Article is published in the newspaper Postimees on February 7, 2008

Moving Forward in Afghanistan

Deputy Chief of Mission Karen B. Decker

On Wednesday, the Minister of Defense of Afghanistan, Abdul Rahim Wardak, came to Estonia for discussions with President Ilves, Ministers Aaviksoo and Paet, and other key Estonian leaders. Defense Minister Wardak's visit does, I believe, emphasize the important role Estonia plays as a member of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and should, I hope, also remind us that much more work remains to be done.

In 2006-2007 I had the privilege to work alongside Estonian and other NATO forces at NATO's regional command HQ in southern Afghanistan. During my time in the south, we had a saying -- “Where the road ends, the Taliban begins.” I always used this saying to illustrate the important linkage between development and security. By supporting governance and reconstruction projects, we can push the Taliban farther and farther away from the people, creating room for the legitimate government and international agencies to implement projects aimed at building the economy and promoting basic freedoms and human rights.

Security was, and remains, an urgent priority for Afghanistan. To this end, Estonian troops – along with other NATO forces and the Afghan National Army – are defeating the Taliban and other extremists seeking to undermine the Government of Afghanistan. The United States has been an important leader in the multi-national effort to create a secure situation on the ground. In fact, this spring, the United States will send an additional 3,200 Marines to reinforce the progress that has been made -- 2,000 for combat missions in the south and 1,000 more trainers for Operation Enduring Freedom, focused primarily on Afghanistan's police forces. We want to see even more resources devoted to Afghanistan, which is why at the NATO summit in April we will be asking our NATO allies to make matching commitments of their own.

But to finally and forever defeat the extremists, military power must be linked to development and governance. Our battlefield victories must be met by civilian progress in building the institutions of government and providing the Afghan government with the ability to create a future for its citizens. The United States has provided $14.2 billion in assistance to Afghanistan since 2001, and nearly 40 percent of this amount – $5.2 billion – has been for reconstruction, humanitarian, and government assistance. And our support is increasing. An additional $10.6 billion in aid is projected over the next two years, and a significant portion of this aid will be directed towards essential services, such as electricity, roads, and rural development.

Another important development is the recent decision by the Government of Estonia to increase its assistance to Afghanistan, contributing not only additional troops for combat, but in tackling a vital sector of society: health care in Helmand province. This is a key area of development that will give the local population hope for the future and create more trust between local communities and the Afghan government.

Keeping Afghanistan moving forward is a mission for all of us. Through our military efforts, we are taking away village sanctuaries from the Taliban and we are training the Afghan security forces to take on primary security responsibilities across the country. Through our development assistance, we are building roads (and hospitals and schools and courts) that will help put an end to extremism and create the beginning of a secure and prosperous Afghanistan.