By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/extended-interview-military-turns-to-kandahar Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Extended Interview: Military Turns to Kandahar World Feb 26, 2010 9:59 PM EDT As major military operations wrap up in Marjah, Afghanistan, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ben Hodges of the Southern Region Command in Kandahar talked to Judy Woodruff on Friday’s NewsHour about the military’s shift in focus to the eastern part of the country. In Marjah in the south, the military coordinated with the country’s different levels of government, letting them provide the leadership, he said, “so that when security forces were brought in, you already had the shuras at the provincial and district level ready to help take control, and also, in fact, to explain to the locals what we were trying to do.” The military hopes to replicate that model in the next area of focus: the east, to Kandahar, considered “the center of gravity for the Pashtuns,” Hodges continued. “Spiritually, politically, historically, it has always been the most important part of Afghanistan. Certainly, throughout Afghan history, it is the center of gravity. So, we are going to head to Kandahar in a big way in coming months.” View an extended version of Hodges’ interview with Woodruff: A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
As major military operations wrap up in Marjah, Afghanistan, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ben Hodges of the Southern Region Command in Kandahar talked to Judy Woodruff on Friday’s NewsHour about the military’s shift in focus to the eastern part of the country. In Marjah in the south, the military coordinated with the country’s different levels of government, letting them provide the leadership, he said, “so that when security forces were brought in, you already had the shuras at the provincial and district level ready to help take control, and also, in fact, to explain to the locals what we were trying to do.” The military hopes to replicate that model in the next area of focus: the east, to Kandahar, considered “the center of gravity for the Pashtuns,” Hodges continued. “Spiritually, politically, historically, it has always been the most important part of Afghanistan. Certainly, throughout Afghan history, it is the center of gravity. So, we are going to head to Kandahar in a big way in coming months.” View an extended version of Hodges’ interview with Woodruff: A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now