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Kingston visits troops overseas
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Maj. Gen. David Hogg, combined security transition command-Afghanistan deputy commander, speaks to Rep. Jack Kingston and other representatives about future training plans for the Afghan national army and police. - photo by Photo provided.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — When the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in late March to block an attempt at withdrawing American forces from Afghanistan, Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., offered insight — he had just returned from a weekend meeting with troops and civilian leaders on the front lines.
The withdrawal resolution, which failed by a vote of 356-65, only previewed a more pressing debate looming in the wings: how to fund the surge of forces on its way to the country from which the most devastating terrorist attack on American soil was launched. As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Kingston will be charged with formulating that policy.
After returning from Kabul, Kingston said he gained renewed confidence in coalition troops and the strategy employed by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
“Every time I visit with our troops, I am inspired by their dedication, professionalism and courage,” Kingston said. “While the situation has deteriorated since my last visit, I am confident of our success under the leadership of Gen. McChrystal. Finally, the Afghan army and Pakistan understand that we will not be there forever and they have to assume responsibility to root out the Taliban.”
Kingston likened clearing out Taliban insurgents to combating fire ants. “When you clear them from one area, they just pop up in another,” he said. What has changed, Kingston said, is that coalition forces will now employ a more comprehensive strategy. The strategy is summarized in five words: shape, clear, hold, build, transfer.
“We’re already seeing this new strategy play out in Marja,” Kingston said. “First, we shape an area by identifying it, then we clear it of Taliban insurgents. As we are able to hold the area and lift the Afghan flag, we build the human and physical infrastructure before transferring it to Afghan control. We’re closing the gap between military victory and civilian control.”
Kingston said he thinks the success of that strategy is crucial to the winning the fight and building an Afghanistan that won’t return to Taliban control. To safely withdraw American forces, Kingston identified two obstacles: building a sufficient civilian police force and plugging the holes in the nation’s border with Pakistan.
“As it stands, local police forces in Afghanistan are filled with corruption,” Kingston said. “In order to get Afghanistan on her feet under the peaceful rule of law, it’s essential the people have an honest partner in those charged with policing them. Therefore, a new and better trained national police force is needed to replace the local existing units.”
On addressing the movement of insurgents between the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Kingston said he sees Pakistan as stepping up to the plate.
“In the past, Pakistan has not been fully engaged in the war, but today they are taking ownership and seem to have realized they can no longer ignore their own danger,” Kingston said. “Pakistani forces are now actively engaging the Taliban and are doing their part toward coalition success in Afghanistan.”
One area lacking in the strategy, Kingston said, is how to address the nation’s dependence on growing poppies — a flower from which opium is produced. With an annual impact of $100 million, the crop is essential to the nation’s economy but ties it to narcotics trafficking.
“No attempt is being made to hide the crop because we currently have no way to replace its dominance of the country,” Kingston said. “We’re more than quadrupling the number of agriculture advisors in the country in an effort to help transition farmers to other profitable crops, but we still don’t have a definitive answer. Until we are successful in this effort, it will remain a wild card to the future of Afghanistan.”
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Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

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