US only half way to ending Afghan conflict, says McChrystal

When it invaded Afghanistan in 2001, the US had a “frighteningly simplistic” view of the country, said the retired army general, adding that it still lacks the relevant knowledge to help bring the conflict to an end.

“We didn’t know enough and we still don’t know enough,” he said. “Most of us – me included – had a very superficial understanding of the situation and history, and we had a frighteningly simplistic view of recent history, the last 50 years.”

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations, he said the US and its NATO allies are only “a little better” than half of the way to reaching their goals.

The Iraq invasion changed the Muslim world’s view of America’s effort. General Stanley McChrystal

The US didn’t know the country’s languages and did not make “an effective effort” to learn them, he added.

More than 10,000 Afghan civilians have died as a result of fighting over the last five years, say the UN.

General McChrystal commanded coalition forces in 2009-10 but was forced to resign after a magazine interview.

The retired general also criticised the US invasion of Iraq less than two years after entering Afghanistan, for diverting military resources and for making the situation in Afghanistan more difficult.

“[The Iraq invasion] changed the Muslim world’s view of America’s effort,” he said.

“When we went after the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, there was a certain understanding that we had the ability and the right to defend ourselves and the fact that al-Qaida had been harboured by the Taliban was legitimate.”

In the eyes of the Muslim world, that decision to invade Afghanistan was made “less legitimate” by the Iraq invasion, he said.