Interim Security Critical Infrastructure (ISCI) Program - Is it Working?

The Marines are pushing a program in Afghanistan called the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure (ISCI).  The ISCI was started (as best as I can determine) in the fall of 2010 - see "Marines, Afghans come together for way forward in Marjah", USMC.mil, October 23, 2010.  It has had a rapid growth in Marjah and some are keeping a close eye on it. The Afghans recruited into the ISCI units are paid $150 a month; the leaders a little bit more.  The ISCI units are a "neighborhood watch" group.  It is similar to what U.S. Special Forces units are trying to accomplish with the Afghan Local Police (ALP) initiative; although the ALP has the backing of the Afghan government and is a more structured program.

Some Afghans are fearful that the ISCI program will turn a bunch of loosely organized and un-supervised militias on the local population.  There already is friction between some of the groups.  See "Afghans fear return of the warlords as anti-Taliban militias clash", Guardian UK, February 16, 2011.

Learn more about the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure.