Afstan: A different timeline from ours

Most senior British Army officer:

General Sir David Richards: Forces reach 'turning point' in Afghanistan
British forces could be pulled out of Afghanistan within five years, the head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, has disclosed.

Sir David said they have reached a “turning point” in the battle against the Taliban. He suggested troop numbers could begin to decline as early as next year while the majority would be withdrawn by 2015.

He gave the upbeat assessment just seven months after warning the Britain’s mission in Afghanistan could last for up to 40 years. Last summer he said the army’s role would evolve but Britain would be providing governance, development or security for three or four decades.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Telegraph, Sir David said “we are now seeing some very optimistic signs” in the latest military offensive, Operation Moshtarak (togetherness), in Helmand [more here].

British forces had helped to “turn the tables” on the Taliban, which was now facing relentless pressure from British and other Nato forces, he said.

The Taliban had been forced to give “serious consideration” about continuing the fight.

“We expect the military conflict to trail off in 2011,” said Sir David, who was visiting British front-line forces for the first time since taking command of the Army last year. “The combat role will start to decline in 2011, but we will remain militarily engaged in training and support roles for another five years, and we will remain in a support role for many years to come...

See 2) here for General Richards' views on the results of failure in the face of Islamists in Afstan.