last week, general mcchrystal announced that i sat -- isaf would slow the expansion of the afghan and coalition troop presence in canada are in order to allow time to secure the support of local tribal leaders for that effort. i trust general mcchrystal's judgment on the timing. his right that when you go to protect people, the people have to want you to protect them. i would rather delay a few more months and have more afghan forces in the lead when the security presence is exppnded and operations begin more forcefully. our top priority is the training, mentoring, and partnering in the field with afghan troops and placing them in the lead in operations according to isaf, the growth of the afghhn security forces is on track. the nato training mission- afghanistan under lieutenant general bill caldwell reports that recruitment for the afghan army and police now actually exceedd monthly recruitment goals. these forces lord above -- these forces are above where they need to be to meet the end strength goals for october 2010. what is disturbing and hard to comprehend is that the training

currently the main operational efforts for isaf and our partners ccntinues to be the central helmand valley and kandahar. we protect the population and foster afghan governance. so far i believe we have been making gradual but important process. the insurgency ii contested in more places and with more forces. tthis insurgency is both resilient and resourceful. in april and may, we saw the insurgency resume in much of central helmand. nonetheless, much of the nature is indicating a possible reduction in some of their operational capacity. for example, the percentage of complex attacks, thhse deploying more than one means of attack, have steadily droppee since its peak in february. the average number of casualty ppis below 2009 levels. the show increased willingness to report itt's and insurgent weapons caches, which suggest growing pockets of confidence among ordinary people and a willingness to support afghan efforts to support government. we're taking a deliberative approach, expanding our efforts to improve local governance in key districts, has operations improve the security situ

this year, isaf has achieved progress in several locations. the initial main effort has been in the central helmand river valley, and we have expanded security there, though predictably the enemy has fought back as we have taken away as sanctuaries in the distance of -- in the districts of marja and elsewhere. nothing has been easy but six months ago we could not have walked through the market in marja, as i was able to do two months ago. we're now focusing on another area of critical importance to the taliban. we're working hard that our operations are based on a strong comic integrated civil- military and international approach to security, governance, and development. operations have been ongoing for some months. president karzai and his ministers have also conducted shura councils and a number of initiatives advancing inclusive big -- inclusive at in the province, things that have been pressed -- stressed by president karzai appeared in the months ahead, we will see an additional u.s. brigade from the great 101st airborne division deployed

casualties among u.s., isaf, and afghan security forces are higher. while some normal activities have returned to helmand, insurgent intimidation and violence continues to threaten governance in the south. the karzai government has yet to deliver services to win local allegiances. and recent reports suggest that afghanistan is minorities are concerned about president karzai is overtures to taliban leaders through pakistani intermediaries. at our hearing two weeks ago, general petreaus emphasized that "a counterinsurgency operation is a roller-coaster experience, "but in his view, the trajectory has been generally upward, despite the tough losses. i have long believed that the number one mission in afghanistan is building the capacity of the afghan security forces to be able to take increasing responsibility for their country's security. general petreaus said that increasing the size and capacity of the afghan security forces is central to achieving progress in afghanistan. u.s. and isaf forces need to focus their resources and energy on is effort. the

isaf agreed with that report.nd it recently they have adopted a new standard for measuring afghan capability, by which measure a around one-third of afghan units are now determined to be effective with coalition support in conducting operations. however, even under the new measure, there are significantly more afghan army troops that could lead operations in kandahar in the 7250 afghan troops nowlin kingara. -- lead operations in kandahar, in the 7250 afghan troops in nowlin kingara. -- now in kandahar. the isaf forces in and around mccown are will outpace the afghan forces by october -- in and around the region will outpace the afghan forces by october. this provides the opportunity to get more afghan combat capable forces south. to take the lead in operations there. having the afghan army lead operations in kandahar is the insurgencies worst nightmare. the afghan army enjoys the support of the afghan people and they are strong fighters. meanwhile, according to a recent "new york times" survey, only 40% of the af

have arrived with 80 aircraft and helicopters of their own which are now avaiiable to support all isaf forces in helamnd. a degree of normal life has returned to certain places and people are going about their daily business in an area that was not -- that was completely infested with insurgents before. inevitably, there will be tough fighting as afghan forces with support called the ground for this and push the insurgents into villages. during my visit, i was able to double the amount of teams to tackle the most serious threats facing our young and women -- are young men and women. many of the shortages which happened as initially which happens to was initially have been resolved. they're not completely solved. we need to do more to recognize the remarkable men and women and place them at the front and center of our society. that is why i announced a doubling of the operational announcement in afghanistan backdated to may 6. i believe it is crucial we renew and reaffirm our commitmenttto the military covenant between our country and those who risk their lives to ensure our security. i

and i would say it was not only about the partnership between isaf and afghan forces, but between isafndhe entire -- well, i would say the broader coalition, whole of government cabilities and the afghan government as a whole. and so beginning from the planning stages, you had a combined afghan isaf team that was planning not only for t military dimensions of the campaign but also for elements of different afghan ministries to come in and immediately establish a governance prence in marjah and the surrounding areas. so that has really created a different way of doing business together that has now carried into other areas. as the planning a preparation and the early stages of shaping in kandahar unfold. that same kind of in-depth and multifacetted partnership is happening again. and i would just say that it's not only partnership. it's really putting afghans in the lead in helping to design the operation, in helping to determine the timing of the operation and setting the conditions for ultimate success in the operation. so that is a very different way of doing business than we've done

of reinforcements and the continued growth of the afghan security force, e're now evening out the isaf presence in the the main populated areas. in the past, we have not had enough soldiers per population for an effective counterinsurgency campaign. although the rebalancing is to work in progress, the situation has much iiproved. the arrival of u.s. marine expeditionary force, combined with the additional contributions from other partners, including the state has been a huge boost the the marines have arrived with some 80 aircraft and helicopters of their own, which are now available to support all of our forces in the helmand. it is clear that we've made real progress this year.3 normal life has returned to some places. people are going about their been completely infested with insurgents. the progress is not yet in reversible -- irreversible. there'll be tough fighting. must hold the ground that has been taken and pushed the iisurgents out. during my visit, i was able to announce support of 67 million pounds to tackle the most serious threats facing our young men and women. with immr

and i would say it was not only about the partnership between isaf and afghan forces, but between isaf and the entire -- well, i would say the broader coalition, whole of government capabilities and the afghan government as a whole. and so beginning from the planning stages, you had a combined afghan isaf team that was planning not onlyy for the military dimensions of the campaign but also for elements of different afghan ministries to come in and immediately establish a governance presence in marjah and the surrounding areas. so that has really created a different way of doing business together that has now carried into other areas. as the planning and preparation and the early stages of shaping in kandahar unfold. that same kind of in-depth and multifacetted partnership is happening again. and i would just say that it's not only partnership. it's really putting afghans in the lead in helping to design the operation, in helping to determine the timing of the operation and setting the conditions for ultimate success in the operation. so that is a very different way of doing business th

in short, isaf and afghan forces train together, plant operations together, and fight together. afghan forces are in the lead in kabul. they are supported, but already shouldering the responsibilities of leadership. an excellent example of this was the recovery operation for the air waves crashed north of kabul last month. afghan border police found the site. recovery operations were planned and coordinated and executed. the recovery operation have an elevation of more than 12,500 feet. it was executed by helicopter crews and afghan commandos. even the media and information issues were handled by afghan personnel. that is not the norm, nonetheless, there are very much in the fight, and sacrificing for their country. nothing reflects this more than the fact that their losses are typically several times ours. there is no question that levels of violence have increased significantly over the last several years. moreover, the taliban had steadily been expanding the areas they control and influence. this year, we have achieved progress in several locations. the additional main effort

indeed sacrificing enormously for their country, as are, of course, our troopers, and those of our isaf partner nations. thank you. >> well, thank you very much, general. and i am glad to hear of your support for that july 2011 beginning of u.s. troop reduction decision. since i continue to strongly believe that it is essential for success in afghanistan for everyone to understand the urgency for the afghans to take responsibility for their own security. now, this morning, after calling upon senator mccain to complete his questions, i'm going to be calling on senators for questions in the early bird order that was established yesterday morning, as i believe that we notified our -- all of our members' offices yesterday afternoon. senator mccain? >> thank you, mr. chairman. and we were interrupted probably at the most important point of my comments yesterday, general pet rayious, when i said i considered you one of america's greatest heroes. in case you missed that, i'll repeat it. >> it was overwhelming, sir. >> i still believe that with all my heart. and i appreciate the statement you j

indeed sacrificing enormously for their country, as are, of course, our troopers, and those of our isaf partner nations. thank you. >> well, thank you very much, general. and i am glad to hear of you support for that july 2011 beginning of u.s. troop reduction decision. since i continue to strongly believe that it is essential for success in afghanistan for everyone to understand the urgency for the afghans to take responsibility for their own security. now, this morning, after calling upon senator mccain to complete his questions, i'm going to be calling on senators for questions in the early bird order that was established yesterday morning, as i believe that we notified our -- all of our members' offices yesterday afternoon. senator mccain? >> thank you, mr. chairman. and we were interrupted probably at the most important pnt of my comments yesterday, general pet rayious, when i said i considered you one of america's greatest heroes. in case you missed that, i'll repeat it. >> it was overwhelming, sir. >> i still believe that with all my heart. and i appreciate the statement you just

just this week another governor was assassinated by the taliban, that associated with the isaf forces. i have faith in the present that we will not abandon the people of -- i have faith in the president that we will not abandon the people of afghanistan. enabling the afghan army and the afghan police to provide security, and then we will be mentoring, we will be backed up, we will be out of the actual combat itself because of the capabilities. i had the extraordinary opportunity to meet several times with the minister of defence of afghanistan. he is a former mujahedin himself and anti-soviet guerrilla. we are talking about people who are really capable. host: our guest will be with us until the bottom of the hour. you can call us -- you can send us a twitter message at c-spanwj. the south, democratic primary is getting a lot of attention. allegations that the republican party was involved in shenanigans. tell us what you think question the guest: line of republicans were focused on the republican primary. two years ago with the same opponent, received 44,000 groups, -- votes, and now

. >> the isaf numbers are more than half of those afghan italians are capable of operating either independently or -- afghan battalions are capable of operating either independently or with coalition support. there is a lot more battalions of the afghan army that are able to operate independently that we are using down in the south. what are we not, and what are the afghans not moving more of their troops down to the south for this upcoming campaign? >> first of all, they have moved more of their troops to the south, mr. chairman and secondly, they will move more of their troops to the south. third, there are other missions in afghanistan that require afghan troops. >> are they capable of leading most of what you call 5-end operations? are there afghan troops capable of meeting those "high-end" operations? >> i am talking to very high-end -- >> i say leading -- >> those are dependent on u.s. intelligence and surveillance and reconnaissance, that they don't have the ability, nor does any other force in the world, for that matter. what i think is probably more relevant would be more of the standa