ready to edit
FB: A longer mission in Afghanistan. Welsh says US, NATO could stay to build up Afghan air force.
NATO and the U.S. Air Force should stay stick around in Afghanistan to continue to building up the Afghan air force to be able to survive in the long term, the top U.S. airman told Congress as reports emerged the U.S. is considering keeping two key bases open beyond the end of this year.
The Air Force's main role in Afghanistan now is to support the development of the Afghan air force "as an institution," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
"Many parts of that development are going very well," Welsh said. "They're showing signs of independent ability to do tactical planning, operational activities. The thing that will really set them up for success over time though is the ability as an institution to survive."
The Air Force and NATO allies need to help the Afghans build up their logistical infrastructure, supply trains and management of airfield construction and equipment acquisition, how to manage things such as building airfields and acquiring new equipment Welsh said.
"Things that they don't have any experience with, and they're not very proficient at yet," Welsh said. "But they have young talent with a lot of energy and a lot of desire to learn."
Going forward, Welsh said NATO and the U.S. could stay "even for example, for a period of time to continue this effort and get them to a point where they are able to continue that development on their own."
Welsh did not give a timetable.
"There is a potential for their air force to be the cornerstone of a budding aviation industry in Afghanistan at some point in the future that would be immensely helpful to that country and the region," he said.
The comments came as Reuters reported Thursday today that U.S. bases in Kandahar and Jalalabad are likely to remain open beyond the end of 2015, and the U.S. might keep its aerial capacity beyond 2017, keeping aircraft around to conduct air strikes, rescue Afghan troops and evacuate wounded.
