Showing posts with label NEB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEB. Show all posts

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Security News

SIGAR Quarterly Report. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has issued its quarterly report to the United States Congress (dated 30 Jan 2016). The 230-page report basically says that Afghanistan is more dangerous than it was a year ago. Some of the sections are entitled "Growing an Economy in Stony Soil", "SIGAR Oversight Activities", "Reconstruction Update", and more. There is a section on status of funds, security and governance.
www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2016-01-30qr.pdf

SIGAR - An Incapable Afghan NEB. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has issued a report stating that the Afghan National Engineer Brigade is, despite intensive U.S. training efforts, incapable of operating independently. Read the 17-page SIGAR 16-15 Audit Report published in January 2016.
www.sigar.mil/pdf/audits/SIGAR-16-15-AR.pdf

Rebuilding Afghanistan Now More Dangerous. The Taliban now controls more territory than at any time since 2001. A recent report by the Special Inspector General for Reconstruction in Afghanistan (SIGAR) notes that Afghanistan is growing more dangerous for US rebuilders. (Defense One, Jan 31, 2016).

General Campbell Testimony House. The Resolute Support commander recently (Tuesday, Feb 2) testified before the House Committee on Armed Services about the situation in Afghanistan. The general says that the effort in Afghanistan is like "building an airplane while in flight". He also said that out of 400 districts the Taliban control 8, influence 16, and that 94 districts are at risk. Hmmm. I wonder what the general thinks is 'district control'? You can watch a video posted on YouTube.com (2 1/2 hours). www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuYTzYRaiRs

Just "8 More Years". According to General Campbell, Afghanistan should be able to fund its own security costs by 2024. Currently NATO spends about $5.1 billion annually on the Afghan security forces. Read "It'll be 2024 before Afghanistan can fully fund its military, U.S. general says", Army Times, February 2, 2016.

Insurgency in the North. In the last few months of 2015 the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) have conducted a series of offensive to secure the surrounding countryside around Kunduz City; however, several districts are still controlled by the Taliban. Read more in "The 2016 Insurgency in the North: Beyond Kunduz city - lessons (not taken) from the Taleban takeover", Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), January 30, 2016.

U.S. Drones attacks ISIS. "Authorities in Afghanistan said Saturday that national security forces and U.S. drone strikes have jointly killed at least 28 Islamic State (IS) fighters in a restive eastern region bordering Pakistan". (Voice of America, Feb 6, 2016).

MoI Acknowledges Problems. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Saturday (Feb 6th) acknowledged that the Afghan security forces have been faced with certain challenges in their struggle against militants on the battlefields. The Taliban have really stepped up their effort during the winter fighting season and the Afghan security forces would appear to be on their heels in a defensive posture. Offensive operations have been telegraphed to the enemy thereby limiting their effectiveness. Military commentators are criticizing ". . . the government for a lack of effective management of the war and for failing to draw up a working strategy to tackle the militants." (Tolo News, Feb 6, 2016).

Taleban In-Fighting. Lot's of fighting among different factions of the Taleban since this past summer has resulted in as many as 500 Taleban fighters killed.

Taliban Kill 10 Year Old Boy. The Afghan government declared Wasil Ahmad - a ten year old - a hero for opposing the Taliban. Then the Taliban killed him with two bullets to the head. He had left the militia and returned to school - the 4th grade. (The New York Times, Feb 2, 2016).

Afghan 3/215th Corps KIA. The commander of the third brigade of 215th Corps in Helmand province, Gen Ata Mir Aagah, was killed in a road side blast in Greshk district on Monday, Feb 1st. (Khaama Press, Feb 2, 2016).

Ten Civilians Killed. On Monday, ten civilians were killed in a suicide bombing when an insurgent blew himself up after joining a line of people. The people killed were mostly new police recruits. There were an estimated 28 people injured. The attack took place in PD 3 at the police station.