U.S. moves to strengthen local Afghan officials - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

U.S. moves to strengthen local Afghan officials

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials are rushing to strengthen local governments across southern Afghanistan before the weather warms and militants have a chance to launch a fresh round of attacks.

Henry Ensher, the top U.S. civilian in the region, told reporters Thursday that the next few months are crucial to building local civilian governments that can win the population’s support. The senior State Department official in the region said the military has created a “security bubble” that, for the first time, has enabled local residents to meet with government officials and one another without Taliban influence.

“We are making progress,” Ensher told Pentagon reporters via satellite from Kandahar Airfield. “And you can see that even just by the number of people who interact with the district governors on a daily basis. It’s gone from zero to really significant numbers every day.”

The creation of a stable and effective government in Afghanistan is considered the linchpin of U.S. plans to exit the war. But the effort has been slower and more cumbersome than anticipated. In a bid to hasten progress, the focus has shifted from propping up the federal government in Kabul to empowering influential tribal elders in towns like Kandahar and Marjah once controlled by the Taliban.

Army Maj. Gen. James Terry, the coalition commander for forces in southern Afghanistan, said he estimates some 200 to 300 Taliban fighters remain around the city of Kandahar. While they no longer control the area, they continue to threaten locals to keep them from cooperating with the new government, he said.

“We have made definite progress, but we also acknowledge that it is fragile and perhaps can be reversed,” Terry told reporters.

While senior U.S. officials have expressed optimism on the war in recent weeks, they are reluctant to say when troops can leave. Obama has promised to begin pulling troops out in July, although he hasn’t said how many or how fast they will leave.

Ensher predicted Thursday that the window of opportunity would close if the U.S. reduced its troop presence too soon.

“I think it’s going to be important for some time to maintain a really strong level of commitment and partnership,” he said.

Terry said he doesn’t expect troop figures to drop significantly in southern Afghanistan any time soon.

“From my standpoint, we will be standing tall here through 2011,” Terry said.