Respecting Locals Key To Winning In Afghanistan, Says Admiral Mullen

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told soldiers at Fort Campbell today to focus on war’s human side to win in Afghanistan.

That means taking special precautions to keep civilians out of harm’s way, as well as fostering respect among Afghans.

Admiral Mike Mullen says a successful counter-insurgency doesn’t win by killing enemies so much as by stymieing their recruitment efforts. That means attracting local support, and Mullen says speaking the language is key.

“Anyone who makes an effort to speak that language, even haltingly, even butchering it – The people in those countries really, really respect that, and appreciate that.”

Mullen also noted a change this year in the rules for when soldiers can go after insurgents. He credits that for a drop in civilian casualties, while acknowledging it may make things harder for soldiers.

In the long run, Mullen says, it will save lives by turning the conflict around more quickly.

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Mullen also spoke to the demands of two ongoing wars before the assembly of about seven hundred soldiers. He noted rapid deployments have contributed to a spiking suicide rate, calling the problem “vexing.”

“What is clear now, obviously, for me anyway, is the pressure of these wars and these deployments have ratcheted up this suicide rate to a level that we absolutely must figure out how to start making it go down.”

Earlier this fall, Fort Campbell posted the highest suicide rate of any Army installation.

Mullen says in the next year, time at home will increase slightly, particularly for the Army. But he says the Army won’t reach its goal of keeping soldiers home twice as long as they’re deployed until at least 2011.