By Dean Poling
NAYLOR — A former Afghanistan police consultant believes Barack Obama should have allotted more than 30,000 U.S. troops for Afghanistan but is pleased to see the President approve a military increase.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” said J.R. Winningham Sr. of Lowndes County. “He should have followed Gen. (Stanley) McChrystal’s requests of at least 40,000 troops to 65,000 troops maximum to the letter.
“Having said that, I’m thankful the President is sending 30,000.”
Winningham spent the year of 2005 in Afghanistan. Winningham is one of many retired police officers hired by private corporations usually working through either the U.S. State Department or the Department of Defense. These officers go to various countries from Afghanistan and Iraq to Africa, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other areas of the globe to train police officers and police commanders. Winningham also worked in Iraq for several months in 2008.
In Afghanistan, Winningham was assigned to mentor the commanding officers of the national board of police, while working with Afghan and U.S. officials to restructure the police command system.
Winningham’s son, J.R. Jr., is currently doing similar security work in Afghanistan.
Through regular contact with his son, J.R. Winningham Sr. said, unfortunately, little has changed in Afghanistan in the past four years. More troops are needed to bolster the region’s security so Afghans can be properly trained to maintain their own military and security.
In 2005, Winningham experienced a national police organization rife with corruption, and that corruption continues in Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s government.
If the Afghan people can remove corruption as part of their nation’s normal operating procedures, Winningham thinks the U.S.’s increased efforts have a chance for success.
“My feeling about the country and the people of Afghanistan is if we do the job and do it right, they will be able to do it on their own,” Winningham said.
Though he believes Obama should have followed the U.S. generals’ full recommendations, Winningham feels a deadline for American withdrawal will get the job done.
“This is not in with the conservative way of thinking, but I think it’s a good idea to have a time table,” Winningham said. “It puts some pressure on Karzai that Afghanistan must take care of itself.”
