Fletcher Features
General Petraeus Sees Ways to “Turn Around a Tough Situation”
As politicians in Washington fiercely debate the future of the war in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus told a Fletcher audience on September 24th that there are ways to “turn around a tough situation” there.
Petraeus, who first rose to national prominence as the face of the “surge” strategy in Iraq, now oversees military forces from the Middle East to Central Asia as commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). He spoke to a luncheon sponsored by the International Security Studies Program (ISSP) during a week of heavy political debate over Afghanistan strategy and days after the Washington Post printed a report by Gen. Stanley McChrystal that sought troops and warned that without them, the mission “will likely result in failure.”
Petraeus fielded questions by students, military fellows, and faculty about current challenges in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility.
Professor Antonia Chayes asked General Petraeus about corruption in Afghanistan and how it affects our mission in that country.
While Petraeus said he was reluctant to give his thoughts on an ongoing debate about the merits of counterinsurgency as opposed to a counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan, he reiterated that the United States was committed to Afghanistan’s security.
Stating that he believed there were three ways the U.S. could “turn around a tough situation,” he listed strengthening the Afghan national security forces, separating reconcilable elements of the insurgency from the “irreconcilables,” and increasing the size of international coalition forces in the country. Petraeus emphasized that the comments made during the luncheon were not official statements of policy.
Fletcher MALD student Naureen Kabir asked Petraeus about the role India played in the Afghanistan-Pakistan security situation. Petraeus commented that India was critical, and Pakistan’s focus on India had, at times, diverted attention away from its internal extremists. Petraeus, further stated that the US should do anything it could to “reduce tensions between India and Pakistan,” which included promoting trade between the two countries and building their relationship by reforming the old narrative of hostility.
Later, Lt. Col. Rob Bortree USAF, a Fletcher military fellow, asked the general for insights on perceived shortcomings in the United States’ strategic communications process, and how those are being addressed in regards to Afghanistan. Petraeus noted that there was a rethinking of the role media plays in the war and how the U.S. puts out information to the world.
He said that the guiding principle of the military’s use of strategic communications has become “first with the truth,” implying that past efforts to filter news were incongruent with a values-focused approach to conflict.
Petraeus said that an end to “hierarchal approval” of information operations is beginning , and all activities involving the dissemination of information are to be guided by facts on the ground.
Other questions throughout the lunch touched upon sea piracy, concerns about terrorist safe havens, the use of intelligence fusion cells, and strengthening the civil-military relationship.
The general concluded the discussion with a note about having realistic objectives in Afghanistan, which included the need to generate “positive momentum” from the international community; and instead of looking for a clear-cut victory, decision-makers were looking simply to achieve modest levels of progress.
The discussion was led by ISSP director Professor Richard Schultz, who began with an introduction of Petraeus that included some personal anecdotes about their experiences in academia together and Petraeus's connections to the Fletcher School through work done with former Dean, retired American general John Galvin.
Schultz expressed Fletcher’s gratitude for the visit by awarding General Petraeus with an ISSP commemorative coin. The favor was returned by Petraeus who, likewise, awarded Professor Schultz and the ISSP staff with his own coin of appreciation.
Billie Bender, F10