Military Transport is Under the Weather

The U.S. military’s Afghan surge has clearly made its way to Bagram. This place is jamming with all kinds of folks in uniform newly arrived in-country. The military transportation system appears to be groaning under the weight of the burden, with weather adding to the hassles.

A producer from the CBS show “60 Minutes” has been trying to get to FOB Salerno for five days, but can’t get a seat on a flight. Adding to the problem is low cloud cover and rain in the south that’s kept both helicopters and fixed wing transport (airplanes) from flying into the area.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a problem with the assets as much as it is with the weather,” says Capt. Scot Keith, a public affairs officer at Bagram. “It’s just a difficult time to move around right now.”

Afghan Desk is scheduled to head out of here on a helicopter tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for an on-time departure.

The Problem

When Vice President Biden went to Afghanistan a few months back he found what many who travel to that country discover: the U.S. agenda there is about as clear as a bug splattered windshield.

According to the New York Times, after his trip to Afghanitsan, Biden “observed to Mr. Obama that if you asked 10 people on the ground what American objectives were, [you] would get 10 different answers.”

This is the root of the problem for NATO forces. How can victory be attained when so few can even define that term succinctly?

Last weekend the president unveiled a new plan that hopefully will narrow the scope of U.S. and NATO initiatives in Afghanistan.

Let’s just hope that the guys on the ground get the memo. Otherwise, they’re the ones who’ll be left holding the bag.