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Thursday, October 29, 2009
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Marine: U.S. strategy working DISPATCH EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL REPORT Associate Editor The Afghanistan region where the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines serve has been cautiously labeled as a model of where the war is working. Its key location as a potentially productive agricultural area in a river valley has made it somewhat of a media magnet as well.
Lt. Col. William McCollough, the Marines' commanding officer in the Nawa District of the Helmand Province, has been asked to detail his Marines' work on NBC News, CBS News, CNN. He has been interviewed by the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and New York Times.
The Brainerd native and 1987 Brainerd High School graduate said in a satellite phone interview Wednesday he sees U.S. strategy working in Helmand Province.
"I'm not following the Washington (D.C.) debate," he said. "I know we're winning here because we're living among the people. I do know it's working here."
Similarly, he said he couldn't predict the nationwide voter turnout for the Nov. 7 runoff between the top two presidential candidates but he said he expected more voters to turn out in his area because it's no longer as "dicey" as it was at the time of the Aug. 20 election.
"When it comes to this district there'll be more voters than the first round," he said.
As the deadliest month for the U.S. troops in the eight years of the Afghanistan war winds down, it's possible the success McCollough's troops are experiencing provides a glimmer of hope.
He said the battalion's mission is three-fold: Clear the Taliban and position itself to prevent them from returning; build the economic capacity of the region; and build the capacity of the Afghan police and military to be able to maintain stability.
When his battalion first arrived months ago, he said there were no friendly forces and temperatures were "incredibly hot" (about 130 degrees).
"We flew in (to the site of his current headquarters), we got shot at and were attacked the first three days," he said.
In contrast, he said, on Wednesday about 400 Afghans came to the same area to obtain wheat seed - in an effort to promote an alternative to the growing of poppies.
"The goal is less and less poppy being planted in the district and more and more produce that doesn't support the Taliban," McCollough said.
Because the Marines remained in the rural outposts after they drove the Taliban out they earned a degree of trust among the Afghans, the commanding officer said.
The Marines go without showers and had been getting by with two pairs of socks.
"I think it shows that we were willing to put up with hardships to help," McCollough said.
When the Marines entered the area, he said, some of the Taliban tried to blend in with the populace while others decided to no longer be part of the Taliban as they saw circumstances improve.
"When we came in and we fought, those (active Taliban) who didn't get killed, they ran away."
In order to earn the trust of the people, McCollough said the Marines have spread out to 20 positions throughout the district, with lieutenants and sergeants running some of the small military outfits. Every day Marines talk to the people and get to know them.
The lieutenant colonel compared it to a person who moved into and stayed in northeast Brainerd. Soon, he said, that person would know who the solid citizens were and who the questionable characters were.
His reference to northeast Brainerd might have been an indication his hometown is not far from his mind. McCollough, 40, was a swimmer in high school. He worked at the Brainerd Dispatch in the 1980s when he was "Billy," an eager photo assistant from a newspaper family. Being called "Billy" during the days when he took photos and developed film at the old Dispatch building on South Sixth Street distinguished the young man from his grandfather, Bill McCollough, who was a Brainerd Dispatch publisher and a World War II veteran. Bill McCollough had succeeded his father, Henry McCollough, as publisher. And in turn, Bill McCollough was succeeded by his son, Terry McCollough as publisher.
Lt. Col. McCollough, Terry's son, joined the Marines in 1991 after graduating from Norwich University. He deployed twice to Iraq and assumed command of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines upon his return from Iraq. He has received the Bronze Star with "V" Device, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon.
He made a point to thank the Mills family of the Brainerd area for sending special neck coolers for the hot months and extra socks.
"Little things like that really make a difference," he said.
Now, with the Nov. 7 runoff fast approaching in Afghanistan, McCollough said Afghans in his district were excited to go back and vote. Initially, they weren't entirely sure why they had to vote again, he said.
Afghans are looking for basic needs to be addressed, McCollough said. They're interested in security, schools, clinics and irrigation canals.
"All of these things are happening under the security blanket we're providing," he said. "It's really second nature for Marines. People like to build things and Marines are good at it."
The Marines, McCollough said, realize that to be successful they have to go beyond just killing the Taliban.
"You can't say 'Security, then jobs.' " he said. "Without jobs they can't have security."
McCollough said that although the majority of Afghans have different religious beliefs than most Americans, they're really not that different from U.S. citizens. They want safe schools, medicine when they're sick and food on the table.
"I guess the Afghan people we're friends with here ... they are not that much different from us," he said. "The people that live here want the same exact stuff that we want for our family and kids. Those are the same basic things we want for all our families."
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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