The roles and mission of U.S. forces in Afghanistan continue to be the subject of intense debates in political and defense circles. This week the Marine Corps University at Quantico hosted a two-day symposium entitled “Shaping for Successful Transition in Afghanistan.” The symposium drew some of the key players in this effort from around the world to our area.
Among the distinguished academics and government officials in attendance was the first day’s conference keynote speaker, Marine General James Mattis, who, as Commander of U.S. Central Command, exercises command over U.S. forces in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. In his address, General Mattis stated that the timeline for the U.S. and NATO to turn over responsibility for Afghan security to that country’s forces by 2014 could be met.
I would not have expected the General to say anything different, since he is charged with carrying out that policy and making it work. What was more interesting was what the General said during the Q&A session following his speech. He bluntly told the audience that we “face a strategic deficit” in the U.S., meaning that this country no longer possesses leaders who are capable of thinking in strategic terms.
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