No Newsletter for a Couple of Weeks

Unfortunately there will be no "Afghan War News Weekly Newsletter" for the next couple of weeks. I am on the road traveling on a work assignment and will be unable to blog or publish the weekly newsletter. I anticipate the next issue to be published on Sunday, October 4th. Regards, AWN.

Video - A-10 Hawg Combat Footage

Film footage has been released depicting the exploits of an A-10 Fighter Squadron in Afghanistan during the fighting season of 2014. The story illustrates the essential role of the A-10 Warthog along with the Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) providing close air support to the ground troops in Afghanistan. The importance of air support to a counterinsurgency fight cannot be overstated. It appears the documentary has been created by Combat Camera airmen - probably based at Bagram Air Field. The video is about 22 minutes long and includes combat footage. It has not been officially released by the Air Force - most likely because it casts the A-10 in a very favorable light at a time that the Air Force is hoping to kill the A-10 in order to free up funds for its very disappointing and extremely expensive F-35 Lightning II. Read more in "Hawg: The Story of the A-10 and Close Air Support in Afghanistan", John Q. Public, September 4, 2015. The video is embedded in the article and also available on YouTube at this link. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L_TjXXx7eQ

Gen Campbell "Crucial" to Afghanistan

General John Campbell is the commander of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. He started out as the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force or ISAF in the summer of 2014 and then transitioned to command Resolute Support in December 2014. By many accounts he has done a fine job (an assessment I would agree with as well). It would seem that Gen Campbell wields considerable influence within the Afghan government - starting at the top with President Ghani. His influence is enhanced by two factors. One is that the Afghan Ministry of Defence (MoD) has no confirmed Minister of Defence - only one who is an acting minister (thus less influential). Another is that the Taliban have yet to be defeated and appear to have the ANDSF on the defensive - therefore the Afghans are relying more heavily on Gen Campbell (and his air power and SOF assets).

One bright note (according the the news report cited below) is his lack of hesitation in recommending transfers or dismissals of senior Afghan military officers (many - or most - are incompetent and corrupt). This is something that was not done enough by previous COMISAFs (or perhaps they made the recommendations but the MoD and Karzai blew them off). The NATO mission in Afghanistan is Security Force Assistance - or "Train, Advise, and Assist - TAA" in the 8 Essential Functions. However, the Americans also have complimenting missions of counter terrorism and close air support. Many of the U.S. SOF are on the ground conducting the TAA mission during combat missions while other NATO countries (for the most part) stay on large bases for their missions.

Read more in "Afghans See American General as Crucial to Country's Defense", by Rod Nordland, The New York Times, September 10, 2015.

Pakistan

A writer, Vikrma Sood, has posted his views about the struggle for leadership of the Taliban, how Pakistan continues to support the various insurgent groups, and the 'blindness' of the United States in recognizing the true policy of Pakistan. "The takeaways from this are apparent. Afghanistan and India will continue to deal with a predatory neighbour who will change tactics and strategy but not policy. The US will continue its policy of profound ambivalence on matters terrorism (and even nuclear) when they concern Pakistan.". The article is posted here "Afghanistan's looming crisis", Observer Research Foundation (ORF), September 3, 2015.

Pakistan has announced that it conducted its first air strike using a domestically manufactured drone. The strike reportedly killed three militants in the Shawal Valley in North Wazaristan area. Read more in "Pakistan Says Its Drone Killed 3 Militants", The New York Times, September 7, 2015. See also "Pakistan: First Domestic Drone Strike", Foreign Policy, September 8, 2015.

Pakistan and LeT. Christine Fair tells us how Pakistan's intelligence agency created a pliant proxy and implacable foe of India in "The Lashkar's empire of jihad", India Today, September 11, 2015.

RS Update Edition 4 (Sep 12, 2015)

Resolute Support HQs is publishing short videos, called Resolute Support Update, on a periodic basis to disseminate information about the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Usually (almost always) it is a 'good news story'. Most stories are intended to generate support for the RS mission but still - some are informative. The most recent video - September 12, 2015. - highlights the Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) CASEVAC improvements at the Kandahar Regional Military Hospital (ignore the recent Stars & Stripes news report on difficulties of ANDSF with CASEVAC), TAAC-West commander interview, and General Phil Breedlove (Supreme Allied Commander Europe). www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGd4Ji-AB6s

Mobile Money Plan for ALP

A plan to pay the Afghan Local Police or ALP in Kapisa province by electronic transfer is working out well (at least according to Resolute Support HQs). The mobile money pilot program registration is complete and will supposedly bring a safer, transparent payment process to the province. If this works out well it may be expanded throughout Afghanistan. The mobile banking services are expected "reduce opportunities for leakages" - a different way of saying corruption, I suppose.The mobile money program allows policemen to receive salaries through their mobile phones and use cash withdrawals without having to step foot in a traditional bank - banks not always available in remote and unsecure areas of Afghanistan where the ALP are based. Cell phone use has grown significantly in Afghanistan since 2001 so the use of mobile banking is possible.

'Trusted Agents' are used where the mobile banking scheme is not yet employed. Trusted agents are Ministry of Interior appointed personnel that physically deliver salaries in cash to remote areas where banks are not available. This method - using the trusted agent - is dangerous (for the trusted agent) and subject to corruption by police commanders. Read more in "Mobile money pilot program bringing safe, transparent pay to Afghan police", DVIDS, August 31, 2015.

Paper on COIN Policy in South Asia

This paper compares the ". . . accounts of different conflicts in India and South Asia, it delineates two ideal types of counterinsurgency: 'population-centric' and 'enemy-centric'. While both models are institutionalist in nature - they assume the malleability of the population's preferences - they differ on whether persuasive or coercive institutions are used to mould those civilian attitudes towards the state. The study also explores the effects of mixing the two models and how this generates noisy signals that inhibit cooperation."

Read Challenges in Designing Counterinsurgency Policy: An Institutionalist Perspective, by Kaustav Char Chakrabarti, ORF Occasional Paper #71, September 2015. 50-page paper posted on Observer Research Foundation website. Read more papers about counterinsurgency and about counterinsurgency in Afghanistan.

Commentary

Paper - "Afghanistan: Back to the Brink". Prem Mahadevan of the Center for Security Studies (CSS) provides us his view of where things will go in Afghanistan. "This year has been the bloodiest one in Afghanistan since the beginning of the U.S.-led intervention in 2001". The author believes that "the conflict in this perennially fragile state is about to enter a new phase of intensity that will be difficult for the West to ignore". Read Afghanistan: Back to the Brink, International Relations and Security Network (ISN), September 8, 2015. www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?id=193480

Article - How to Lose a Civil War. James T. Quinlivan, using the historic examples of Chinese Nationalist Army, Vietnam, and Syria states that in a civil war the government forces attempt to hold too much undefendable territory. He cautions that the ANDSF may be overstretched in remote locations with little strategic value (for example, Helmand province). Read more in "How to Lose a Civil War: Lessons for Afghanistan and Syria", War on the Rocks, September 10, 2015.

Interview of Ben Anderson. The journalist and filmmaker that produced "Afghanistan After Us" is interviewed by Suzanne Schroeder. Read the interview in "A Discussion with Ben Anderson of VICE About the War in Afghanistan", War on the Rocks, September 7, 2015.

Law and Hybrid Conflict. A participant in a Pentagon symposium on hybrid conflicts organized by the office of the legal advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff has shared some notes with us. Read "What is Hybrid Conflict?", Lawfare Blog, September 11, 2015.

Movies about Afghanistan. In December 2014 Christian Bleuer, writing for the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), provided a review of movies about Afghanistan from 1909 to 2001. He has since, September 11, 2015, updated his work with a new article on movies about Afghanistan from 2001 to 2015. Very good articles - both of them.

Afghan Women and Their Clothes. The blue burqa is a symbol to many westerners as something that diminishes Afghan women. However, one columnist sees it somewhat differently. Read Clothes and Daggers by Rafia Zakaria, posted on Aeon, September 2015.

Afghan Millennials. "The first millennials were born in 1980, the same year the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. This generation of Afghans has only known war, but is also better educated than any prior generation and represents the country's future". Jean MacKenzie, a writer for The GroundTruth Project and the Afghanistan country director for Women for Women International, provides us with interviews of young Afghans. Read "The Millennials: a generation of war looks to the future", foreverstan.com, September 11, 2015.

Is it Too Late for Afghanistan? One commentator, Jean MacKenzie, provides us food for thought on how far Afghanistan has come since 2001 yet the persistent problems that still plagued the country - a divided NUG government, corruption, decrease in foreign aid, increase in security, and a faltering economy. Read "Afghanistan: the Ring Road May Now Be Paved, But Where Does It Lead?", The World Post, September 10, 2015.

Peace Talks

Susan Rice & Pakistan. U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice met with Pakistani leaders during a visit to the country a few weeks back to discuss efforts to revive peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The talks have been suspended since the news of the death of Mullah Omar broke. She also urged Pakistan to intensify its efforts to counter terrorist sanctuaries inside its border. Hmmmm. I wonder if she also added "Stop supporting the Taliban!". Likely not. Diplomats seem to be diplomatic when they should pound someone over the head with a hammer. Read more in "U.S. envoy discusses Afghan peace efforts on Pakistan visit", Military Times, August 30, 2015. Read also "US Wants Pakistan to Help Reduce Violence in Afghanistan", Voice of America, August 30, 2015.

Peace a Distant Dream. The future of Afghanistan is one without peace - the Taliban are unlikely to topple the Afghan government yet there is no sign of them abandoning the fight. The Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) have proven incapable of defeating the Taliban. So peace is a long way away. For many of the Afghans escaping the violence means attempting to reach Europe to start a new life. Read "Peace remains a distant dream in Afghanistan", BBC News, September 4, 2015.

Lack of Mutual Trust? There appears to be a lack of mutual trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is certainly a stumbling block in the resumption of peace talks. Read more in "No Sign When Afghan-Taliban Peace Talks Might Resume", Voice of America, September 7, 2015.

International Support Needed for Peace. M. Ashraf Haidari writes on prospects for peace for Afghanistan in "Elusive Peace in Post 9/11 Afghanistan", Foreign Policy, September 11, 2015.

Resuming Peace Talks? Afghanistan and Pakistan are talking about it. Pakistani officials are asking Afghan officials to resume peace talks with the Taliban. It has been a few months since the previous peace talks got suspended in the wake of the Mullah Omar death reports. Read more in "Pakistan, Afghanistan Weigh Resumption of Taliban Talks", Voice of America, September 3, 2015.

Islamic State

"One important effect of the Taliban's confirmation of Mullah Omar's death is that it may allow the Islamic State militant group to expand in Afghanistan, an area which the latter organization refers to as part of Wilayat Khurasan, which covers Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian republics. This expansion is in line with the group's strategic vision of global expansion."

Read more in "Islamic State in Afghanistan Ready to Capitalize on Mullah Omar's Death", Terrorism Monitor, Volume 13, Issue 18, September 3, 2015. Jamestown Foundation.

IS hungry for Afghan Territory. "Homegrown militants loyal to the Islamic State group are making inroads into Afghanistan, controlling territory in some parts of the country and ruling with the harsh hand the group is notorious for in Iraq and Syria, according to officials, military leaders and analysts". Learn more in "IS loyalists seen eyeing a presence in Afghanistan, hungry for territory and assets", Fox News, September 8, 2015.

IS Infighting? "Incidents of violent infighting between Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syria and Iraq are on the rise with rifts developing between elements within the terrorist group and arguments erupting over the distribution of spoils, sex slaves and cash . . ." Read more in "Infighting Among IS Extremists on the Rise", Voice of America, September 11, 2015.

Is ISIL Winning? "At the tenth anniversary of 9/11, it seemed like we had terrorism on the run; Osama in Laden was dead, the Taliban was defeated and officials like director Leon Panetta had proclaimed al Qaeda all but finished. But as we mark on Friday the 14th anniversary of the devastating attacks on the United States, it's time to admit that the terrorists - at least one specific branch of terrorists - are now winning. And it's time to admit that our reponse to the so-called Islamic State has been an abject failure". Read more by Bruce Hoffman in "ISIL is Winning", Politico Magazine, September 10, 2015.

ISIS Kills Mullah in Nangarhar. "The loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group executed a Mullah Imam in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan". The incident took place in the Achin district. (Khaama Press, Sep 11, 2015).

How does the Islamic State Recruit? Watch a video and learn. Provided by The New York Times, August 21, 2015. www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/21/world/videos-isis-recruits.html

Islamic State Prisons in Afghanistan? According to one news report the Islamic State is running private prisons in three areas of Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. Most of the prisoners are members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and the Afghan Local Police. Read more in "Islamic State Running Prisons Inside Afghanistan", Voice of America, September 9, 2015.

SOF News

SF Soldiers on Horseback After 9/11. Before 9/11, the last time American forces fought on horseback was on January 16, 1942 when the U.S. Army's 26th Cavalry Regiment charged an advanced guard of the 14th Japanese Army as it advanced from Manila. At the onset of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) select members of the 5th Special Forces Group infiltrated northern Afghanistan and linked up with groups of the Northern Alliance. Some of them soon found themselves on horseback fighting with a warlord known as Rashid Dostum (now First Vice President). Read more in a news report by We Are the Mighty, September 11, 2015.

COL Charles Beckwith - One Helicopter Short. Phil Walter - a former member of the military and intelligence community - has provided us with a short bio of Colonel Charles Beckwith. COL Beckwith was one of the founders of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta which first gained fame for its role in the ill-fated OPERATION EAGLE CLAW. Read more in "Leadership in Action: Colonel Charles A. Beckwith", The Military Leader, September 7, 2015.

No Medal of Honor for Green Beret? An Army SFC received the Silver Star for heroism in Afghanistan. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor by senior military officials in Afghanistan but the Army approved the lower award instead. Read "Pentagon watchdog investigating why the Army didn't award Medal of Honor to Green Beret", The Washington Post, September 8, 2015.

SF "Gag Order? A member of the House Armed Services Committee is blasting the Army over an alleged 'gag order' barring SF Soldiers from speaking to their elected officials or the media in defense of a decorated Green Beret who got it trouble for shoving an Afghan police commander accused of raping a boy. Read more in "Rep rips Army over alleged 'gag order' barring soldiers from defending Green Beret", Fox News, September 11, 2015.

Combatives for Special Forces. The SF community has gone through several styles of combatives - MACP, SOCP, LINE, MCMAP, and others. Read more in "Here's how military combat training is evolving", Business Insider, September 8, 2015.

Estonian SOF. There are a lot of nations participating in the NATO mission in Afghanistan. One of them is Estonia. Watch a video about Estonian SOF by Intrepid TV.
https://youtu.be/yqXm1JvXIks

Camp Bastion Saved by US SOF? A news report by The Daily Mail (Sep 5, 2015) says that the former Camp Bastion is at risk of seizure by the Taliban and that almost 100 United States SOF personnel were deployed to defend it. The same report says that the Afghan army is paying the Taliban not to attack Camp Bastion. Hmmmm.

Documentary - Australia's SAS. An official documentary gives a rare glimpse inside Australia's secretive and elite military unit. The 11-part series is named The Australian SAS: The Untold History. The Australian SAS has been a long-time contributor to SOF organizations in Afghanistan. Read more in a news report and watch a 6 minute trailer by ABC.net.au, September 2, 2015.

SOF in Afghanistan. The Afghan National Army is doing okay - according to some observers. The Afghan special mission units, commandos, and special forces are doing good. The Afghan police? Not so much. Read more in "Special Operations: Surviving Change in Afghanistan", Strategy Page, September 8, 2015.

SF Soldier Dies in Parachute Accident. A member of the 1st Special Forces Group died Friday, September 11, 2015 during an airborne operation at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. (KXLY.com, Sep 12, 2015).

SORA Conference. The Special Operations Research Association 2015 Conference - 2015 Annual Symposium - will be held at Fort Walton Beach, Florida on 11-12 December, 2015. www.specopsjournal.org/conference.html

Intelligence & Counterterrorism News

Intel Analyst Revolt at CENTCOM? One news article is reporting a 'revolt' by intelligence professionals working at Central Command in Florida. Seems that the dire reports about the fight with ISIS are being sugarcoated by very senior intelligence officers in order to reflect the "We are beating ISIS" message being broadcast by the Obama administration and senior American generals. This is not unusual. The same happened in Afghanistan. I spent four years traveling from FOB and COP and then back to ISAF headquarters in Kabul. The capability of the ANA kandaks and district police got better and better as you moved from company, to battalion, to brigade, to RC, to IJC, and finally to ISAF headquarters. The reality on the ground was slowly taken out of  Intel reports and assessments until ISAF headquarters staff had a false impression of how the ANSF (ANDSF) were really performing. Looks like we have the same type of two, three, and four star generals heading up the fight in Iraq/Syria as well. They are more about "messaging" than about "reality". Read more in "50 Spies Say ISIS Intelligence Was Cooked", The Daily Beast, September 9, 2015. Oh, and Secretary of Defense Carter is not happy - says he wants the unvarnished truth in intelligence reports. (The Hill Defense Blog, Sep 10, 2015).

Book - Defending CIA Interrogations. A book has been released that provides a defense of CIA interrogations during the "Global War on Terror" or GWOT. The book has been wrote by former high-ranking CIA officials and disputes the findings of a Senate report released last year about the agency's use of brutal interrogation methods. Read more in "Former CIA officials release book defending agency interrogations", The Washington Post, September 8, 2015.

CIA Blood Chit. Blood chits were carried to request aid from people in enemy territory. Usually military or government personnel with a high risk of capture (pilots, Special Forces, CIA agents, etc.) would be issued a blood chit. Learn more about blood chits from the Central Intelligence Agency's website.

CIA Missed Opportunity? It is appears that the Central Intelligence Agency goofed up when they may have detected a western hostage (possibly Warren Weinstein) but did not keep drone coverage in play. Read more in "Officials fear CIA missed opportunity to identify Western hostage", Washington Post,  September 10, 2015.

Day in the Life of a CIA Intern. So how does one get to work for the CIA? I suppose one avenue would be to start out as an intern. Learn more in a news release by the agency (CIA, Sep 10, 2015).

Afghan Intel Program Shut Down by Snowden. One of the disclosures based on documents leaded by Edward Snowden, the former National Agency contractor, prompted the shutdown of a key intelligence program in Afghanistan". Read more in "Top spy bemoans loss of key information gathering program", The Washington Post, September 9, 2015.

Drone Pilots Gapping It. "Drone or RPA pilots are leaving the USAF faster than they can be replaced. Even more pay doesn't seem to slow the hemorrhaging down much. Concerns of burnout, stress, mental health concerns and even moral injury have become a familiar litany highlighted in press releases and articles about the RPA pilot shortage crisis". Read more in "Finding Meaning Inside the Box: Understanding RPA Crew Resilence", Small Wars Journal, September 10, 2015. Learn more about drones (or RPAs, or UAVs, whatever) in Afghanistan. Despite the problems with drone pilots it seems the activity level is still robust - see "U.S. drone strike kills 15 Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan", Reuters, September 11, 2015.

Rebranding al-Qaeda. "There is no love lost between al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Al-Qaeda appears to be rolling out a very deliberate PR strategy against its erstwhile affiliate. Can the organization re-brand itself as the jihadi group the world can live with?" Read "Extreme Makeover, Jihadist Edition: Al-Qaeda's rebranding campaign", War on the Rocks, September 3, 2015.

Al-Qaeda 14 Years Later. With all the media focus on the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (as well as North Africa and Afghanistan) we sometimes forget who public enemy number one is. The folks at the West Point Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) have not forgotten. Their September issue of CTC Sentinel focuses on the topic in a special issue entitled The Al-Qa'ida Threat 14 Years Later, Volume 8, Issue 9, September 2015.
www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/september-2015

British 'kill list' or JPEL. A little news article telling us a little about the Joint Priority Effects List (JPEL). Read "A British 'kill list' does exist. We used it in Afghanistan", The Spectator, September 9, 2015.

Intel "Reachback" from Afghanistan. As the forces in Afghanistan slowly dwindle down some units are relying on elements in the United States to provide finished intelligence products and reports. Read more in "Military Intelligence Soldiers awarded for helping deployed comrades", DVIDS, September 10, 2015.

Cognitive Dominance Education Program (CDEP). "Led by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's (TRADOC) G2, the Cognitive Dominance Education Program (CDEP) was formerly called the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies, and has evolved from lessons learned during operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.". Sounds like a real fancy name that obscures the purpose of the program. Learn more about CDEP here in a post on the Army's Stand-To! website dated September 8, 2015.

Security News

Losing Helmand? Some interesting Internet blogs have reported a quiet visit to the White House recently by General John Campbell to warn 'the powers that be' that Helmand province could fall to the Taliban. The Taliban effectively control most of northern Helmand and the south isn't that secure either. Hmmmm.

HASC Chairman Warns Obama. The House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Thornberry is urging the Obama administration to halt the draw down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan - he is concerned that it could once again become a safe haven for terrorists. Read more in "GOP chairman warns Obama against 'hasty' Afghan withdrawal", The Hill, September 8, 2015.

Friendly Fire Incident? The Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced this past week that the United States conducted an air attack that killed at least 11 counternarcotics police in Helmand province. The U.S. is denying the deaths were from a U.S. air strike. It appears that the CN police were in the middle of an operation to arrest drug smugglers and that they had been posing as a Taliban convoy. An investigation is ongoing. Read more in "At least 11 Afghan police officers killed in friendly-fire incident, officials say", The Washington Post, September 7, 2015.

Dutch Aid Worker Freed. A Dutch aid worker who was abducted by unidentified gunmen in June in Afghanistan has been freed after being held for 81 days. Anja de Beer is now in safe hands (last heard she was recovering in the Dutch Embassy in Kabul). (Radio Free Europe, Sep 11, 2015).

Bagram Hit by Missiles. The Taliban fired a series of missiles into the Bagram Air Field (BAF) late Thursday (Sep 10th) but caused no injuries. Four rockets were fired and three hit the base. (ABC News, Sep 10, 2015).

Russian Helicopters for AAF? Russia is considering sending military assistance to Afghanistan. Read more in a news report by Khaama Press, September 8, 2015.

MD 530F Training for AAF. The U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization has been on the ground in Afghanistan since January conducting combat mission training on the MD 530F helicopter of the Afghan Air Force. Read more in "Soldiers train Afghan Air Force pilots for combat", Redstone Rocket, September 9, 2015.

$369 Million Contract for MTVs. Navistar Defense has been awarded a huge contract by the US Army Contracting Command to provide 2,293 Medium Tactical Vehicles (MTVs) to build upon the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) MTV Fleet. Hopefully the contract comes with a contract maintenance program that both provides maintenance to the vehicles and maintenance training for ANA vehicle mechanics. Because . . . . (Shepard Media, Sep 10,2015).

Paper on Afghan Local Police. A detailed and comprehensive report has been published by Stability: International Journal of Security & Development entitled "The Afghan Local Police - Closing the Security Gap?", September 2015. Authors include Sam Vincent, Florian Weigand, and Hameed Hakimi. A very good read on the Afghan Local Police or ALP.

AAF Under Performs despite High Costs. Read an article about the "Afghan Air Force and the Special Mission Wing", Defense-Aerospace.com, September 2015.

Czech Troops to Stay in Afghanistan Beyond 2016. Troops from the Czech Republic are currently guarding Bagram Air Base in central Parwan province and manning staff positions at Resolute Support HQs. (Pajhwok Afghan News, Sep 10, 2015).

Afghans Graduate from Indian Army Course. Fifteen Afghan army cadets graduated from the Indian Army's Officer Training Academy. (Khaama Press, Sep 12,2015).

Logar Police Chief Killed. The Afghan Logar Police commander was shot dead in Kabul on Thursday, Sep 10th. (Pajhwok Afghan News, Sep 10, 2015).

Base in Baghlan-i-Markazi District Taken. The Taliban have recaptured a base in Baghlan province killing four ANA soldiers during the event. (Pajhwok News, Sep 12, 2015).

Shah Wali Kot District Attack. 12 militants including eight suicide bombers were killed in an attack on a security post in southern Kandahar province on Friday, September 11, 2015. Four local policemen sustained injuries. Sounds like a victory; we'll take it. (Khaam Press, Sep 12, 2015).

Pair Stoned for Adultery. The Taliban stoned a couple for adultery charges in Sar--Pul on Saturday, September 12, 2015. (Pajhwok Afghan News, Sep 12, 2015).

13 Killed in Balkh province. Unknown gunmen executed 13 people - all victims were Hazara except for one lone soldier traveling with the group. (The Washington Post, Sep 5, 2015).

65 Badakhshan Villages Taken by Taliban. Over 65 villages in this northeastern province have fallen to the Taliban in the past week. (Tolo News, Sep 10, 2015). See also "Raghistan District of Badakhshan Collapsed to Taliban", Tolo News, September 11, 2015.

5 Civilians Kidnapped. Unidentified gunmen kidnapped five civilians on the highway between Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pul provinces. (Khaama Press, Sep 10, 2015).

UNICEF Convoy Attacked. A bomb exploded Thursday (Sep 10) on a convoy of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in eastern Nangarhar but caused no casualties. (Khaama Press, Sep 10, 2015).

5 ANP Killed in Ghazni. Five police officers were killed in the central province of Ghazni by a roadside blast on Thursday, Sep 10th.

Attack in Qushtapa District. Four policemen died in Jawzjan province on Monday evening while a government official claims that 13 Taliban were killed in the attack.

Narai District Fight. A massed force of Taliban fighters attacked two security outposts in the Narai district of Kunar province on Monday.

Governance News

Karzai and the Durand Line. The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke out recently about the problems Afghanistan is having with Pakistan over the Durand Line. The border area is very porous and poorly marked. Some areas of the border are claimed by both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Read more in "Karzai: Afghan people will not give up their rights on Durand Line", Khaama Press, September 8, 2015.

Electoral Reform? The Electoral Reform Commission reports that President Ghani has approved seven out of eleven key reform proposals. Read a report by Tolo News, September 7, 2015.

National ID Card. Not yet. It is delay after delay. The national electronic identity card (e-NIC) may be just too hard to do in a society that didn't have paved roads, railroads, or phones just 15 years ago. So far over $30 million has been spent on the project. It is hard to say how much went to the e-NIC effort and how much is sitting in someones bank account in Dubai. Was anyone watching where the money went? (Tolo News, Sep 12, 2015).

Pakistan ID Cards for Militants. Foreign Islamic militants have been able to secure Pakistani national identity cards for years in exchange for bribes as low as $100. That will never happen once the Afghans get their system up and running - because . . . the Afghans just hate corruption and Afghan officials can't be bought!  Read more in "Pakistan Corruption Lets Militants Get National ID Cards", ABC News, September 2, 2015.

Diplomatic Training. The United States and China have been running a training program for young Afghan diplomats. Learn more in a 20-min video posted by the U.S. Department of State (Sep 9, 2015).

RECCA and SOM. Two conferences held in Kabul this past week saw delegates from about 60 countries and numerous donor organizations in attendance. The conferences were concerned with the Afghan economy. Numerous resolutions were adopted that will assure continued donor nation support. Naturally Afghanistan will expend great effort in eliminating corruption! Of course. Read more in "Govt Vows to Keep Promises Ahead of Brussels Summit", Tolo News, September 7, 2015.

Development News

RECCA and Silk Road. Afghanistan hosted the sixth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan - RECCA VI- in Kabul. Afghanistan can benefit through forward-looking objectives geared towards regional economic integration. The country will reap rewards if it can capitalize on its natural role as the Asian transit and trade roundabout connecting the various countries in Central Asia, South Asia, and other regions to each other through trade. There are many initiatives that will aid in developing these trade routes to include the Silk Road projects by various countries in the region. Read more in "The Silk Road Through Afghanistan", by M. Ashraf Haidari in Foreign Policy, September 2, 2015.

Mining Sector Plagued by Corruption. In an unsurprising report two anti-corruption organizations accused the Afghan government of failing to take action to protect it's mining sector from graft and corruption. (U.S. News & World Report, Sep 6, 2015).

Afghan Reconstruction. Liana Barcia writes about how reconstruction in Afghanistan is a strategic balancing act in a news report. (Devex.com,  Sep 7, 2015).

Food Insecurity. The number of people in Afghanistan resorting to selling land or turning to friends or family for help because of food insecurity has doubled in the last year according to a joint report released by the United Nations and partner agencies. (UN News Centre, Sep 10, 2015).

Airfield Economic Transition. The American Chamber of commerce in Afghanistan, in partnership with the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA), Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan and the U.S. Department of Commerce will promoting opportunities for the private sector to acquire key military airbase properties and assets including warehouses, hangars, cold storage facilities, offices, residences, fuel depots, maintenance facilities and many more. Watch a 2 minute video entitled "Airfield Economic Transition", by Resolute Support posted on YouTube.com, September 10, 2015.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQbL7PlN5zk

Afghan Airspace Management Capacity Improves? The Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) has up to now had a difficult time in taking over control of the airspace in Afghanistan. It would seem that now the wrinkles are ironed out - at least if we are to believe a news release by Resolute Support headquarters. Hmmmmm. Is it actual progress or just more 'spin'? Time will tell. Read "Afghanistan enhances airspace management capacity", DVIDS, September 12, 2015.

$200 Million for Afghan Power Grid. A number of nations are contributing a total of $200 million to the Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund (AITF) that will go to the completion of a national grid that will benefit millions of Afghans and help reduce the power costs of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). Currently most of the ANA facilities are powered by gas generators - a costly way of providing power. Hopefully that will change in the future - at least we might see less corruption if the requirement for fuel drops. Read more in "NATO allies, partners commit $200 million to help power ANDSF", DVIDS, September 10, 2015. Listen to MG Todd Semonite, CG of Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A) explain the importance of this project in a short video posted by RS HQs on DVIDS on September 12, 2015; narrated by Capt. Sudan Harrington..

OpEd on Diplomatic Ties Needed for Economic Advances. "The geopolitical location of Afghanistan is quite promising, given it can bridge the world over with . . . " Central Asia, China, India, and Pakistan. It stands at a crossroads for trade. Part of this promise is the normalization of relations between India and Pakistan. Read more in "Regional Friendly Ties Earn Economic Riches", Daily Outlook Afghanistan, September 12, 2015.

UNOPS and Development Training. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations. It supports the successful implementation of its partner's peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. It is very active in Afghanistan. UNOPS offers training programs in Afghanistan. Read of one trainee who is participating in a 60-day training event under the capacity building component of the Rural Access Improvement Project in "A rising civil servant in Mazar, Afghanistan", UNOPS, July 29, 2015.

Taliban

Leadership Struggles. Mullah Akhtar Muhammaad Mansour is still consolidating his power with the Taliban's organization. However, a fellow by the name of Mullah Dadullah is resisting. Read more in "Taliban's New Leader in Afghanistan Moves to Quash Dissent", The New York Times, September 6, 2015.

Mansour Seeks Support From Outside Afghanistan. "The Afghan Taliban's new leader is wooing powerful figures from the militant movement based in the Middle East who have not yet publicly pledged their support . . ." Read "Afghan Taliban leader sends envoy abroad to win support, united group", Thomson Reuters Foundation, September 11, 2015.

Pakistani Intel Involvement? A dissident Taliban commander claims that Pakistani intelligence ordered him to conduct assassinations and attacks in Afghanistan. Mullah Mansour Dadullah, a former Taliban commander, released a video on September 5th detailing the involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI). Read more in a report by The Long War Journal, September 7, 2015.

Afghan Women

Peace through Education? A Boston-based filmmaker, Beth Murphy, describes her project to film a project about girls education in Afghanistan and remarks on the security situation in Kabul. Read "Ominous Signs en Route to a Unique School for Girls in Afghanistan", The Huffington Post, September 1, 2015.

Afghan War News Snippets

DynCorp Contractors Honored. Three contractors killed in August were honored by Resolute Support Headquarters in Kabul on September 9, 2015 during a memorial ceremony. Richard McEvoy, Barry Sutton, and Corey Dodge were killed when their convoy was attacked by a car bomb in Kabul. They were working in support of the Afghan National Army / Afghan National Police Advisor and Mentor Program. (DVIDS, Sep 11, 2015).

Martyrs Week. Government officials, dignitaries, former Jihadi leaders, family and friends of Ahmad Shah Massoud marked the 14th anniversary of Massoud's assassination on Wednesday (Sep 9) at a wreath laying ceremony in Massoud Square in Kabul. Other ceremonies observed the popular Northern Alliance leader who was killed two days before 9/11. (Tolo News, Sep 10, 2015).

RS Cdr's 9/11 Commemoration Message. View General Campbell's message to the force posted on his Facebook account (Facebook, Sep 11, 2015). See also a video about a 9/11 ceremony held on the RS compound in Kabul (YouTube.com, posted by RS HQs, Sep 11, 2015).

UNAMA Report to SC on Afghanistan. The United Nations organization working in Afghanistan is required to submit a update report every three months to the United Nations Security Council. The latest report is dated September 1, 2015.
http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/SG%20Reports/SG_Report_September_2015.pdf

Paper "Medical Care in Armed Conflict". The Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (PILAC) at Harvard Law School has published a paper entitled Medical Care in Armed Conflict: IHL and State Responses to Terrorism, September 8, 2015. The paper explores the many questions about medical care of insurgents and terrorists. http://pilac.law.harvard.edu/medical-care-in-armed-conflict-report

Afghan Casualty Evacs. The Afghan security forces are having trouble treating their wounded. Read more in "Afghans Struggle to Get Injured Off the Front Lines", Stars and Stripes, September 8, 2015.

Army 3 Star Says Language & Culture Important. The deputy commander of TRADOC recently toured the Defense Language Institute (DLI) and made some comments about the importance of language and culture during deployments to conflict areas. (Army.mil, Sep 3, 2015).

Marines and Women in Combat. "Over the past nine months, the Marine Corps tested a gender-integrated task force in both Twentynine Palms, Calif. and Camp Lejeune, N.C. in an attempt to gauge what the Marine Corps might look like with women in combat roles". Read more in "Marine's women in combat experiment gets mixed results", The Washington Post, September 8, 2015.

UK and Interpreters. A former head of the Army - Lord Dannatt - says that the UK government should allow Afghan interpreters into Britain. Read more in a news report in The Telegraph, September 5, 2015.

Kyrgyzstan Conflict History. Insight on Conflict provides a brief history of conflict in Kyrgyzstan - one of the Central Asian States to the north of Afghanistan. With a diverse ethnic makeup the country experiences periods of strife. Read more in "A Brief History of Conflict in Kyrgyzstan", September 9, 2015.

Afghan Refugee Crisis. The world's attention has focused on the refugee crisis in Europe; but little is mentioned in the world press about Afghanistan's long-term refugee problem. For three decades Afghanistan was the world's largest producer of refugees. Millions have returned to Afghanistan but many problems remain. Read more in "Afghanistan's 32-year Refugee Crisis", The Diplomat, September 9, 2015.

Story of an Afghan Refugee. A news report chronicles the trip of an Afghan refugee departing through Europe along an illegal human smuggling route. Read of his preparations in "Dangers Fail to Deter Afghans from Embarking on the Dangerous Journey to Europe", Gandhara Blog, September 9, 2015.

Karzai Being Karzai. The former president says he didn't know if al-Qaeda existed and if they were in Afghanistan prior to the 9/11 attacks. Sure . . . Read "Karzai: Al Qaeda never operated in Afghanistan", Politico, September 10, 2015.

Afghan Migrant - Hardship on the Road. Read the story of one Afghan migrants journey to escape his life in Afghanistan. "From Prey to Predator: An Afghan Migrant Trafficker's Story", Radio Free Europe, September 13, 2015.

Thirty Afghans Killed in Mecca. hundreds of people were killed and injured when a crane collapsed in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Among the dead are 30 Afghans. (Khaama Press, Sep 12, 2015).

Bowe Bergdahl Case. Military prosecutors have decided to proceed in its case against Bergdahl using a seldom used section of military law. He was charged with misbehavior before the enemy - which carries a potentially stiff penalty. Read more in a news report by Military Times, September 7, 2015.

Fuel Overcharge Being Investigated. NATO spent vast sums of money keeping vehicles and facilities supplied with fuel. It was very expensive to supply fuel to the many remote NATO bases located throughout Afghanistan. There is now an investigation into allegations of NATO being overcharged millions of dollars by a contractor. Read more in "MoD police called in over 460 Million Pounds fuel overcharging for Afghanistan", The Telegraph, September 7, 2015.

FM 6-22 - Leader Development. The Army has released Field Manual 6-22, Leader Development, June 2015. http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm6_22.pdf

Ammo Abatement and Retrograde. There is lots of work involved the retrograde process of moving units from Afghanistan back to the United States. One important task is ammo abatement. Read more in "Ammo abatement Soldiers perform critical tasks", DVIDS, September 8, 2015.

3rd BCT, 10th Mtn enroute to Afghanistan. A color casing ceremony was held for elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk. The unit is about to deploy about 1,000 Soldiers to Afghanistan. Most of them will work in the eastern part of Afghanistan for Train, Advise, Assist Command - East or TAAC-East. Read more in "Ceremony held for deploying soldiers", Leesville Daily Leader, September 7, 2015.

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Musa Qala District Recaptured by ANDSF?

Afghan officials early this week indicated that Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) recaptured the district center of Musa Qala. This district is located in the northern part of Helmand province and was the seen of fierce fighting between British forces and the Taliban and later U.S. Marines and the Taliban. Reports indicate that U.S. airpower played as significant role as well as special operations advisors on the ground with the Afghan National Army Commandos and Special Forces kandaks. The counteroffensive was launched by the ANDSF on/about August 28th - two days after the district fell to the Taliban. The town of Musa Qala straddles opium farms and smuggling routes and is adjacent to other districts in Helmand province under the control of the Taliban. Certainly this is a big morale boost for the ANDSF.

CAUTION ALERT: Most insurgencies don't try to "hold" terrain as they can't match up with large conventional forces supported with artillery and airpower - so expectations that the Taliban would retain control of the district center are not realistic. The importance of the battle for Musa Qala is that the government forces were ejected from the district center by the Taliban. In addition, read about the difference between control of the district center and control of the district. Read more in "Afghan Forces Recapture Symbolic Southern District", Gandhara Blog, August 30, 2015. Of course, sometimes information released by the Ministry of Defense is inaccurate. For instance, one news report by the Thomson Reuters Foundation (Sep 3, 2015) says that the Afghan forces have yet to regain control of the symbolic district. Hmmmm. For a detailed report on Musa Qala read "The Second Fall of Musa Qala: How the Taleban are expanding territorial control", Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), September 3, 2015.

The Fight for Khas Uruzgan District

Most observers of the Afghan conflict are focused on the security situation in Kabul and the press releases from Resolute Support HQs on "multi-corps operations" to "clear and hold" contested areas. RS HQs would have you believe that the Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) are capable of defending key terrain, lines of communication, urban areas and the population based on their ability to conduct "cross-pillar operations". However, in a rural-based insurgency the fight is away from key terrain, LOCs, the large towns and cities, and where large concentrations of the ANDSF are located. It takes place in more isolated remote areas at the district level (there are about 400) in places like Khas Uruzgan.

In Afghanistan the insurgency fight is won or lost at the district level. There are many aspects to the fighting at district level. One is the inability of the Afghan National Army to operate out of all of the districts - there are just too many of them. Another is the dependence on the Afghan National Police for security within the district - however, the ANP are (currently) understaffed, ill-trained, and not resourced for a counterinsurgent fight. In addition, there is the ethnic makeup of the district, strength of the Taliban, presence of warlords, militias, Afghan Local Police, effectiveness of governance, and many other factors. Of course, when discussing the districts, one has to define security within a district. Does the government control the district or just the district center compound where the governmental offices are located? Martine van Bijlert, a long-time observer of the Afghan conflict, provides us a glimpse of the fight at the district level with all the varied factors accounted for. Read "Trouble in Khas Uruzgan: Insults, assaults, a siege and an airlift", Afghanistan Analysts Network, September 2, 2015.

Pakistan Update

Coalition Support Fund (CSF). The U.S. Congress is currently in deliberations on the last installment of its annual $1 billion aid package to Pakistan as part of the Coalition Support Fund or CSF. The last payment of $300 million could be withheld because Pakistan is not doing enough to combat the Haqqani Network (or should we really say they are doing too much to support it?).  This past week National Security Advisor Susan Rice visited with Pakistan's civilian and military leadership in Islamabad and the issue of the Haqqani Network was at the top of her agenda. May believe that the Haqqani Network is an informal extension of the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Read more in "US, Afghanistan Still Doubt Pakistan's Commitment in Fight Against Militants", Voice of America, August 31, 2015.

Politics of Military Aid. Stephen Tankel examines the topic of aid to Pakistan. "Ending U.S. reimbursements to Pakistan's military is not as simple as it sounds. The way Washington handles this delicate issue could have a big impact on Pakistan's behavior as well as on militant groups with American blood on their hands". Read more in "Is the United States Cutting Pakistan Off? The Politics of Military Aid.", War on the Rocks, August 31, 2015.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Riff. Pakistan's foreign minister will be trying to repair the relationship between the two countries. It seems that Pakistan can't understand why Afghanistan is pissed (U.S. terminology; not Brit terminology) that the Pakistani intelligence agency (ISI) is supporting the Haqqani Network (and other insurgent groups). Read more in "Senior Pakistani Official Looking to Restore Trust with Afghanistan", Gandhara Blog, September 3, 2015.

SIGAR Audit - $ for Refugees Wasted

ANCOP provides clothing to refugee children
in refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan.
 Photo by Senior Airman Christopher Hatch,
 NTM-A DVIDS, July 2011.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) published an audit on September 3, 2015. about U.S. assistance intended to support Afghan refugees and returnees. Some of its findings include amount of money spent ($950 million), reliance on Pakistani and Iranian governments (both very trustworthy?) to identify the number of Afghan refugees, weaknesses in UNHCR and Pakistani government processes that limit the ability to obtain accurate data, the Afghan governments' limited progress in implementing its refugee strategy, and the role the corruption and limited ministerial capacity plays in the refugee situation. Overall the audit seems to point to yet another example of lots of money intended for a good purpose getting siphoned off by corrupt Afghan officials, lack of ministerial capacity, and improper oversight by U.S. officials. But, after all, in the overall scheme of all things Afghanistan $1 billion is just a drop in the bucket! Read Afghan Refugees and Returnees: Corruption and Lack of Afghan Ministerial Capacity Have Prevented Implementation of a Long-Term Refugee Strategy, SIGAR 15-83 Audit Report, August 2015. www.sigar.mil/pdf/audits/SIGAR-15-83-AR.pdf

Afghan Corruption - AJO Online Incident Reporter

Two years ago the Afghanistan Justice Organization (AJO) based in Kabul started up a website where Afghan citizens can report stories of corruption. The incident of corruption can be reported anonymously and the story can be told in any of the official Afghan languages. The AJO is an Afghan-led, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. The AJO is organized exclusively for the purpose of promoting reform through education and training and to advance free markets and individual liberty under the laws of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The link for reporting a corruption incident is below.

http://afghanjustice.org/report-corruption/

Commentary

Paper - "Iraq and Afghanistan: Similar, Yet Different".  Austin J. Luckenbach, a military intelligence office in the Army National Guard (also previously an enlisted airman in the Air Force) has a deep background in intelligence. He is finishing up his M.A. in Intelligence Studies with American Military University. His paper questions (and answers?) whether the U.S. operations in Iraq can become lessons learned for policy makers drafting the exit strategy for Afghanistan, how are the insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq different, and will the U.S. ever completely leave Iraq or Afghanistan. Read his paper posted on Small Wars Journal, August 30, 2015.

Security News

Life in Kabul Amid the Violence. Taliban attacks and bombings within the city of Kabul have increased significantly and the population is constantly on edge. Read "Kabul families struggle to smile amid rising violence", BBC News, August 30, 2015.

Small Victories Count. Angelic Young, worked for the U.S. Department of State for over ten years serving in positions in the counternarcotics and law enforcement fields. From 2001 to 2007 she was a "frontline civilian" and served as the DoS program manager for the Afghanistan National Police Program. Looking back, she says it was hard to recall positive moments but there were some small advances that made a difference. Read her article on the "Family Response Unit" of the Afghan National Police in "In conflict environments, little wins make a difference", devex.com, August 31, 2015.

Sweden, Germany, and "Kill Decisions" in the RS HQs CJOC. Looks like there are some tensions building over the presence of coalition officers being present in the Combined Joint Operations Center (CJOC) of the Resolute Support Mission at the RS compound in Kabul. The CJOC monitors all combat operations in Afghanistan (special operations and drone strikes conducted by the U.S. military and other coalition partners) and liasion and officers from various nations are present during these activities. Some question whether this violates the national caveats that a couple of the nations have. Read more in "Germany and Sweden Are Said to to Help Make Afghan 'Kill Decisions", The New York Times, September 4, 2015.

ALP: More Funding & Scrutiny Needed. "The Afghan Local Police (ALP) are playing an increasingly important security role, but questions remain about the accountability of this new and sometimes controversial force. Speakers at a series of IWPR debates held around Afghanistan in August called for action to curb corruption and abuses in order to ensure these police units enjoyed local support". Read more in "Afghans Want More Funding for Local Police, But More Scrutiny Too", Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR), September 5, 2015.

Militias in Faryab Out of Control? The multiethnic province in the northwest has been troubled by the Taliban for a few years. The Afghan police and the 209th ANA Corps have been unable to secure the province. Vice President Dostum has made it a personal mission to establish security in the province and he is relying on some militias to accomplish this. Read more in "Return of Militias to Afghan Front Lines Sparks Allegations of Abuses", Radio Free Europe, September 5, 2015.

RS HQs Counter-IED Staff. "According to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, in the first six months of 2015, 22 percent of Afghan civilian casualties stemmed from improvised explosive devices. The Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan Counter-IED Directorate is working to change that. The Kabul-based team of coalition service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors at Resolute Support Headquarters trains, advises and assists Afghan National Defense and Security Forces on how to identify and disarm IEDs and unexploded ordnance and collect evidence following detonation". Read more in "Empowering Afghan citizens to counter IED threats", RS News, September 5, 2015.

AAF CAS Detailed. The Afghan Air Force is increasing its capability to provide close air support but it is still a very small capability. Read more in "Afghan Air Force Hailed for Creative Operations Despite Shortfalls", Khaama Press, September 3, 2015.

13 Civilians Killed in Balkh Province. On Saturday unidentified gunmen stopped civilian vehicles and killed the occupants.

Governance News (and corruption, of course)

Not Working Out - New Kabul Bank. According to some economic analysts the New Kabul Bank faces a loss of millions annually and some critics say it would be beneficial to sell it or terminate its operations. In the last six years the bank has lost $65 million USD. Read more in "Analysts Push for Action on New Kabul Bank", Tolo News, August 30, 2015.

The Female Governor of Ghor Province. The mountainous and remote western province of Ghor has a female governor - one of a few provincial governors ever in Afghanistan. A former aid worker and local resident of Ghor - Mawlavi Mohammad - has a difficult job. Ghor's educational system is in shambles and suffers from ghost teachers and vast corruption. The security situation is dire - with insurgents, drug traffickers and warlords all competing for scarce resources in an agricultural area. The province is cut off from the rest of the world during the winter for up to six months. Read more in "Struggling to pave the way for future female leaders in Afghanistan", Los Angeles Times, August 31, 2015.

Ghor Couple Recieves 100 Lashes. An Afghan man and women both were subjected to 100 lashes in the Western province of Ghor after being found guilty of adultery. It was the first time since the end of Taliban rule that such a sentence was supported by provincial authorities. Watch the beating in a video posted on Gandara Blog, September 5, 2015. Read about Amnesty International's take on the event in a news report by Gandhara Blog, September 2, 2015.

Development News

Photos - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). "Since 2002 UNEP has played a key role in laying the foundations for sustainable development in Afghanistan, working with the government and other stakeholders to overcome serious land and resource degradation. UNEP's Disasters and Conflicts programme seeks to minimize environmental threats to human well-being from the environmental causes and consequences of conflicts and disasters." View the photos at this link on flickr www.flickr.com/photos/unep_dc/sets/72157632850536773 and learn more about the UNEP Disasters and Conflicts programme at this link www.unep.org/disastersandconflicts/.

RECCA Conference. "Representatives of more than 30 nations and 40 international organizations have gathered in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, to discuss the country's future." During the conference, called the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan or RECCA, participants debated a range of economic issues - including trade, customs, and border procedures. Read more in "Kabul Hosts Regional Economic Conference", Radio Free Europe, September 3, 2015. Visit the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) webpage on RECCA. Read also "Capacity Remains One of Afghanistan's Biggest Obstacles", The Diplomat, September 3, 2015.

Non-Traditional Education Supported by USAID. "A joint initiative by Afghanistan's Ministry of Education, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Nations International Children's Emergency fund (UNICEF) is to start the non-traditional education in rural areas in the country". This is a five-year long program with a budget of $75 million that will be administered in non-formal classrooms in 13 provinces of Afghanistan. Read a news report about this in Khaama News,  August 30, 2015.

CT and Intel News

Paper on Network Analysis Techniques in Future Environments. The U.S. Army's recently published National Military Strategy (NMS) - June 2015 - emphasizes the high probability of hybrid conflicts. It also stresses the importance of security cooperation with mature allies and building capacity for emerging U.S. partners. In order to successfully operate in the environment that the NMS (and other documents) envision commanders must understand the environment and potential consequences of their decisions  - especially when operating in ungoverned spaces. The paper recommends a network science approach to monitor, assess, and analyze ungoverned spaces. Read more in  "The Specter of Ungoverned Spaces & How Advances in Network Analysis Can Assist Policymakers", by Jeffry Julum and Daniel Evans, Small Wars Journal, August 30, 2015.