You can receive the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter by email. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 0500 U.S. East coast time or just after lunch (1330) in Kabul every Sunday. It is easy to subscribe. To submit your subscription request go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and enter your email in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box at the top of the right hand column. The only info needed is your email. No personal data, no forms to fill out, and no passwords needed. You will receive a confirmation email asking you if you want to subscribe. Just confirm and you are done. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter - Feb 25, 2018
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
Fighting Daesh in Afghanistan - "It's Complicated"
Achin District, Nangarhar Province
Franz Marty, an independent journalist based in Kabul, examines a recent friendly fire / insider threat incident that took place on 11 January 2018 in Achin district, Nangarhar province. News reports about the event were in the headlines for a few days but in the absence of reporting from the remote location (and very brief comments from USFOR-A) the story soon died. What seems to have happened is that a skirmish ensued with one U.S. soldier being wounded and one or more Afghans (militia or ?) being killed. This was followed by an U.S. air strike on a compound that possibly killed more Afghans. The story is a bit sketchy.
U.S. special operations forces, along side their Afghan SOF counterparts, have been taking the fight to the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) insurgents based in southern Nangarhar for the past couple of years. These ground actions, along with a healthy dose of air support, have deeply hurt the ISKP fighters . . . however, they seem to have a robust replacement pipeline because the group is still very active.
Franz Marty traveled to the remote region to get clarity on the incident but comes away, through no fault of his own, with an incomplete explanation of what actually happened. However, his on the ground investigation reveals the tangled web of politics, militias, and various (and shifting) allegiances found on the ground in local communities of that region of Afghanistan. It also reveals the obstacles in the path of U.S. military members who attempt to understand what is truly happening on the ground.
Fighting Daesh in Afghanistan "It's Complicated", by Franz Marty, February 10, 2018
www.afghanwarnews.info/articles/20180210-fighting-daesh.html
Pragmatic Influence and Afghanistan
A member of an Agricultural Development Team (ADT) from the Kansas
Army National Guard talks with an Afghan farmer. (Photo U.S. Army)
Army National Guard talks with an Afghan farmer. (Photo U.S. Army)
RJ Hampsey writes in this short article published February 2018 about how we need to ". . . influence the Afghans to partner with us to achieve not only our objective but theirs as well". He presents two simple theories that might assist us in understanding the situation on the ground and help us re-gain a partnership with the majority of the Afghan people. He provides a 'different' perspective on what is important to Afghans and believes we should align our interests with theirs - which in turn, will help ensure that foreign terrorists will no longer operate freely in Afghanistan.
About the author: RJ Hampsey joined the Counterinsurgency (COIN) Advise and Assist Team (CAAT) in November 2009 and was assigned to advise and assist the officers, NCOs, and Soldiers executing information operations, PSYOP, and Civil Affairs in support of Regional Command East. In total he spent 36 months as a member of the CAAT in RC-E and HQ-ISAF; and the Military Information Support Task Force (MISTF).
Realpolitik in Afghanistan: Pragmatic Influence Required
www.afghanwarnews.info/articles/afghanistan-pragmatic-influence.html
TA3E - Train, Advise, Assist, Accompany, and Enable
Members of the TAAC-West Police Advisor Team (PAT) train female
police in Herat province. (photo by RS HQs, 10 July 2017).
police in Herat province. (photo by RS HQs, 10 July 2017).
Reporting on the 'Train, Advise, and Assist' Mission. The renewed emphasis and modest increase in the advisory effort with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) will not win the war; however, it is an important component of the U.S. and NATO strategy for Afghanistan. For that reason, the Afghan War Blog will continue to report on Security Force Assistance efforts by NATO and other Coalition / Partner nations.
Seminar on SFA. The primary mission of NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan is Security Force Assistance (SFA). Norway is hosting a seminar on the topic in March 2018.
www.prio.org/Events/Event/?x=8619
Expeditionary Advising. Afghanistan is not Iraq; but advising is advising. 2nd Bn 101st Airborne Division (Task Force Strike) had a mission to advise the Iraq Security Forces (ISF) during the fight for Mosul. TF Strike had to rethink the way they conducted advise and assist operations. The brigade shifted from advising in static locations to "expeditionary advising". This model allowed advisors to have a persistent presence forward with their ISF counterparts. Eventually "expeditionary advising" gave way to "Advise, Assist, Accompany, and Enable" (A3E). An excellent article entitled "Expeditionary Advising: Enabling Iraqi Operations from the Gates of Baghdad through Eastern Mosul", Small Wars Journal, February 22, 2018.
NSOCC-A Reports Growth of Police NMUs. The NATO Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan says that the General Command of Police Special Units (GCPSU) will grow from three to six National Mission Units (NMUs). (DVIDS, Feb 22, 2018).
IMET Programs. Every year U.S. International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs are used to train approximately 6,000 - 7,000 foreign officers from roughly 120 friendly and llied nations in US military schools alongside their US counterparts. Afghan officers of the MoD and MoI are included in these training programs. Learn more in "Normative Persuasion and the Impact of IMET Programs on U.S. National Security Goals", Georgetown Security Studies Review, February 22, 2018.
News & Info about the 1st SFAB
1st SFAB Arrives in Afghanistan. The new Army unit created to conduct the advise and assist mission on a permanent basis is now starting its first deployment in Afghanistan. The 1st SFAB leadership and advanced elements are now in Afghanistan. Soon around 36 advisor teams will spread out around the country to advise and assist the ANDSF at the brigade and kandak level. Read "First Troops Among Front-Line Advisor Brigade Arrive in Afghanistan", Military.com, February 22, 2018.
References
Read recent news reports about the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade - SFAB.
Read about the Army's newly established Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA).
Commentary on Afghanistan
ANDSF Logistics is Key? Daniel Goure, a national security commentator, says that "An effective logistics enterprise is the key to a successful counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan". I don't entirely disagree with him. Okay, it is extremely important but . . . maybe "leadership" is the key. However, he presents a sound argument for increasing the ability of the ANDSF to maintain its fleet of vehicles. Read "The Key to Success in Afghanistan is Logisitics", Real Clear Defense, February 23, 2018.
The Way to Peace. Barnett R. Rubin of the Center on International Cooperation (and Afghan 'expert') thinks the way to peace in Afghanistan is through infrastructure investment and connecting to the Chinese and Indian mega-economies. See "Theses on Peacemaking in Afghanistan: A Manifesto", War on the Rocks, February 23, 2018.
Afghan Security News
ANP conduct training in Bamyan province (March 2012).
Afghan Society Contributes to Insecurity. Nafay Choudhury, a research fellow at the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies in Kabul, says that structural conditions in Afghan society contribute to insecurity. Read more in "The Kabul Hotel Attack: Moving Beyond the Blame Game", The Diplomat, February 23, 2018.
SOJTF-A Cdr visits 7th SFGA. The commander of the Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan, Major General James Linder, visited 7th Special Forces Group to present medals of valor. The 7th SFGA has lost 45 soldiers in Afghanistan since 2001. Read "U.S. still faces 'long, hard fight' in Afghanistan", NWF Daily News, February 23, 2018.
New Militia Force. The Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) has announced the formation of a 36,000 man militia force. (VOA, Feb 22, 2018).
Lithuanian SOF Deploying to Afghanistan. Lithuania is increasing its contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission with the deployment of elements of its special operations forces.
20 ANA Killed Feb 23rd. The Taliban conducted a nighttime raid on an Afghan military base in Bala Baluk district in the western province of Farah killing more than 20 soldiers. The insurgents overran the base capturing weapons, vehicles, and equipment. Security in Farah province has deteriorated in the past two years. (FDD's Long War Journal, Feb 24, 2018).
NMU's Female Foundation Course. The Afghan General Command of Police Special Units (GCPSU) has established a special police course designed specifically for female police officers who will serve with the MoI's National Mission Units (NMU). Read more about this in "Female Foundation Course a milestone for Afghan Special Police", NSOCC-A, February 22, 2018.
New GCPSU Officers. There are now 35 newly qualified Afghan police officers who recently graduated from the 8-wk GCPSU Special Operators Course at the Special Police Training Center in Logar province, Afghanistan. Graduates heading to CRU 222, CF 333, & ATF 444 of ASSF.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/266466/afghanistan-grows-its-special-police-forces
Governance and Politics in Afghanistan
Corruption in Afghanistan. Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Afghanistan as the 4th most corrupt country in the world, trailing only Syria, South Sudan, and Somalia. See "Afghanistan Ranked 4th Most Corrupt Country For this Year", Tolo News, February 22, 2018.
2nd Provincial Governor Refused to Leave. President Ghani's office approved and announced the appointment of new heads for five provinces - including Samangan in the north. Samangan is just south of Balkh province. The current governor, Abdul Karim Khedam, refused to leave his post - becoming the second governor to resist removal. See "Another Provincial Governor Defies Dismissal Orders from Afghan President", Voice of America, February 18, 2018. But . . . eventually he stepped aside. (Khaama Press, Feb 20, 2018).
Dostum Speaks from "Abroad". First Vice President Dostum is still in Turkey (going on six months). He recently weighed in on current events in Afghanistan. "Dostum Makes Suggestions To Govt Despite Being in Exile", Tolo News, February 22, 2018.
E-Tazkera Crisis. Afghanistan is dividing along ethnic and political lines over the issuing of an electronic identity card. The main debate centers on ethnicity. Members of the Tajic, Hazara, Uzbec and other ethnic groups are opposing the use of the world "Afghan" on the ID card. They contend that "Afghan" denotes "Pashtun". The Pashtun ethnic group says that it refers to all the people of Afghanistan. Read an excellent examination of the issue in "The E=Tazkera Rift: Yet another political crisis looming?", Afghanistan Analyst Network (AAN), February 22, 2018.
ACJC Criticized. The Anti-Corruption Criminal Justice Center is coming under fire. While it has arrived at a number of court decisions - the implementation of those decisions are ignored. In addition, it has failed to tackle major cases of corruption. "ACJC Critized As It Struggles to Fight Corruption", Tolo News, February 21, 2018.
2018 Elections in Peril? There are doubts about whether Afghanistan will be able to conduct its parliamentary elections in the summer of 2018. The Japanese are giving $13 million USD in aid to help in the conduct of the elections. While the Afghan government says it will run the elections for parliament and district councils there are many observers that say it won't happen. Read "UNAMA Chief Says Elections Must Be Held As Scheduled", Tolo News, February 21, 2018.
President Ghani Profiled. Ihsanullah Omarkhail (a writer on foreign policy, peace, state building, terrorism, etc.) provides a glowing assessment of President Ashraf Ghani in "Afghanistan: President Ghani's Concept of National Issues", Eurasia Review, February 18, 2018.
Development and Economic News
TAPI: A Milestone in Country's Economic Development. The start of the construction of the Afghanistan section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline in Herat province holds great promise for the country. (Tolo News, Feb 22, 2018).
Water Security. One of the constant irritants in the relationship between Iran and Afghanistan centers along the water that makes its way into Iran from Afghanistan. Read more in "Can Iran and Afghanistan cooperate to bring an oasis back from the dead?", Science Magazine, February 21, 2018.
Videos and Movies about Afghanistan
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pz4zax5KVg
The Best Way Forward in Afghanistan, Middle East Institute, February 16, 2018. A 1 1/2 hour long panel discussion with expert participants discuss Afghanistan and its future. Panel members include Vanda Felbab-Brown (Senior Fellow of The Brookings Institution), Christopher Kolenda (Fellow of the New American Security), Ahmad Majidyar (MEI Fellow), Ambassador (Ret) Ronald Neumann (former ambassador to Afghanistan), and Marvin Weinbaum (MEI Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies).
www.mei.edu/events/best-way-forward-afghanistan
Apache Helicopter Afghanistan Refuel, 59th Aviation Troop Command, February 15, 2018. One-minute long video showing two AH-64 Apache helicopters with Task Force Marauder stop to refuel at FOB SHORAB. The TF provides medevac, air transportation, over-watch support, and FARP operations for TAAC-West.
www.dvidshub.net/video/585371/apache-helicopter-afghanistan-refuel
View a list of videos about Afghanistan.
Afghan War News Snippets
ISKP and Wood Smuggling. The Islamic State Khorasan Province finances (in part) its operations in eastern Afghanistan by smuggling wood into Pakistan. (VOA, Feb 18, 2018).
The Panhandle of Afghanistan. The origins of the Wakhan Corridor located in the remote province of Badakhshan can be traced to "The Great Game". Read "How Afghanistan got its bizarre panhandle", We Are The Mighty, February 19, 2018.
The Ancient Afghan Silk Road. A researcher at the University of Chicago has uncovered 100 previously unrecorded caravanserais - giant, protected stopover points for merchants traveling by camel along the Silk Road. Many of the newly discovered sites were in use from the 1500s to about 1700. They are rectangular structures about the size of a football field with walls enclosing a courtyard merchants and camels could rest. Read "Following the Afghan Silk Road with satellites", Share America.gov, February 20, 2018.
Afghan Nomads Suffering. Pakistan has closed the border crossings traditionally used by Kuchi nomads each year. During the winter months they cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan to reach their historic grazing fields. Now they are trapped and facing starvation and economic ruin. Read more in "Afghan nomads trapped, hungry as Pakistan blocks access to grazing land", Reuters, February 19, 2018.
References for the Afghan Conflict
Afghan War News Site Map
www.afghanwarnews.info/sitemap.htm
Glossary of Terminology Used in Afghanistan
www.afghanwarnews.info/glossary/afghanglossary.htm
Afghanistan: Annotated Bibliography for Resolute Support
www.afghanwarnews.info/pubs/RSM-Bibliography.htm
Keep Current on Happenings in Afghanistan
You can receive the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter by email. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 0500 U.S. East coast time or just after lunch (1330) in Kabul every Sunday. It is easy to subscribe. To submit your subscription request go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and enter your email in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box at the top of the right hand column. The only info needed is your email. No personal data, no forms to fill out, and no passwords needed. You will receive a confirmation email asking you if you want to subscribe. Just confirm and you are done. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter - February 18, 2018
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
Lead IG Quarterly Report on Afghanistan (Oct - Dec 2017)
The Lead Inspector General for Operation Freedom's Sentinel Quarterly Report to the United States Congress has been published. It covers the period of time from October 1 to December 31, 2017. The report summarizes significant events involving OFS. Topics covered in the 140-page report include:
- South Asia Strategy Update
- Increase of Political Tensions
- Oversight Issues
- Battle for Population Control
- Highly Volatile Security Situation
- Record Opium Harvest
- Humanitarian Assistance
Some of the highlights and findings in the report indicate that there has been no improvement in security. While Resolute Support HQs maintains that the ANDSF (specifically the ASSF) has improved this has not translated into increased security on the ground. In fact, it appears that the Taliban have increased their control or influence of some of the districts in Afghanistan. The opium poppy cultivation has set a new record for crops produced in 2017; which, in part, funds the Taliban insurgency. Political tensions within the National Unity Government have polarized the government bureaucracy and rendered some of the institutions ineffective. The failure to implement an electronic ID card is - in part - affecting the ability of the government to conduct the 2018 parliamentary elections.
There are some key challenges facing the Afghan government and and the NATO coalition forces in Afghanistan. These include the task of defeating the Islamic State in Khorsan Province (IS-KP), pressuring Pakistan to eliminate terrorist safe havens, holding credible elections on time, and preventing violence from undermining humanitarian relief efforts.
The report is available at the link below:
www.dodig.mil/reports.html/Article/1443298/lead-inspector-general-for-operation-freedoms-sentinel-quarterly-report-to-the/
Threat Assessment for Afghanistan
Daniel Coats, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, testified before Congress on February 13, 2018 where he provided a worldwide threat assessment. His remarks were provided in a 28-page document entitled "Statement for the Record: Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community". Afghanistan got a brief mention on page 22; the text is below.
"The overall situation in Afghanistan probably will deteriorate modestly this year in the face of persistent political instability, sustained attacks by the Taliban-led insurgency, unsteady Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) performance, and chronic financial shortfalls. The National Unity Government probably will struggle to hold long-delayed parliamentary elections, currently scheduled for July 2018, and to prepare for a presidential election in 2019. The ANSF probably will maintain control of most population centers with coalition force support, but the intensity and geographic scope of Taliban activities will put those centers under continued strain. Afghanistan's economic growth will stagnate at around 2.5 percent per year, and Kabul will remain reliant on international donors for the great majority of its funding well beyond 2018."
TA3E - Train, Advise, Assist, Accompany, & Enable
A U.S. medical advisors discusses medical evacuation
procedures with Afghan counterpart in OCC-R South (RS photo)
procedures with Afghan counterpart in OCC-R South (RS photo)
Reporting on the 'Train, Advise, and Assist' Mission. The renewed emphasis and modest increase in the advisory effort with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) will not win the war; however, it is an important component of the U.S. and NATO strategy for Afghanistan. For that reason, the Afghan War Blog will continue to report on Security Force Assistance efforts by NATO and other Coalition / Partner nations.
NATO Adding 3K More Troops. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is aiming to increase the number of its forces in Afghanistan to conduct the training mission with the ANDSF. (Khaama Press, Feb 14, 2018).
Seminar on SFA. The primary mission of NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan is Security Force Assistance (SFA). Norway is hosting a seminar on the topic in March 2018.
www.prio.org/Events/Event/?x=8619
Paper on SOF Advising. The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) has published a 106-page publication entitled Growing SOLO: Expanding the Spectrum of SOF Advisory Capabilities, by Troy White, JSOU Report 18-1, Feb 2018.
https://jsou.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=39956197
News & Info about the 1st SFAB
Veteran Questions Usefulness of the SFAB. A veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts looks at the new SFAB about to deploy to Afghanistan and wonders if it will really make a difference. Read "Repeating the mistakes of Vietnam today in Afghanistan", The Hill, February 12, 2018.
SFAB - A New Way to Train. Reuters correspondent Phil Stewart writes about the 1st SFAB in "In Long Afghan War, US Army Tries New Way to Deploy Trainers", Reuters, February 14, 2018.
Security Element for 1st SFAB. The insider threat is a huge concern for advisors working with the ANDSF. It is for that reason (as well as the threat from insurgents) that advisor teams are protected by security elements (like Guardian Angels). The 1st SFAB will soon deploy to Afghanistan with soldiers from Task Force 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment (based at Fort Benning) who will serve as their security force element. (WLTZ TV, Feb 12, 2018).
References
Read recent news reports about the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade - SFAB.
Read about the Army's newly established Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA).
Commentary on Afghanistan
Time Running Out for Afghanistan. Mike Gallagher, a Marine veteran and U.S. Congressman, provides his perspective on the Afghan conflict - "In Afghanistan, Hard is not Hopeless - but Time is Running Out", Real Clear Defense, February 12, 2018.
U.S. Senator Rand Paul's View on Afghanistan. A fiscal conservative, Senator Paul says our time in Afghanistan should come to a close. We are now embarked on a mission of nation-building and it is too costly. Read "Is Senator Rand Paul Right about Afghanistan?", Conservative HQ, February 12, 2018.
Current Afghan Strategy Is the Right One. Gary Anderson, a retired USMC colonel and former civilian advisor in Afghanistan, provides his thoughts on why the current strategy in Afghanistan is the correct one. (The Washington Times, Feb 15, 2018).
A Call to Continue Kinetic and TAA. Alicia Chavy, a columnist associated with the Georgetown Security Studies Review, advocates for a continuation of kinetic strikes against the Taliban and the train, advise, and assist mission to further develop the Afghan security forces. Read "Amid Recent Terrorist Attacks, US and NATO-led Efforts in Afghanistan Must Persist", GSSR, February 16, 2018.
NDS Needs to Improve. Kabul has been the target of some major terrorist attacks by the Taliban and IS-KP in recent months. The uptick in the violence has the city's residents pointing fingers at the Afghan government. Javid Ahmad, a Non-Resident Fellow with the Atlantic Council and West Point's War Institute, presents his views on the failures of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in "The Major Flaws in Afghanistan's Intelligence War", The National Interest, February 12, 2018.
Afghans Abroad Need to Help Afghanistan. M. Ashraf Haidari, the Director-General of Policy & Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, believes that Afghans living abroad should try to assist their home country with the challenges it faces. Read "Securing the Future of Afghanistan: The Diaspora's Debt of Service", The Diplomat, February 13, 2018.
Some 'Inconvenient Truths' about America's War in Afghanistan. Danny Sjursen, a fellow at Defense Priorities and combat veteran, expresses his views about the Afghan conflict. "America has done all it can in Afghanistan - more troops won't 'win' us anything", The Hill, February 11, 2018.
U.S. Senator Rand Paul's View on Afghanistan. A fiscal conservative, Senator Paul says our time in Afghanistan should come to a close. We are now embarked on a mission of nation-building and it is too costly. Read "Is Senator Rand Paul Right about Afghanistan?", Conservative HQ, February 12, 2018.
Current Afghan Strategy Is the Right One. Gary Anderson, a retired USMC colonel and former civilian advisor in Afghanistan, provides his thoughts on why the current strategy in Afghanistan is the correct one. (The Washington Times, Feb 15, 2018).
A Call to Continue Kinetic and TAA. Alicia Chavy, a columnist associated with the Georgetown Security Studies Review, advocates for a continuation of kinetic strikes against the Taliban and the train, advise, and assist mission to further develop the Afghan security forces. Read "Amid Recent Terrorist Attacks, US and NATO-led Efforts in Afghanistan Must Persist", GSSR, February 16, 2018.
NDS Needs to Improve. Kabul has been the target of some major terrorist attacks by the Taliban and IS-KP in recent months. The uptick in the violence has the city's residents pointing fingers at the Afghan government. Javid Ahmad, a Non-Resident Fellow with the Atlantic Council and West Point's War Institute, presents his views on the failures of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in "The Major Flaws in Afghanistan's Intelligence War", The National Interest, February 12, 2018.
Afghans Abroad Need to Help Afghanistan. M. Ashraf Haidari, the Director-General of Policy & Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, believes that Afghans living abroad should try to assist their home country with the challenges it faces. Read "Securing the Future of Afghanistan: The Diaspora's Debt of Service", The Diplomat, February 13, 2018.
Some 'Inconvenient Truths' about America's War in Afghanistan. Danny Sjursen, a fellow at Defense Priorities and combat veteran, expresses his views about the Afghan conflict. "America has done all it can in Afghanistan - more troops won't 'win' us anything", The Hill, February 11, 2018.
Afghan Security News
Member of National Mission Brigade trains at KMTC
(Photo by SPC Austin Boucher, NSOCC-A, Feb 12, 2018)
Insider Attack - Helmand Province. Sixteen members of a National Directorate of Security (NDS) unit were killed by four of their colleagues in an 'insider attack' on Feb 11th, Sunday. (VOA, Feb 11, 2018).
Sangorian. A secret unit established by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) is causing some angst within the Taliban movement in Helmand province. (Gandhara, Feb 15, 2018).
Terrorism Conference Hosted by Kabul. The Afghan capital hosted a regional conference on ways to defeat terrorism on Tuesday, February 13th. Military chiefs from several neighboring countries attended - including Pakistan. Hmmm. (RFE/RL, Feb 13, 2018). See also "Central Asian defense leaders meet in Kabul for security talks", Resolute Support, February 14, 2018.
777th SMW on Display. Senior officials of Central and South Asian countries visited the Special Mission Wing on Feb 13th for a static display of its men and equipment staged at Kabul's international airport. The static exhibit was held at the end of a two-day CASA Chiefs of Defence conference. (Resolute Support, Feb 15, 2018).
More U.S. Airpower. The U.S. has increased its air assets in Afghanistan which will provide a decisive edge in the fight to destroy Taliban networks and enable air support to U.S. personnel embedded with the ANDSF. (455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Feb 16, 2018, DVIDS).
Retiring the Old Generals. The Afghan military has more general officers than the U.S. Army. Many of them don't have a real job . . . and if they do . . . well that's another story. Read more in "Afghan army shake-up to push out old guard in fight against Taliban", Reuters, February 14, 2018.
Badakhshan Province Threatened. A recent news report provides information on how the Taliban and other foreign fighters are increasing their control of some of the districts in Badakhshan province. Read "Taliban Increasing Presence in Remote Afghan Region Bordering China", Gandhara, February 12, 2018.
Three Kunduz Districts Controlled by Taliban. The Afghan government has failed to establish security and government control of three districts in northern Kunduz. (Pajhwok Press, Feb 11, 2018).
Politics and Governance in Afghanistan
National ID Debate. President Ashraf Ghani is ready to roll out implementation of the national identification card for all Afghans. However, the Chief Executive Officer - Abdullah Abdullah is resisting. The controversy is all about the word "Afghan" on the identity card - sometimes referred to as "E-ID" or "E-NIC". Some ethnic groups don't want to be called "Afghan". Unfortunately, use of the electronic ID is considered instrumental for the upcoming 2018 parliamentary elections - which may or may not happen.
Supporting Warlords. Lt. Gen. Abdul Raziq is the head of the Afghan National Police in Kandahar province. That is his official role . . . but he is much more. A valuable ally of the U.S. that has a handle on the insurgency in his province - but also a 'strongman', 'warlord', "political leader", and much more. However, he comes with some baggage and is a favorite target of the international human rights crowd. Read "Impunity for U.S.-Funded Warlords in Afghanistan", by Katherine Hawkins (investigator for the Project on Government Oversight), Just Security, February 16, 2018.
Feud between Ghani and Noor. President Ghani has fired Governor Noor (Balkh province) but Noor refuses to leave office. Many observers believe Noor is setting himself up for a run at the Presidency in 2019. There are many perspectives to this political fight - Governor Noor gives us his in "The View From Balkh: how to fix the dysfunctional system in Afghanistan", TRT World, February 15, 2018.
Development & Economic News - Afghanistan
Railway Corridor. The Afghanistan National Railway Authority (ANRA) says that a report for the establishment of 880 klics of railway line is 50% complete. The railway system will connect five countries in the region. Read "Five Nations Railway Corridor to Power Regional Economies", Tolo News, February 15, 2018. The rail system in Afghanistan is very undeveloped; read more about railroads in Afghanistan.
U.S. Aid to Afghanistan Needed. The Borgen Project aims to ensure U.S. foreign policy ensures the providing of aid to humanitarian needs of impoverished countries. Read "How the US Benefits from Foreign Aid to Afghanistan", Borgen Magazine, February 14, 2018.
Squandering of Afghan Mineral Resources. Afghanistan has lots of mineral resources that are not being leveraged properly. Read "Riches Lie Below the Surface in Afghan Province", Institute for War & Peace Reporting, February 12, 2018.
Herat Cleared of Mines. Using United Kingdom funding HALO Trust says that Herat province is now cleared of minefields. The effort started in 2008. Certainly good news for the farmers working in the fields. (Gandhara, Feb 16, 2018).
Illegal Mining in Afghanistan. Mohammad Ismail Amin writes about the mining industry in "Illegal Mining: Headache for Afghanistan Government, International and Local Investors", Eurasia Review, February 12, 2018.
Movies and Videos about the Afghan War
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sp76xyuTBA
RS Cdr Visits TAAC-East, Resolute Support, February 12, 2018. General John Nicholson visited Train, Advise, and Assist Command East where he discussed (in this 1-min long video) the recent attacks by the Taliban in Kabul.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn-MfISciEU
Can Economic Interventions Reduce Violence? New Evidence from Kandahar, New America Foundation, February 16, 2018. A new report from Mercy Corps and the Political Violence FieldLab at Yale University is discussed. (video is 1 1/2 hours long).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsCvXX1aCU
Afghan Special Mission Wing: Wings of the Commandos, NSOCC-A, February 11, 2018. This short (30 sec) video features the 777 Squadron of the Afghan Air Force.
www.dvidshub.net/video/584170/afghan-special-mission-wing-wings-commandos
ANASOC's Cobra Strike Kandaks, NSOCC-A, February 10, 2018. This short video (30-secs) provides information of a newly established unit that belongs to the Afghanistan National Army Special Operations Command.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/584041/commandos-add-firepower-and-mobility-with-cobra-strike-units
Task Force-3 Geronimo Leads the Charge in Force Protection, USFOR-A, February 1, 2018. Short video describes the job of a U.S. Army unit that provides protection to Bagram Air Field (BAF).
www.dvidshub.net/video/584949/task-force-3-geronimo-leads-charge-force-protection
View a list of videos about Afghanistan.
Afghan War News Snippets
Book Excerpt - Directorate S. An excerpt of Steven Coll's new book is provided by Barnes and Noble. www.barnesandnoble.com/readouts/directorate-s-the-c-i-a-and-americas-secret-wars-in-afghanistan-and-pakistan/
Annual UNAMA Report on Civilian Casualties. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has released its annual on "The Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict", February 2018. https://unama.unmissions.org/protection-of-civilians-reports
IO - The Taliban are Eating Our Lunch. Arnel David, a U.S. Army Civil Affairs officer with Afghan deployment time, writes about how the U.S. (and Resolute Support) needs to step up their game in the information operations environment. Read "Winning the War of Perceptions in Afghanistan & Beyond", Real Clear Defense, February 16, 2018.
Taliban's 'Peace Letter'. The Taliban have disseminated a letter to the "American people" urging them to press their government to engage in peace talks with the Taliban. The 3,000-word letter was released on Feb 14th. (Gandhara, Feb 14, 2018).
Book Review. Niamatullah Ibrahimi's new book "The Hazaras and the Afghan State" is reviewed by John Waterbury. (Foreign Affairs, March/April 2018).
Return of the Fatemiyoun Fighters. For the past few years Iran has sent (either through incentives or coercion) Afghans to fight in the Syrian conflict. The Afghans were part of the Fatemiyoun brigade. Now that the conflict with ISIS has subsided the Afghans are returning to Iran or, in some cases, Afghanistan. Ahmad Shuja Jamal, a Fulbright scholar at Georgetown University, explores the future of the Fatemiyoun in "Mission Accomplished? What's next for Iran's Afghan Fighters in Syria?", War on the Rocks, February 13, 2018.
Afghan War References: Bibliography, Glossary, and Site Map
Afghan War News Site Map
www.afghanwarnews.info/sitemap.htm
Glossary of Terminology Used in Afghanistan
www.afghanwarnews.info/glossary/afghanglossary.htm
Afghanistan: Annotated Bibliography for Resolute Support
www.afghanwarnews.info/pubs/RSM-Bibliography.htm
Keep Up on the News about Afghanistan!
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Sunday, February 11, 2018
Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter - Feb 11, 2018
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
Counterinsurgency 'Light' Campaign in Afghanistan
Charles Barham, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and veteran of various programs and projects in Afghanistan, provides an excellent argument on the need for the government of Afghanistan to wage a counterinsurgency campaign. He stresses that the Afghans would be in the lead; but that they would be assisted by Resolute Support and other organizations. The COIN campaign would be a package of security, governance, and basic services.
"This does not need to be the full spectrum, comprehensive COIN led by the U.S. from 2010 to 2012, but a "light" version of that campaign. Regardless, GIRoA will likely require coalition forces to work by, with, and through them, providing training, advising, and assistance (TAA) in order for GIRoA to identify and address the specific elements of security, governance, and basic services which are the most critical for winning over the population and bringing the Taliban insurgency to an end"This work by Barham is one of the more very informative articles about the way forward in Afghanistan that has appeared in the media. One wonders if the newly established U.S. Army's Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA) or the soon-to-deploy to Afghanistan 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) has included within its training topics relating to counterinsurgency. Another good question is whether the Counterinsurgency Training Center - Afghanistan (CTC-A) is still operating.
Read "The Case for Counter Insurgency 'Light' in Afghanistan", by Charles Barham, Real Clear Defense, February 5, 2018.
Read other publications and papers about counterinsurgency in Afghanistan.
Train, Advise, Assist, Accompany, & Enable Mission in Afghanistan
An Intel Advisor Mentoring ANDSF
Reporting on the 'Train, Advise, and Assist' Mission. The renewed emphasis and modest increase in the advisory effort with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) will not win the war; however, it is an important component of the U.S. and NATO strategy for Afghanistan. For that reason, the Afghan War Blog will continue to report on Security Force Assistance efforts by NATO and other Coalition / Partner nations.
Italian Troops Travel to Farah. About 50 Italian military personnel are now in western Farah province to support Afghan forces during operations against militants. (MENAF.com, Feb 7, 2018).
TFSW Marine Advisors Worked at Kandak Level. The Marines from Task Force Southwest are working with the Afghans in Helmand province at corps, brigade, and even (at times) down to battalion level. The past rotation of Marines did this without suffering casualties - the current rotation of Marine advisors may get even closer to the front lines. Read "For U.S. troops in Afghanistan, new questions about where to be in combat", The Washington Post, February 8, 2018.
SOD-O TAA's ANASOC and More. The Special Operations Detachment-O of the Maryland Army National Guard has been working at Camp Morehead (Camp Commando) for the past several months with the primary mission of training, advising, and assisting the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC). But, in addition, the unit members have found time to conduct a little humanitarian service work in Afghanistan. (The Baltimore Sun, January 25, 2018).
Seminar on SFA. The primary mission of NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan is Security Force Assistance (SFA). Norway is hosting a seminar on the topic in March 2018.
www.prio.org/Events/Event/?x=8619
References
Read recent news reports about the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade - SFAB.
Read about the Army's newly established Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA).
Advisors and the Insider Threat in Afghanistan
In late 2012 the Afghan campaign by NATO and the U.S. came to a screeching halt for several weeks. Advisors were told to not meet with their Afghan counterparts; partnered units were instructed to stick to unilateral operations, and combat operations were dramatically down-scaled. The cause of this drastic reduction in operations was the significant increase in 'green-on-blue attacks' - later referred to by ISAF as 'insider attacks'. Afghan policemen and soldiers were killing Coalition Servicemen at an increased rate. The increased rate of attacks, if not stemmed, would have a strategic effect. Defense ministers of European countries were calling General John Allen (ISAF cdr) and threatening the withdrawal of their forces if Afghan security personnel continued to kill their soldiers. Eventually a series of steps - Guardian Angels, vetting of Afghan security personnel, cultural awareness classes, situational awareness instruction, force protection measures, etc. - slowed down the rate of insider attack incidents. These measures, once implemented, allowed the Coalition Forces to resume their partnered and security force assistance missions.
This insider threat continues to exist today. The advisors of the many countries working with their Afghan counterparts continue to keep force protection as an integral part of their operational planning and execution. In the Spring of 2018 the 1st SFAB will deploy 36 advisor teams to Afghanistan to work at the tactical level with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). Presumably the advisors are well-trained in force protection measures and have an appreciation of the insider threat.
More Info on Insider Threats
Read the account of one insider attack that took place in Helmand province in August 2012 in "Why Some Marines Fear Afghan Allies More Than the Taliban", by James Laporta and Rory Laverty, The Daily Beast, February 6, 2018.
Description and Info about the Insider Threat from the ANDSF
www.afghanwarnews.info/insiderthreat.htm
News Reports about the Insider Threat from the ANDSF
www.afghanwarnews.info/insiderthreatnews.htm
Afghan War Blog - Posts about Insider Attacks and Threats
www.afghanwarblog.com/search/label/insider-threat
Afghan War Blog - Posts about Green-on-Blue Attacks
www.afghanwarblog.com/search/label/green-on-blue
Statement by General Dunford, ISAF Commander - April 20, 2013 on Insider Threats
www.afghanwarnews.info/insiderthreat/dunfordstatementinsiderthreat.htm
Insider Threat References
www.afghanwarnews.info/insiderthreat/Insider-Threat-References.htm
ISAF Insider Threat Handguide 2.0, June 2014
www.afghanwarnews.info/insiderthreat/Insider-Threat-Handguide.htm
1st SFAB is Officially Activiated
The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) has been officially established. It will soon be on its way to Afghanistan. The Army has needed a full-time, permanent advisor corps for a long time. Observers of the ad hoc advisory effort in Afghanistan and Iraq have pointed out the need for army advisor units. [1] General Mark Milley, the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army, announced in 2016 the proposed formation of six Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs). [2] Certainly this is a move in the right direction.
News Stories on 1st SFAB Activation
"1st SFAB hosts activation ceremony; Heraldry announced", Army.mil, February 8, 2018.
"It's official: Army unveils brown beret, new patch for military advisors, SFAB", by Meghann Myers, Army Times, February 8, 2018.
"Army's top general tells new Fort Benning unit they are 'marching into history'", Ledger-Enquirer, February 8, 2018.
"Secretary of Defense James Mattis makes special trip to Fort Benning", Ledger-Enquirer, February 9, 2018.
1st SFAB News
New SFAB Handgun. Some Problems? Some of the Army's units, including the 1st SFAB, are getting fielded the U.S. Army's Sig Sauer M17 Modular Handgun. Recent news reports have revealed some problems in its performance. Read "The Army is working to fix problems with its new handgun after critical DoD report", Army Times, February 1, 2018.
"SFABs Play a Critical Role". A U.S. Army Colonel with past Afghan advisory experience in RC East says that "SFABs play a critical role as part of a total Army force, and, as such, should remain a permanent force structure". He also provides some 'lessons learned' for the SFABs:
Don't advise FSF into a new version of the American Army
Have capabilities in CI, interrogation, SIGINT, and HUMINT
Share your intel with your partner forces
Interagency transparency and cooperation is important
Interact with SOF
Read "An Advise-and-Assist Commander Has Advice for the US Army's New Partner-Trainers", Defense One, February 6, 2018.
Stakes are High for 1st SFAB. Dan Lamothe writes about the upcoming Afghan deployment for the 1st SFAB. About 800 Soldiers from the unit will go to Afghanistan along with a few hundred Soldiers from the Army's 3rd Infantry Division. "For this newly formed Army unit, the stakes in Afghanistan will be high", The Washington Post, February 8, 2018.
Footnotes and References
[2] See Advisory Brigades to be Established by U.S. Army, by John Friberg, SOFREP, June 29, 2016.
Read more about the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade - SFAB.
Read recent news reports about the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade - SFAB.
Read about the Army's newly established Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA).
Update on Air Operations in Afghanistan (Feb 11, 2018)
A-29 Super Tucano
'Operators' Graduate from ATAC. Special Operators with the Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps and General Command Special Police Units graduated from the ATAC Course at the ANASOC School of Excellence on Feb 1, 2018. Some of the graduates will move on to the ANASOC Air Targeting Officer's Course to learn how to prepare A-29 fixed-wing and MD-530 light-attack helicopter strike packages. Read more in "Afghan Tactical Air Controllers bring more firepower to the battlefield", NSOCC-A / DVIDS, February 1, 2018.
Afghanistan now the Main Effort. Read more about combat and intelligence-gathering aircraft shifting in the CENTCOM AOR. (VOA, Feb 7, 2018).
RS General Offers 'Glowing' Assessment of AAF. MG James Hecker, director of NATO Air Command - Afghanistan, held a press conference on February 7, 2018. The general is very high on the present and future capabilities of the Afghan Air Force (AAF). As usual, he provides the ever-present statement that "The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield". This, despite the fact, that the rural-based insurgency controls or contests probably 60% of the 399 districts in Afghanistan. In this RS HQs press release he says that ". . . they tried taking districts and couldn't do that either". Perhaps he should learn a little bit about how insurgencies operate and what constitutes 'district control'. Despite the cheer-leading content the RS article is a good indication on how well the AAF is progressing as increases its capacity and capability. Read "Afghanistan's Military Primed to "Cripple" Enemies, Thanks to Increased Air Capabilities", Resolute Support, February 7, 2018.
Another MOAB for Afghanistan? Could the 'Mother of All Bombs' be dropped in air opns in Afghanistan again? Could be . . . (Task & Purpose, Feb 7, 2018).
Bombing Afghan Drug Labs? Resolute Support recently applauded its success in inflicting serious financial losses on the Taliban's financial operations when it conducted an extensive bombing campaign against drug labs in Helmand province. But some observers think that RS HQs has inflated the damage done to the Taliban. US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) says that $80 million in damage was inflicted on 25 drug labs. It is an important distinction; especially when considering that some of the aircraft used include the F-22 Raptor with an operating cost of $70,000 per hour. Read more in "Doubts rise over effectiveness of bombing Afghan drug labs", Air Force Times, February 6, 2018.
Video: B-52 Strike on Helmand Province Drug Lab. Watch a video of a Stratofortress hitting a drug lab. (DVIDS, Feb 2, 2018).
A-29s and Laser-Guided Bombs. The Afghan Air Force just started to use laser-guided munitions with their new A-29 Super Tucanos. In addition, some of the C-208 aircraft will be outfitted with laser-guided rockets. How soon the AAF will be able to employ these modern munitions remains to be seen. (Khaama Press, Feb 8, 2018).
AAF is Increasing Its Capability and Capacity . . . But. A lot of news stories are coming out about how the Afghan Air Force will be a game-changer resulting in the defeat of the Taliban. This article is one more such news report. But my question is: "When is the last time air power defeated an insurgency?". Read "Why the Taliban Should Fear the Afghan Air Force", The National Interest, February 8, 2018.
SMW Instructor Pilot Talks about his Job. A pilot with the AAF's Special Mission Wing talks about his job in this short video posted on DVIDS (Jan 8, 2018).
CRU 222 and 777 SMW Training. Read about a time-sensitive target training exercise involving the Afghan Crisis Response Unit 222 and 777 Special Mission Wing in "Afghan elite hone their skills", NSOCC-A / DVIDS, February 3, 2018.
Commentary on Afghanistan
Optimism Among U.S. Military Leaders on Afghanistan. Kevin Baron, the executive editor for Defense One, writes a detailed article on why our military leaders are optimistic about Afghanistan. Read "Meet the Believers: The Afghanistan War's US Commanders are Ready For a Reboot", Defense One, February 5, 2018.
"Afghanistan is Worse Than Ever". Former SECDEF Chuck Hagel says the situation is bleak and that the time will come when the U.S. will have to leave. (Military Times, Feb 7, 2018).
"Afghanistan Strategy is Messy, But . . ." Tom Rogan provides his input on the Afghan conflict. "And even if messy, it's the best possible recipe for a more realistic victory - not defeat'". (Washington Examiner, Feb 5, 2018).
What Winning Looks Like. Nicholas Grossman, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois and editor-at-large of Arc Digital, says we need to hold the line in Afghanistan. He has some good points although he seems to think you 100,000 troops in Afghanistan to do counterinsurgency (Ummm . . . ) Read "The U.S. Needs to Rethink What Winning in Afghanistan Looks Like", National Review, February 7, 2018.
Increased OPTEMP = Increased Casualties. The U.S. has stepped up its bombing raids and close air support operations while the ANDSF (supposedly) has increased its operations against the insurgents around the country. Borhan Osman writes that this may just stiffen the Taliban resolve to not engage in negotiations and could result in an increase in civilian casualties. Read The Cost of Escalating Violence in Afghanistan, International Crisis Group, February 7, 2018.
"The Great Game?" - Not in U.S. Interests. Lyle J. Goldstein, a professor of strategy in the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) at the United States Naval War College in Newport, R.I., assesses the nature of the Afghan conflict while analyzing the motivations of Russia and China. "The Absurdity of the New 'Great Game' in Central Asia", The National Interest, February 6, 2018.
"Afghanistan is Worse Than Ever". Former SECDEF Chuck Hagel says the situation is bleak and that the time will come when the U.S. will have to leave. (Military Times, Feb 7, 2018).
"Afghanistan Strategy is Messy, But . . ." Tom Rogan provides his input on the Afghan conflict. "And even if messy, it's the best possible recipe for a more realistic victory - not defeat'". (Washington Examiner, Feb 5, 2018).
What Winning Looks Like. Nicholas Grossman, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois and editor-at-large of Arc Digital, says we need to hold the line in Afghanistan. He has some good points although he seems to think you 100,000 troops in Afghanistan to do counterinsurgency (Ummm . . . ) Read "The U.S. Needs to Rethink What Winning in Afghanistan Looks Like", National Review, February 7, 2018.
Increased OPTEMP = Increased Casualties. The U.S. has stepped up its bombing raids and close air support operations while the ANDSF (supposedly) has increased its operations against the insurgents around the country. Borhan Osman writes that this may just stiffen the Taliban resolve to not engage in negotiations and could result in an increase in civilian casualties. Read The Cost of Escalating Violence in Afghanistan, International Crisis Group, February 7, 2018.
"The Great Game?" - Not in U.S. Interests. Lyle J. Goldstein, a professor of strategy in the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) at the United States Naval War College in Newport, R.I., assesses the nature of the Afghan conflict while analyzing the motivations of Russia and China. "The Absurdity of the New 'Great Game' in Central Asia", The National Interest, February 6, 2018.
Afghan Security News
Afghan Commandos prepare for operations in Mohmand Valley,
Nangarhar province against ISKP militants
(Photo by SPC Jacob Krone, NSOCC-A, Feb 2, 2018)
U.S. Moving Troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. Jeff Schogol of Task & Purpose reports that the U.S. is moving units from Iraq to Afghanistan. (Task & Purpose, Feb 5, 2018).
Northern Afghanistan - Refuge for Regional Terrorists? Russia is concerned that former fighters for ISIS will take up camp in northern Afghanistan. (Voice of America, Feb 8, 2018).
Afghan Women Serving with SOF Units. Martha Schaeffer, of the NATO Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan (NSOCC-A), shares with us information on how Afghan women are serving with Afghan Special Security Forces (ASSF) and about the Afghan Female Tactical Platoons (FTPs). Read "Afghan Special Security Forces Women: Pushing boundaries; breaking barriers", DVIDS, February 1, 2018.
Quantity over Quality? There are over 2,500 trainees currently enrolled in the 14-week long Afghan Commando qualification course at Camp Commando (Morehead). The intent is to double the size of the Afghan Special Security Forces (ASSF). Hopefully ANASOC is not sacrificing quality to obtain quantity (SOF Truth #2). (NSOCC-A, Feb 7, 2018).
Examining Recent Terrorist Attacks. The past few months have seen an increase in terrorist attacks in Afghan cities. Thomas Ruttig, of the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), takes a close look in Five Questions to Make Sense of the New Peak in Urban Attacks and a Violent Week in Kabul, AAN, February 5, 2018.
District Policemen Working in Provincial Capital. One of the many reasons that Helmand province suffers from insecurity is that many of the policemen who are assigned to districts are in the provincial capital guarding officials and politicians. For instance, 94 policemen and officers from Kajaki district are currently serving in Lashkar Gah. Read more in "Afghan Police Protect Officials, Not Public, In Frontline Province", Gandhara, February 8, 2018.
Intel Officer Shipping Out. Read Admiral (lower half) Kelly Aeschbach, currently deputy director of intelligence at USFOR-A, is heading to Offutt Air Force Base.
NSOCC-A General Taking Off. BG Kirk Smith, currently DCG of NATO's SOF in Afghanistan, is heading to Europe to take command of SOCEUR.
Kabul Security Plan. The Afghan government has approved in principle a security plan for Kabul city in light of recent terrorist attacks. (Khaama Press, Feb 5, 2018).
China as a CT Partner in Afghanistan? Hmmm. The recent bombin in Badakhshan province of training camps run by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) could be the forerunner to an increased degree of cooperation with China. See "Pentagon thinks China could be a partner in Afghanistan", Military Times, Feb 8, 2018.
Afghan Officers Fired Over Kabul Attack. Afghan President Ghani says that seven Afghan army officers - including two generals - have been dismissed for "professional negligence" during a recent deadly attack on a Kabul military base by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). (Gandhara, Feb 6, 2018).
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