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Associated Press March 2, 2009

NC-based 82nd Airborne headquarters to Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- The 82nd Airborne Division headquarters will deploy in the spring to lead military efforts in eastern Afghanistan.

The 800-paratrooper unit includes the top commanders of the Fort Bragg-based division. They are replacing the 101st Airborne Division headquarters from Fort Campbell, Ky.

"I am proud to say the 82nd has been called on to do this difficult mission," Maj. Gen. Mike Scaparrotti, commander of the 82nd, said Monday in an interview at Fort Bragg.

His command will include 23,000 troops -two American infantry brigades, a national guard brigade and units from France and Poland.

Afghanistan is split into four regions and the 82nd will control the eastern portion, which is made up of 14 provinces and covers the rugged Northeastern mountains and most of the border with Pakistan. One of the most dangerous sections, the eastern portion has seen attacks up more than 20 percent this year, Scaparrotti said.

The 82nd's headquarters returned last April from a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan. Since its return, Scaparrotti said the division has kept in constant contact with the 101st and completed three staff exercises in preparation. More than 40 percent of the deployment of 800 troops were part of the last rotation.

"The division is in good shape and we are ready to take on the mission," Scaparrotti said. "Our end state is to work ourselves out of a job."

One of the first big events will be the coming presidential elections. No date has been set, but Scaparrotti expects the elections to happen in the first few months of his deployment.

"I think that it is a great sign of progess that has been made in Afghanistan that they will carry through with the election and have a transition or continuation of government whichever way it comes out," Scaparrotti said.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the 82nd's deployment doesn't change President Barack Obama's decision to increase troops in Afghanistan.

"These units have been identified for some time now to go in as replacement units," Whitman said. "This isn't part of the additional capabilities that we're applying. These are rotational forces and do not alter or change any announcements made last week."

The U.S. has about 38,000 troops in Afghanistan with an additional 19,000 from 42 NATO countries. Last week, the Pentagon announced an additional 17,000 troops, including Marines from Camp Lejeune.

"Every year is a key year in an insurgency, but it is in the sense that it is a refocus," Scaparrotti said. "I will benefit form the additional resources that have already been announced going into Afghanistan."

He said violence will likely increase this spring and the Taliban and other groups are collaborating more, using tactics from Iraq and executing bigger more complex attacks.

John Pike, a defense analyst and director of GlobalSecurity.org, said a key to success is identifying "real" Taliban.

"Just because someone is shooting at the Americans does not mean they are an irreconcilable supporter of Mullah Omar and (Osama) bin Laden," Pike said. "This was the key to pacifying al-Anbar province in Iraq, and is one key in Afghanistan."

Pike said U.S. forces should concentrate on opium areas in the southeast provinces near the border with Pakistan.

"There is no solution without driving opium cultivation out of Afghanistan. Otherwise, there is just too much money for the Taliban, too much material incentive for lawlessness, and too much money to corrupt the Afghan government and undermine its legitimacy," Pike said. "We probably cannot win the war on drugs in Afghanistan, but opium cultivation and heroin distribution can be driven to other parts of the world where they would not sustain outfits like the Taliban."

The Pentagon also said Monday that the deployment of 4,700 soldiers will include the 4th Brigade Combat Team from the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colo. Forces are scheduled to begin their rotation in late spring.