Afghan Army Chief Seeks Independent Army

Above: Afghan Army soldiers prepare to enter a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Khowst, Afghanistan for air assault training on April 15.

The head of the Afghan National Army said Monday his country is pushing the United States to accelerate training and equipping his army so the Afghans can fight the Taliban on their own.

Gen. Bismullah Khan, the army chief of staff, told reporters traveling with Defense Secretary Robert Gates that the goal of attaining independence on the battlefield is essential.

"We don't have air support," he said through an interpreter, expressing frustration at the lack of an Afghan air force. "That is a very serious problem. We are looking forward to the day when we can fight the enemy independently."

He was asked how soon the army could reach that goal.

"We asked for it to be as soon as possible," he said. "I will ask the secretary of defense to expedite the process so we can do this. The only way to defeat the enemy is to become independent."

Read the rest at the Guardian

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