Headquarters CJTF-76 will become the United States National Command Element for the Afghanistan Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA). The Commander of CJTF-76 will also be the regional commander of Regional Command East (RC-East).

•  The Commander, Joint Task Force-76 Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley will be dual-hatted as the US operational commander and the NATO/ISAF deputy commander for security. This will ensure proper coordination.

•  Gen. Dan McNeill, USA , will become the NATO/ISAF commander when he replaces British Lt. Gen. Richards in early 2007.

The United States maintains its full commitment to Afghanistan :

•  As a NATO member, the United States will remain the single-largest contributor of troops and military capability.

•  We will maintain our strong capability in support of counter-terrorism missions to strike al Qaeda and its associated movements.

•  US forces will continue to play a central role in the training and equipping of the Afghan National Security Forces

International Contributions Remain Strong :

•  More than 40 countries are contributing troops to the security operations in Afghanistan .

•  As a result of this transfer of authority, ISAF now a force of approximately 33,000 soldiers from 37 nations.

• Each of NATO's 26 members is contributing to the Afghanistan mission – an unprecedented commitment for the Alliance outside of its own borders.

•  This force includes a total of 23 Provincial Reconstruction Teams throughout the country.

Afghan National Security Forces:

• The Afghan National Army is approx. 35,000 strong -- trained and equipped and is well respected by both the Afghan people and the Coalition troops operating with them.
• The Afghan National Army has been integrated into coalition combat operations. It has increased its capability and capacity, especially in the south. The ANA has the lead for security operations in several districts in Zabul Province (RC South).
• The Afghan police force has approximately 46,000 trained and equipped members.

Combating Rising Violence :

•  The strength and influence of the Taliban has grown in some areas, but the Coalition is on the offensive pursuing Taliban extremists, al-Qaeda and their associated movements.

•  The rise in violence is often directly attributable to OEF Coalition, NATO/ISAF and Afghan National Army and Police extending their reach into areas that had previously not know the rule of law for decades. Much of the violence is the result of offense operations designed to set the stage for continued development and extension of the federal government.

•  Not all the violence can be attributed to Taliban, al-Qaeda or associated movements. Some of the violence is due to criminality, tribal strife, land disputes or narco-trafficking.

Counter-narcotics :

•  Illegal narcotics production challenges political and economic reconstruction in Afghanistan .

•  Counter-narcotics is a government of Afghanistan-led program, developed with support from the United Kingdom , which has the international lead on counter-narcotics efforts here.

•  The OEF Coalition provides support, such as intelligence, planning, transportation of interdiction forces, medical evacuation, and close air support, but ultimately counter-narcotics is a law-enforcement effort.

•  Poppy cultivation will remain a problem until Afghanistan has a sound and strong economy, with infrastructure to allow farmers to earn a legitimate living. We need to develop new approaches, including combining law enforcement, alternative crop development in rural areas, and the appropriate eradication of illegal opium poppies.

•  This year's increase in cultivation is very disappointing. The cultivation picture varies between and within provinces - where access to governance, security and development has improved, reductions achieved last year have been sustained and in some cases fallen. This is encouraging and shows that the strategy is working. International community must continue to support it and the Afghans to drive through delivery.

Afghanistan 's Democratic Progress :

•  December 2001 – Bonn agreement establishes Interim Authority

•  June 2002 – Loya Jirga establishes Transitional Authority

•  January 2004 – Constitutional Loya Jirga adopts the new Afghan constitution

•  October 2004 – Presidential elections

•  December 2004 – Hamid Karzai sworn in as president

•  January 2005 – New Cabinet named

•  September 2005 – First National Assembly since 1973 elected and first Provincial Legislatures elected