- FORWARD OPERATING BASE HOWZ-E-MADAD, Afghanistan: The transition of security responsibilities from US to Afghan troops will begin in the next several months, senior US military commanders said Wednesday, and will probably include districts in southern Afghanistan — a restive region that once spawned the birth of the Taleban.
The transition is a cornerstone of the Obama administration’s commitment to begin withdrawing US forces by June 2011, but it will hinge on US and Afghan forces’ ability to keep the Taleban at bay next spring, when insurgents traditionally revive their attacks.
Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of the International Security Assistance Force’s joint command, told reporters that officials are looking at several places to begin the transition, but they probably won’t make any final decisions for another three months.
One of the prime candidates, however, is Nawa in Helmand Province, where US Maj. Gen. Richard Mills said his forces are already moving to the outskirts of the city.
“I think the conditions are set in certain parts of the province right now to be able to turn over significant responsibilities to the Afghans,” Mills told reporters traveling with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. “Nawa is probably our most advanced district.”