It seems that it’s not going particularly well, according to the U.N..
Internal United Nations maps show a marked deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan during this year’s fighting season, countering the Obama administration’s optimistic assessments of military progress since the surge of additional American forces began a year ago.
The Wall Street Journal was able to view two confidential “residual risk accessibility” maps, one compiled by the U.N. at the annual fighting season’s start in March 2010 and another at its tail end in October. The maps, used by U.N. personnel to gauge the dangers of travel and running programs, divide the country’s districts into four categories: very high risk, high risk, medium risk and low risk.
In the October map, just as in March’s, nearly all of southern Afghanistan—the focus of the coalition’s military offensives—remained painted the red of “very high risk,” with no noted improvements. At the same time, the green belt of “low risk” districts in northern, central and western Afghanistan shriveled.
The U.N.’s October map upgraded to “high risk” 16 previously more secure districts in Badghis, Sar-e-Pul, Balkh, Parwan, Baghlan, Samangan, Faryab, Laghman and Takhar provinces; only two previously “high risk” districts, one in Kunduz and one in Herat province, received a safer rating.
See also:
Revealed: The classified maps that show Afghanistan is becoming more dangerous… with number of high risk areas spreading
Reports Offer Conflicting Takes on Afghan Security
UN charts escalation of violence in Afghanistan
U.N. maps indicate that security in Afghanistan has eroded since troop surge
Violence in Afghanistan rising not falling
UN maps show security worsening in Afghanistan: report
U.N. maps belie claims of Afghan progress
UN map reveals ‘no noted improvements’ in Afghan security
Well, it’s obvious that someone is lying here. The Taliban can’t control more and less territory at the same time.
/but, between Obama and the U.N., I’m not sure who to believe
Filed under: Blog Entry | Tagged: Afghanistan, American Forces, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Barack Obama, Central Afghanistan, Coalition, Confidential, Districts, Faryab, Herat, High Risk, Internal United Nations Maps, Kunduz, Laghman, Low Risk, Maps, March, Marked Deterioration, Medium Risk, Military Offensives, Military Progress, No Noted Improvements, Northern Afghanistan, Obama Administration, October, Optimistic Assessments, Parwan, Province, Provinces, Residual Risk Accessibility, Safer Rating, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, Secure Districts, Security Situation, Surge, Takhar, Taliban, U.N., U.N. Personnel, United Nations, Very High Risk, Wall Street Journal, Western Afghanistan | Leave a comment »
