Afghanistan is one of the most difficult terrains for the US military to occupy and search through. The new troop increase of 30,000 troupes calls for a significant increase in supplies and weapons and soldiers being transported to the region. With a lack of roads and many mountains to consider, moving equipment into the region is far more difficult than Iraq. The Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated that logistics are “a bigger challenge than certainly was the case in Iraq.” Additionally things are complicated because Obama wishes the troops to be in place at the “fastest pace possible.” The plan is for the beginning troops to get to Afghanistan within the next three weeks with additional troops flying in every week. Hopefully all of the 30,000 troops will be situated in Afghanistan by the end of the summer.
Iraq posed less logistical problems because of the flat terrain and the base located in Kuwait which helped to house and transfer materials. Admiral Mike Mullen regretfully stated that this is in no way the case in Afghanistan. Furthermore he said that the infrastructure is not in place to develop anything comprehensive like we had in Iraq.
More troops in Afghanistan will create more danger for the supply lines. In many cases there is one primary supply line which utilizes trucks traveling through Pakistan and traveling on a single road at one point. This supply line has been attacked multiple times and the attacks may intensify now that more vehicles will be passing through with supplies.
