War Games

" We're also learning now about secret war games recently conducted regarding the war in Afghanistan. The Pentagon testing to different military strategies currently under consideration by President Obama. One calls for boosting troop levels by about 44000. The other would -- just about 10000 more US troops. All of this as the president is holding another strategy session with -- national security team. Regarding the war in Afghanistan. Joining us now lieutenant colonel Tony. Director of external communications for the center for advanced studies. He worked with -- general Stanley McChrystal and served two tours of duty. In Afghanistan. Tony a little confused about something because it's my understanding that you don't really like either one of these war game proposals being put forward and yet. Isn't one of them the larger one to 44000 troops isn't that the one that your old boss general McChrystal once to a --"

" And actually is and I think he has clear rationale why he needs that number and his own justification -- report. The -- established a shadow government so frankly we are way behind the power curve what he's trying to accomplish. Is to get ahead of that and clearly that's the most critical thing at this point in time is essentially like it when you have -- cut off to got to stop the bleeding has always try to do. Now neither scenario necessarily really adequately. Looks at all the issues relating to how we need to created its strategy for success. One talking about focus on care counterterrorism. Really requires we look at Pakistan and what's going on there. And right now -- you are aware there's currently an offensive going on by the Pakistan army trying to go to safe haven so we really can't adequately. War game until we know the results of that that effort. And more importantly when we look at the whole picture we need to look at -- not only the the colleague Bob overreact but the -- Afghan government. And frankly one of the old sayings is garbage in garbage out if you don't understand. The player here you're dealing with you -- won't necessarily get the predicted results necessary to judge the right path ahead I think. That's my biggest concern right now is almost -- paralysis by analysis. -- how important are these upcoming elections the runoff elections between Hamid Karzai and his challenger in determining which strategy employed. Well I think they're hugely important by the fact that we have to focus on. Took the stability of the country not necessarily what candidate wins were not there to build democracy where they -- to build stability. So I think we need to be seen as an honest broker we need to allow things to happen like they're supposed to and then come out and and really try to focus on how to. Fulfill what from crystal talks about securing the Afghan population against the insurgency so if we we need to watch carefully but. Try to have. The appearance and reality of being totally hands off to let the let the people of Afghanistan do what they wish regarding their leadership. I know from my brief time over there you know one of the problems is that the Afghan -- Taliban don't necessarily where. Uniforms it's not like even maybe the mafia in this country you know Taliban can be somebody's uncle somebody's cousin. As there they are very per nation is in the relationships today that they have over there just just because the tribal nature of the society. It's pretty tough to root out that kind of an enemy isn't. Waksal will lay and as part of the problem I've talked to folks who have been embedded with the college bond. And there's actually accounts for a brother on a -- on site will also -- on the Afghan army sides say don't shoot on this area of the battlefield because front going to be yet. This is like that this is like our civil war we have truly family split on both sides. -- we need to do is focus on creating favorable economic conditions to help the government sustain itself. The papers military and helping Afghan people and I think that's the real path when he be focusing on and I'm not quite sure we're there yet both regarding strategy and military troop strength I think we need to do a lot more -- But you say we need to play offense as opposed to sitting back and -- defects. Yes the US army has never won a defensive battle we've never achieve ultimate victory by being on the defense so clearly we got to find a path to do that. Again I'm not sure if that the current scenario really will adequately allow us to return to the offensive. Both Harris really are a defensive focus so we've really got to. Find a way to refocus on the offensive issues go after the original objectives bin Laden. Terrorist leadership and find a way to to achieve real really coming off the head of the adversary. At at and that's were we need to be much better focused on a cross border issues related to Pakistan. And -- a very tough. Not to crack really. I remember when our helicopter touchdown and one of these remote villages in Afghanistan the army colonel who was with me last year's and welcome to the eight century and that really seem to be true. How do you talk about building up an economy in in a nation that he's really super. That's one of those challenges we have to face what the American who have with the United Nations and the NATO communities. There are elements of -- that the Afghan government really doing good -- Afghan government itself is doing good things in this area. We need to find a way to enhance the Afghan government success and and helping bring economic success building wells building schools to these remote villages. And I think that's what we can do it incrementally and this is one of those long term things which is not going to be fixed overnight but is fixable but again we have to do with the Afghan government not independently. And we at the same time we're doing -- to find a way to get back on the offensive and again. The way we're talking about this right now I'm not sure we're really adequately identified as issues. Nor do we understand necessarily the actual fabric of the adversary and Afghan government and don't forget was have been going on for eight years now. We have made some huge missteps by not understanding. The college -- and understanding Afghan government -- I know viewers are interested can read more on your website Tony Schieffer from the center for advanced defense studies and."