McChrystal notes 'widespread' corruption

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- State institutions are weak and official corruption is "widespread" in Afghanistan, a confidential report by the top U.S. and NATO commander there concluded.

The report by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, calls for additional troops in Afghanistan within the year, warning that the conflict will otherwise "likely result in failure," the Post reported.

In assessing other aspects in Afghanistan, the report equated the threat to U.S. and NATO forces posed by official corruption in the Afghan government with that of the Taliban insurgency, the newspaper said.

"The weakness of state institutions, (malignant) actions of power-brokers, widespread corruption and abuse of power by various officials, and ISAF's own errors, have given Afghans little reason to support their government," McChrystal said.

ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force, is the name given to the NATO-led forces.

"Further, a perception that our resolve is uncertain makes Afghans reluctant to align with us against the insurgents," the general said.

McChrystal said the key ISAF weakness is that it does not aggressively defend the Afghan population, a key element of the general's strategy.

"Pre-occupied with protection of our own forces, we have operated in a manner that distances us -- physically and psychologically -- from the people we seek to protect … . The insurgents cannot defeat us militarily; but we can defeat ourselves," the general said.

He said Afghanistan's social and other life aspects are complex but the ISAF "does not sufficiently appreciate the dynamics in local communities, nor how the insurgency, corruption, incompetent officials, power-brokers, and criminality all combine to affect the Afghan population."