Rather than sending thousands more American soldiers, the U.S. should spend its money on enlarging Afghanistan’s army and law enforcement, say police officials from some of the country’s most violent regions. Local police insist a surge in U.S. personnel will only reinforce the fear among Afghans that America is an occupying power bent on staying.

“It is very hard for local people to accept any foreigners who come to our country and say they are fighting for our freedom,” General Azizudin Wardak, the police chief in Paktia province, told the Associated Press. “To give the idea that they are not invaders, that they are not occupiers, is very difficult.”

Army General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, has told Washington he needs more troops, or else the war against the Taliban could be lost. McChrystal has also said the Afghan army should be larger, from the 134,000 soldiers that local commanders want to a force of 240,000.

The call for fewer troops by Afghan police comes in light of the fact that many citizens have accused their local law enforcement representatives of corruption and have expressed relief when seeing American or international forces accompanying police on joint patrols.
                                                                                                                                                      -Noel Brinkerhoff

Afghan Police Question Need for More U.S. Troops (by Jason Straziuso and Rahim Faiez, Associated Press)
What Do You Do When the Taliban is Less Corrupt than the Afghan Police Force? (by Daniel R. DePetris)