General wants troops ready for 'complex human terrain': "U.S. troops need to be prepared to operate in a 'complex human terrain' when they arrive in Afghanistan, the commander of International Security Assistance Force Joint Command said here today.
Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez took over the job just two months ago. He commands U.S. troops assigned to NATO and troops of 42 other nations for daily operations throughout Afghanistan.
'Now that we know where [U.S. troops] are going and when they are coming in, I think we'll be able to make them well-prepared for what they need to do,' he said during an interview with reporters traveling with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The general said the long pole in the tent is situational awareness for the troops coming in. 'It's tougher to do than the actual training itself,' he said."
