Afghan War News Snippets

Clashes Pickup. Reports indicate that clashes between insurgents and government forces have risen in the past few days to include incidents in Kapisa and Badakhshan provinces. Some reports say that eight ANA soldiers were beheaded in Badakhshan. The government spokesmen for the MoD and MoI are painting the recent clash in Badakhshan as a victory for the ANSF. However, it could be there is some spin going on there (of course). The Afghan Lower House of Representatives have summoned the Afghan National Security Advisor for some questioning on the northern province. (CBS News, Apr 13, 2015).

SOCOM Needs Drone Contractors for Afghanistan. The United States Special Operations Command based in Tampa, Florida is seeking contracting firms to run drone operations (pilots, maintenance, engineering) in six countries around the world - including Afghanistan. The Request for Proposal (RFP) says the contract will be for the purposes of gathering intelligence and conducting surveillance and reconnaissance. The contract, Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Support (MEUAS III) is for LoS and BLoS operations. Read more in a news report by Defense World, April 13, 2015.

Afghan Commandos Visit Texas. The members of the ten Afghan Commando Kandaks are among the best fighters in the Afghan National Army. They suffer casualties - killed and wounded - quite frequently. Many of the wounded lose limbs and adjustment to that situation is quite difficult in a poor country like Afghanistan. Some wounded Afghan Commandos are learning how to adjust to their new situation in Texas. Learn more in "Afghan amputees tell their stories at Texas gathering", Fayetteville Observer, April 12, 2015.

Australia Aids Girls Schools. Read some news about how Australia is helping to increase the number of girls who return to school in a news report by SBS.com, April 9, 2015.

"First Kill". A retired infantryman (COL Keith Nightingale) writes about killing in combat. Read his story in "First Kill" posted on Small Wars Journal, April 3, 2015.

For Some U.S. Families the War is not Over. Read "War in Afghanistan Continues for Families of Fallen U.S. Soldiers", NBC Nightly News, April 13, 2015.

Does Mullah Omar Still Matter? Michael Kugelman, writing in War on the Rocks (Apr 13, 2015) says that the religious leader and head of the Taliban is seeing some of his power and influence erode away. For instance, one group of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) has recently declared its allegiance to the Islamic State. Read Kugelman's news article to see what he has to say about Mullah Omar.

Canadian Visit by Ghani Nixed. President Ghani, and his 75-man party, was planning on visiting Canada in conjunction with his U.S. tour. However, Canada didn't fully embrace the idea. Read more in "Visit of New Afghan President to Canada Quietly Scrubbed Amid Iraq Debate", Huffington Post, April 12, 2015.

U.S. Accounting Professor Helps Out in Afghanistan. Karen Tower of Ivy Tech Richmond spent two weeks in Afghanistan helping out a community college in preparing for international accreditation. (Pal-Item, Apr 12, 2015).

Military Meals and Celebrity Chef. Could we be seeing an improvement in Army cuisine? Celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi is joining forces with the Pentagon to develop a spinoff of the "Top Chef" show featuring military meals. I do miss my C-ration Beans and Franks. Can we bring pound cake back? (Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2015).

Missing IJC's (KAIA) Fancy Cuisine. As the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan down-sizes the footprint diminishes as well. One of the units to shut down was the ISAF Joint Command or IJC based at Kabul International Airport. And one unfortunate result of the unit closing was the shuttering of the doors of the many small restaurants on the airbase (I have passed through KAIA many times; the Thai restaurant was my favorite). A past article by Dufflel Blog (Oct 13) provides us more info on the culinary delights found on KAIA. (caution - humor zone).

U.S. Still at War in Afghanistan. The top Pentagon lawyer says that the United States is still in 'armed conflict' in Afghanistan. Glad he clarified that! Read more in a news report by The Hill Blog, April 13, 2015.

Afghan War News Sniippets

South Waziristan Drone Strike. According to an Afghan media source four militants were killed after a drone hit a hideout in the Sahawal area of South Waziristan on Sunday. Two missiles were fired at members of Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). (Khaama Press, Apr 12, 2015).

Ghani Meets w/ MPs from 203rd Corps Area. President Ghani met with members of parliament from Khost, Paktia, Paktika, and Logar to discuss political and security issues. (@ARG_AFG Twitter, Apr 12, 2015).

Kandahar Blast Injures Civilians. Two people were injured in a mine blast in Kandahar province on Sunday. (Tolo News, Apr 12, 2015).

Kandahar Blast on Sunday Morning. One ANA was killed and two wounded in a mine blast in Police District 4 (PD4) in Kandahar on Sunday morning.

Badakhsahn Fighting. Afghan government sources say that intense fighting in northeast Afghanistan over 24 hours has resulted in 28 Taliban fighters killed. The fighting ended on April 11th. Six soldiers were killed and 12 wounded. (Gandhara Blog, Apr 12, 2015).

Save the Children Update. After five of its workers were killed in southern Urozgan province the international organization - Save the Children - is halting activities in that area of Afghanistan. The workers were kidnapped by the Taliban over a month ago and their demands for the release of political prisoners were not met. (Khaama Press, Apr 12, 2015).

Zulfiqar Operation. The Afghan government spokesmen are lauding the efforts of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in the recently concluded operation in Helmand province. Ministry of Interior (MoI) Sediq Sediqqi said at a press conference that almost 500 insurgents were killed. Press reports say that Sangin district is slipping from government control. Time will tell.

Camp Moorehead 100-Mile Endurance Run. The SF dudes at Camp Moorehead just outside of Kabul are taking some time off to get in some physical fitness (PT). Camp Moorehead (named after a fallen U.S. Soldier) is now called Camp Commando. It is the headquarters for ANASOC and the training base for the ANASF and ANA Commandos. The Special Operations Advisory Group (SOAG), is part of NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A and headed by Colonel Fred Dummar, based at Camp Commando is comprised of U.S. and Slovakian Special Forces advisors. Read more in a news article by the Fayetteville Observer (April 12, 2015).

Afghan Spaceman. The United Nations declared April 12th as the International Day of Human Space Flight. In 1988 Afghanistan's Cosmonaut Abdul Ahad Mohmand flew into space on board a Soyuz TM-6 rocket lifting off from Kazakhstan. Unknown to many the Soviets (in ten short years - 1979 to 1989) had established a fairly robust Afghan Air Force. After 13 years in Afghanistan the U.S. Air Force continues to work with the Afghan Air Force . . . but I don't see any astronauts coming out of their training programs anytime soon.

Copper Mine Stalled. According to a recent news report China and Afghanistan remain deadlocked over a $3 billion copper mine after China demanded royalties be slashed by almost half. Not much progress has taken place since China won the mining concession in Logar province in 2007. China is reluctant to pay for a mine with no railroad to export copper, a horrible security situation, and falling worldwide copper prices. The Chinese firm withdrew its Chinese mining workers from the heavily guarded mining camp due to a resurgent Taliban in the area. Militant violence in the area is at its worst since 2001. In addition, there is international pressure on mining activities to be delayed due to excavations of Buddhist ruins at the mining site. (Town Hall, Apr 11, 2015).

Drones. Gregoire Chamayou writes about armed drones in "Of Reapers and Predators: A New Warfare Emerges", Real Clear World, April 8, 2015.

Women. Katrin Park has comments about women's rights in Afghanistan in "How Not to Empower Women in Afghanistan", Cicero Magazine, April 8, 2015.

End of War - Free the Prisoners? Guantanamo prisoners say that the Global War on Terror and Operation Enduring Freedom has concluded so they should be released. (Eurasia Review, Apr 11, 2015).

Tom Malinowski - State Dept - Visits Kabul. The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor visited Kabul and was interviewed by the Gandhara Blog (Radio Free Europe). He chats about the Afghan leaders, human rights, transitional justice, and women's rights.
http://gandhara.rferl.org/content/us-tom-malinowski-interview/26951466.html

Policeman Defects - then Captured. A policeman has been detained 3 months after joining the Taliban with his weapon in Ghazni province. (Khaama Press, Apr 12, 2015).

Afghan War News Snippets

Kidnapped ANSF Beheaded. On Saturday Twitter was providing initial news reports that members of the ANA and ANP kidnapped by Taliban in Jurum district, Badakshan have been beheaded.

Unhappy AAF Pilots. The Afghan pilots who fly the fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft of the Afghan Air Force are unhappy. They say their pay is low, food is lousy, and living accommodations substandard. They are appealing to the President to fix the low morale in the AAF. After receiving intensive flight training, learning English, and then flying dangerous missions throughout Afghanistan they believe that 20,000 Afghanis ($344) a month is not enough. Read more in "Air Force Personnel Unhappy About Salaries, Benefits", Tolo News, April 9, 2015.

Report - Geospatial Technology. The International Peace Institute has issued an interesting and informative report entitled "Geospatial Technology as a Conflict Prevention and Management Tool in UN Peacekeeping", The paper by Elodie Convergne & Michael Synder (prepared in March 2015) is posted on the Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) of the U.S. Army. The use of Unarmed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UUAVs), satellite images, and computer technology is bleeding over from military applications, to peacekeeping applications, and soon it will be used my Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) conducting humanitarian operations in conflict zones (such as Afghanistan). The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is one of several UN organizations that use GIS units as a mission focal point for geospatial matters. It will be interesting to see how this develops in the future. The 19-page report, an Adobe Acrobat PDF, can be read online.

Students Poisoned in Herat. Afghan news sources report that 82 male students took sick at school. They are on the road to recovery.

Trouble South of the Border. News reports say that 20 workers were killed and three others wounded  at a dam construction site in Balochistan Province, Pakistan. members of the Baluch Liberation Front (BLF) is claiming responsibility. (Radio Free Europe, April 11, 2015).

Parwan Blast. Tolo News reports that on Saturday a blast occurred the injured police and civilians in Sayagerd valley, Ghorband district, Parwan province.

Govt Official Killed in Maiden Wardak. Militants killed the administrator and finance manager of Maiden Wardak province. (Khaama Press, April 11, 2015).

Shot-Gun Wedding Failing? Ziauddin Wahaj writing in Eurasia Review is examining the forced marriage of President Ghani and CEO Adbullah. So far the National Unity Government (NUG) has failed to meet expectations. Read more in his article in "Is Kerry's National Unity Government Recipe Failing in Afghanistan?", April 11, 2015.

U.S. and India Should Work Together. Alyssa Ayres of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) says that there are some areas where American and Indian expertise can boost Afghanistan's security and help consolidate its democratic gains. Read more in "Why the US Should Work With India to Stabilize Afghanistan", Defense One, April 9, 2015.

Afghan War News Snippets

Insider Attack Casualty Identified. The Soldier killed in the most recent insider attack in Afghanistan came from Whitinsville, Massachusetts. It is a small village within the town of Northbridge, MA. SPC John Dawson was killed in the IT attack on Wednesday. He was a combat medic with the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell. (CBS Boston, Apr 9, 2015).

VBIED Attack Kabul City. On Friday afternoon (10 Apr) there was an attack on a logistics convoy with casualties reported. There are reports of three U.S. wounded and three Afghan civilians killed.

Ghazni - Roadside Bomb Kills Civilians. As many as twelve civilians were killed when a roadside bomb blew up a car full of people traveling to a wedding in Ghazni province on Friday. (Townhall.com, April 10, 2015).

Jalalabad Convoy Attack. Four civilians were killed and 12 wounded in a suicide attack near a convoy of Resolute Support troops on Friday. (Washington Post, Apr 10, 2015).

NGO Workers Killed. Five "Save the Children" workers were killed in Uruzgan province after they were kidnapped last month. (Pajhwok Afghan News, April 10).

MeS Courthouse Attack. Reports say that 18 were killed and over 100 wounded in the attack on the Mazar-e-Sharif courthouse in Balkh province on Thursday.

Attacks in Badakhshan. Several Afghan National Army posts were attacked in Badakhshan province. Some of the posts are no longer occupied by the ANA. (Tolo News, Apr 10, 2015).

Haqqani Network's 'Caravan of Heroes'. The Haqqani Network has released a 61 minute long video explaining its bombing attacks against the Coalition and ANSF. (The Long War Journal, Apr 10, 2015).

31 Hazara Hostages. "Inside the two seized buses, terrified passengers prayed to remain in their seats. The masked gunmen had collected their identification cards and snatched their cell phones, survivors would later recall. Next, they separated the males from females and Sunni Muslims from Shiite Muslims. Finally, they ordered the Shiite males - all ethnic Hazaras - off the buses". Read more in "After suffering under the Taliban, an Afghan minority faces new threats", The Washington Post, April 10, 2015).

Rule of Law - The Military's Role. Some good reading for the Resolute Support Essential Function 3 advisors working in the MoI and MoD. An article by Patrick Reinert and John F. Hussey entitled "The Military's Role in Rule of Law Development" (Joint Force Quarterly, April 1, 2015 - National Defense University Press) provides some background into the RoL efforts of ISAF and the future responsibilities of the U.S. military in regards to RoL in conflicts to come.

MoD Fuel Scandel - $100 Million. The fuel corruption within the Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan appears to be quite massive. Reports indicate that more than $100 million was overcharged by Afghan fuel companies with the approval of senior officials from the MoD. One official was paid over $5 million as a bribe for his part in the corruption. Read the news report (Tolo News, April 9, 2015).

U.S. - Pakistan - Ground Hog Day. Read commentary about the U.S. and Pakistan relationship in an article by C. Christine Fair (a noted observer of AfPak affairs) published in War on the Rocks, April 9, 2015.

Afghanistan to Buy Mi-35 Helicopters. According to Shakir Kargar, a special envoy to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan will soon buy Mi-35 Attack Helicopters from Russia for its Afghan Air Force. Read more in a news report (Khaama Press, Apr 10, 2015).

Canada's 'Project Heroes' Exhibit. An exhibit has opened in Canada's Government House that celebrates the lives of the Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. See a news story by Global News, April 10, 2015.

Report - "Afghan Civil Society: Tradition facing the future". Amy Strand, Deputy Director for the CMI Instutue of the Norwegian Centre for Humanitarian Studies has wrote a report (dated March 2015) on the development of robust civil society organizations.

Retrograde Slows. The op tempo of closing bases in Afghanistan has slowed due to the recent decision to take a knee in the withdrawal of advisors from the corps advisor platforms (TAACs). Read more in a news report in Army Times (Apr 10, 2015).

MG James Post (USAF) Fired Over A-10 'Treason' Comments. The Air Force general has been fired from his position and issued a letter of reprimand. He got himself in hot water after some inappropriate remarks about the A-10 Warthog. Air Force Times, April 10, 2015.

10th SFGA earns FBI's Highest Award. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) awarded members of the 10th Special Forces Group the agency's highest recognition for their work in countering IED networks in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2009. (DVIDS, Apr 9, 2015).

BAF Emergency Response Tests. Bagram Airfield recently tested its base defense and emergency response procedures. Learn more in a news report by army.mil, April 10, 2015.
www.army.mil/article/146226/

Russian IO Machine Now Available in Pashto. Sputnik Multimedia Group launched its Pashto-language website on Friday. If you want the Russian government's perspective on Afghanistan then you know what to read! Of course, you will need to know Pashto. http://pashto.sputniknews.com/

Mumbai Attack Suspect Released. Pakistan, the country that is renouncing terrorism and helping Afghanistan defeat the Taliban, has just released a prime suspect in the Mumbai, India attack from jail. He is one of seven men facing trial over the attacks which left 166 people dead. Mr. Lakhvi is accused of heading the Lashkar-e-Taiba group (LeT). (BBC News, April 10, 2015).
www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32250763

Afghan War News Snippets (Apr 10, 2015)

Mes-e-Sharif Courthouse Attacked. The Taliban attacked the MeS courthouse in Balhk province with rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons on Thursday killing at least eight people and wounding many more. Several security officials were killed including a district police chief. Read more in a news report by Voice of America, April 9, 2015.

Kunar PCoP Survives Road Blast. The Provincial Chief of Police for Kunar survived a roadside blast in the Surubi area - about 50 kilometers east of Kabul along the Kabul-Jalalabad highway. The incident took place on Wednesday.

TAAC-South Aviation. Full-spectrum aviation support is provided to the Afghan forces by Task Force Corsair. This multi-functional aviation task force is comprised of Soldiers from the 82nd Aviation Regiment deployed from Fort Bragg, NC. The Task Force operates under the leadership of the NATO Train, Advise, Assist Command - South which is responsible for operations and the advisory effort in the southern regions of Afghanistan. Learn more in "Task Force Corsair assists from above", Fort Hood Sentinel, April 9, 2015.

Retired Col Speaks About Insider Attacks. Retired Army Col Derek Harvey tells us about the difficulty of stopping insider attacks in Afghanistan and the most recent Green-on-Blue incident in Jalalabad in an online video by Newsmax, April 8, 2015, 12 minutes.

What is Ahead for Afghanistan? The Asia Foundation interviews two experts on Afghanistan. Karl Eikenberry (former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan) and Erik Jensen (director of Stanford's Rule of Law Program) gives us their thoughts on "The Road Ahead for Afghanistan". (April 8, 2015).

Ghani After Washington Tour. The warm glow of President Ghani's goodwill tour in the United States has subsided and the realities of trying to govern Afghanistan are back in the forefront. Sixteen cabinet ministry positions are unfilled, some parliament members are asking for $500,000 bribes for their vote to approve cabinet ministers, the CEO Abdullah Abdullah and President Ghani have a strained and complicated relationship, the Taliban are about to kick off their 2015 fighting season, and the Independent Directorate for Local Government (IDLG) (responsible for sub-national governance) is paralyzed without a leader. Read more in "Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Returns to Kabul", by Adbullah Sharif, The Huffington Post, April 9, 2015.

MoD Cabinet Nominee Withdraws. According to Tolo News (April 8, 2015) the nominee for defense ministry withdrew his nomination due to serious disagreements between President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

Trading Money for Votes. Accusations of corruption were tossed between members of the Afghan parliament in regard to the approval of the cabinet officers chosen by Ghani. Tolo News, April 8, 2015.

Tension Within NUG.  The National Unity Government (NUG) is having some growing pains. It has been more than a 1/2 year since its formation but the camps of Ghani and Abdullah are having trouble getting along - and that affects the governance of Afghanistan. Khaama Press, April 8, 2015. 

Paper on Afghan Constitutions. Afghanistan has had six constitutions - the latest one established in 2004. Aruni Jayakody has wrote a paper entitled "Evolution of Fundamental Rights in Afghanistan: 1924-2004, April 2015. Posted on the website of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU).

Bergdahl. Michael Ames writes an extensive article on the disappearance of Bowe Bergdahl and the Soldiers that spent months searching for him. Read "Untangling the Mysteries Behind Bowe Bergdahl's Rescue Mission", Newsweek, April 9, 2015.

University of Michigan Cancels Film Showing. The film 'American Sniper' was supposed to show at the university but it got cancelled due to protest by Muslim student groups. Then the university faced some backlash on that decision. Read more in a news report by Fox News, April 9, 2015.

Military Offers Fast Track to U.S. Citizenship. The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, known as MAVNI, will double to 3,000 enlistments in 2015 and then go up to 5,000 in 2016. Currently the program is capped at 1,500 recruits. The program helps the Army recruit personnel for its medical programs as well as recruits with foreign language skills and cultural knowledge and understanding. Certainly this is valuable program - especially in light of the long-term counterinsurgency wars we have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and the future nature of warfare (hybrid warfare) that this country is likely to face in the future. Many MAVNI recruits have a college education, already speak English, and are in their mid-20s. Recruits must have lived in the United States for two years and they undergo an extensive background check. Learn more in a news report by the Wall Street Journal (April 8, 2015).

Afghan War News Snippets

News Report - U.S. Failing at Training Foreign Forces. According to one news report the U.S. military record on training other countries military forces is dismal. The U.S. is trying to stabilize Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan using a tactic that has rarely worked - by training and equipping foreign forces. The U.S. remains too focused on developing its own war-fighting capabilities rather than developing the capabilities of other nations. One problem is that while we might succeed in training another country's military that country's civilian government may be corrupt and not worth defending (Vietnam, Iraq, and possibly Afghanistan). Many of these conflicts require a political solution (get rid of corruption in Afghanistan's government, include Sunnis in political affairs in Iraq, etc.). Read more in "U.S. Counts on Training Foreign Forces Despite Years of Failure", Bloomberg News, April 8, 2015.

Taliban Ambush in Kunar. The Taliban attempted an ambush on Afghan police but kill two civilians by mistake. (Fox News, April 8, 2015).

Afghan Interpreter Settles (Uneasily) Into Seattle. An Afghan translator who helped U.S. forces is having difficulty adjusting to life in the United States. While in Afghanistan he worked for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. He was the subject of many death threats from militants because of his work for the U.S. government. While the State Department says that the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program provides a Visa and a support structure once entering the United States; the support is rather meager because of a lack of funding. Read the story in Seattle Weekly Times, April 7, 2015.

Reintegration of Military Nurses After Combat Deployments. The Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services has published an article entitled "After the Parade: Military Nurses' Reintegration Experiences from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars", (April 8, 2015).

Video - "Mentoring the Afghan Forces". International forces in Afghanistan having moved from a combat role to one focusing on advising, training and assisting. In this video we get a look at the realities of the new Resolute Support mission on the ground and how advisors working with the 201st Corps are doing their job. (NATO TV, April 8, 2015, posted on YouTube.com, 4 minutes long).

https://youtu.be/0orotJushQM

U.S. Army Drones. Drones (or UAVs) have been used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. And they are not going away. The U.S. Army is drafting doctrine for the first time that will govern its robotic and unmanned systems. Learn more in "US Army Readying Unmanned Systems Doctrine", Defense News, April 8, 2015.

Bde Cdr Sheds Light on Dealing with Afghan Warlord. James L. Creighton, a former U.S. brigade commander, recounts his experience dealing with a recently assassinated Afghan warlord. In 2010 Creighton was in command of Team Uruzgan, a diverse force of coalition soldiers from ten countries (U.S., Australia, Singapore, France, New Zealand, Netherlands, and more). His "team" mission was to push back Taliban influence in the province and encourage the 'transition' process. Read about his situation of having to work with a very effective Taliban fighter who was also a subject of human rights allegations. Read "Shades of Gray in Afghanistan", The Diplomat, April 8, 2015.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/04/shades-of-gray-in-afghanistan/

Retrograde Opns in Kandahar. A recent news story by the U.S. Air Force describes the heavy workload of retrograde operations and working with the U.S. Army. Read "Ready, set, retrograde", af.mil, April 8, 2015.

Afghan MoD Nominee Drops Out. The Afghan government's latest choice for the Minister position for the Ministry of Defence has dropped out. General Mohammad Afzal Ludin explained that his appointment had caused some turmoil and he feared it would be divisive. Ludin is a Pashtun which may have angered the countries CEO Abdullah Abdullah and his northern alliance supporters. Read more in a news report by the Daily Mail, April 8, 2015.

Zulfiqar Operation in Helmand Province Concludes. The Afghan national Army (along with some help from the Afghan National Police) has concluded its extensive operation in Helmand province. The Zulfiqar military operation was launched two months ago in an attempt to rid local villages of insurgents. Much of the fight took place in or around Sangin district - an area where the British and U.S. Marines have spent much time in.

46 Million Rounds Expended. The British Army fired over 46 million rounds at the Taliban costing the UK taxpayers 200 million pounds. The Mirror, April 7, 2015.

"The State of Afghan Libraries". The Afghanistan Analyst Network has published a story about the increasing need for a functioning public library system. With Afghanistan's educated class growing rapidly the need for libraries is expanding tremendously. This article highlights the need for a national and international plan to further develop the libraries of Afghanistan. Read "Reading in Kabul: The state of Afghan Libraries", (April 9, 2015).

Tsarnaev Guilty. In the spring of 2013 I was sitting in the DFAC at FOB Lightning in Gardez having breakfast when I first learned the news on the DFAC TV showing scenes from the bombing of the Boston Marathon. Having attended college in Boston I was immediately drawn to the developing story. It now appears that the surviving bomber (one of two brothers) has been found guilty in the bombing that killed three people and wounded many more people. The next step is the jury deciding on life in prison or sentence of death.

Book Review - "Warrior Diplomat".  Daniel R. Green has penned a book review of Michael Waltz's new book. Waltz is a Special Forces officer with deep experience at the policy level as well as on the ground in combat. Read the book review in - "Our Own Worst Enemy: How America Defeated Itself in Afghanistan", The South Asia Channel Blog, Foreign Policy, April 7, 2015.

Afghan Helicopter Project Officer Guilty. A former project manager at Redstone Arsenal has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges stemming from inflated contract payments for work on Russian-made helicopters bound for the Afghan Air Force. AL.com News, April 8, 2015.

One Year - No Government. It has been one year since the Afghan presidential election and there still is no government (cabinet still has to be formed). Read more in a news report in BBC News Asia, April 7, 2015.

Book Review - "The Illuminations". Andrew O'Hagan has wrote a book about the British in Afghanistan. Read a book review on this fiction book posted in The Washington Post, April 7, 2015.

Police Sergeant Course Graduates. Over 800 police candidates of the Police Sergeant Training command graduated from their training course held at Mazar-e Sharif. The course included subjects such as weapons training and legal science classes. Members of the Afghan Border Police, Afghan Uniform Police, and Afghan National Civil Order Police attended the training. The Afghan Police Sergeant Command is assisted by the German Police Project Team (GPPT). Read more in the news report by Resolute Support News, April 8, 2015.

Afghan War News Snippets (Apr 8, 2015)

Hostage Beheaded by IMU. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a group allied with the Taliban and which operates in Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, released a video depicting a beheading of one of its Afghan hostages. A news report from BBC (link provided) says militants had kidnapped 31 Haraza's off buses in Afghanistan in February as they traveled from Iran to Kabul through Zabul province. There has been much speculation as to who controls the hostages with some saying the Islamic State has a hand in the situation. Other news reports see (NDS statement) say the beheaded hostage was NOT one of the 31 Hazara hostages.
(BBC News, April 5, 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32200835).

NDS Vows to Pursue Beheaders. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) vowed to identify and arrest the militants who beheaded an ex-member of the Afghan National Army (ANA). In the video the IMU pledges allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS). (Khaama Press, Apr 7, 2015).

Six Insurgents Killed in Paktika. According to a recent news report a well-known Haqqani commander and five other insurgents were killed in an Afghan National Army operation in southern Paktika province on Monday afternoon. (Tolo News, Apr 7, 2015).

Kabul - Everyday Game of Life and Death. A news correspondent recounts his experience filming in Kabul. He says that Afghanistan remains a dangerous place for locals and visitors. (Channel Asia News, Apr 7, 2015).

EU in Afghanistan. The European Mission (EU) is playing a big role in assisting Afghanistan during its 'transformation decade'. Read more in "EU-Nato coordination key to advancing Afghan transition", The Parliament Magazine, April 7, 2015.

U.S. Fusion Cell for Hostages? The U.S. is thinking about establishing a fusion cell involving subject-matter experts from agencies including the FBI, DoD, DoS, and intelligence community. The cell will review hostage policies and recovery strategies. (The Washington Post, Apr 6, 2015).

Taliban to Outlast Coalition. The international Coalition, along with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), have been fighting the Taliban for 13 years. Last fighting season (2014) the Taliban inflicted great casualties on the ANSF and the prospect is the same for this year. The 2016 deadline for the withdrawal of the 12,000 international troops is not far off and there is very little prospect for the defeat of the Taliban before the deadline. There is little hope for a diminishing of the insurgency unless Pakistan takes concrete steps to reduce its support of the Afghan Taliban. Read more in "Afghanistan, the US, and the Taliban", by Aryaman Bhatnagar, Observer Research Foundation, (India), April 7, 2015.

Afghan Interpreter Refused Asylum by UK. An Afghan interpreter who worked for the British army claims he has been targeted by the Taliban but the UK Home Office says it does not believe he would be in danger if he returns to Afghanistan. (The Guardian, Apr 7, 2015).

Tom Ricks on Afghanistan. Tom Ricks, writing in Foreign Policy,  tells us "Why I remain more optimistic about Afghanistan's future than about Iraq's" in his April 6, 2015 column. He sees a way forward for Afghanistan. He thinks that Kabul needs to find ways of living with regional overlords, keep the ring road safe for transit of goods, keep the Taliban out of Kabul (but let them have Oruzgan), don't worry too much about the hinterland, and encourage the Iranians to build some railroads in Afghanistan.

Military Review. The March-April 2015 edition of Military Review is now posted online. Articles include topics of "The Army Operating Concept", "SHARP Realities", "Women in Combat", "Women in the Infantry", "Female Engagement Teams", "Art of Command and the Science of Control", "The Ignorant Counterinsurgent", "Anbar Awakening", "Retaking a District Center - A Case Study in the Application of Village Stability Operations", and more.

IO Weaknesses Identified in DoDIG Report. In a recently released (March 27, 2015) report the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Defense identified some Information Operations (IO) challenges and weaknesses in operations conducted in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. The report covers IO activities from 2006 through 2013. Some of its findings include "communication activities that were not optimal at the operational level in Afghanistan", a lack of a fully integrated IO capability in Afghanistan", and "the need for strengthened controls over IO assessments in Afghanistan". The report is Information Operations in a Contingency Environment: Summary of Weaknesses Identified in Reports Issued from October 6, 2006, Through November 7, 2013, DoDIG-2015-100.
www.dodig.mil/pubs/report_summary.cfm?id=6304

Sleeping Badly and the Military. "Given the unprecedented demands placed on U.S. military forces since 2001, there has been growing concerns about the prevalence and consequences of sleep problems for servicemembers. Sleep problems often follow a chronic course, persisting long after servicemembers return home from combat deployments . . ." Read more about a military deprived of sleep and recommendations for better sleep in "Sleep in the Military: Promoting Healthy Sleep Among U.S. Servicemembers", The RAND Corporation, April 2015.
www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR739.html

Soldiers Sleep Tips. The Defense Health Agency offers Soldiers some sleeping tips for the sleep-deprived military culture. (Army.mil, Mar 16, 2015).
www.army.mil/article/145285

The Afghan Diaspora. An extremely informative article about the impact that out-migration of Afghans has had on education in Afghanistan and more. Read "Diaspora and Knowledge Societies in Making: individual challenges and communal opportunities", by Dr. Yahia Baiza, posted on Afghan Professional Network (APN), April 7, 2015.

Pashtun Diaspora Women and Marriage. A writer examines the situation of Pashtun women living abroad and the prospects for marriage. Read "The Changing Face of Marriage for Pashtun Diaspora Women", Gandhara Blog - Radio Free Europe, April 7, 2015.

Report - Afghan Women Abandoned. Amnesty International has released a report (Yahoo! news report, Apr 6, 2015) saying that the government of Afghanistan and the international community have abandoned Afghan women. Afghanistan has regularly been named as one of the worst places to be born female. Afghanistan: Their lives on the line: Women human rights defenders under attack in Afghanistan, Amnesty International, April 6, 2015.
www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa11/1279/2015/en/

Afghan Women's Poetry. A recently released collection of poetry, Load Poems Like Guns: Women's Poetry from Herat, Afghanistan, brings together a selection of works from eight Afghan women. Read more in "Darkness and Hope in Load Poems Like Guns", By Catherine Putz, The Diplomat, April 7, 2015.

Photo Essay on Afghan School. National Geographic has published a photo essay on an Afghan school - a yearbook of the school's students. (April 6, 2015).

Afghan War News Snippets (Apr 7, 2015)

Qarabagh Blast Kills Afghan Police. An explosion killed four police and two civilians in a blast on Monday, 6 April. They were killed in the Qarabagh district on Kabul after a police vehicle struck a roadside mine. (Tolo News, Apr 6, 2015).

MoD Minister Nominated - Finally. General Afzal Ludin has been nominated at the new Minister for the Ministry of Defense (MoD). He will soon be introduced to Parliament for a vote of confidence. (Tolo News, Apr 6, 2015).

New Taxes Protested by Kabul Businessmen. Afghan traders have shut their shops and are marching in Kabul to protest tax hikes. They say the taxes are unfair hikes in what they must pay the government. (Yahoo! News, Apr 6, 2015).

Two of 31 Harzara Hostages Dead. According to Khaama Press (Apr 6, 2015) two of the 31 abducted Hararas were found dead in Zabul province. Their bodies were found in Khak-e-Afghan district. One was murdered and the other (an older man) died of weakness. The hostages were abducted on February 24, 2015 by militants suspected to be part of the ISIS group in Afghanistan.

ISIS Recruiting in Taliban Territory. In what some observers see as a changing of the guard the Islamic State is recruiting in Afghanistan. (CNN News, Apr 6, 2015).

Bergdahl - "Attempted to Go Over to the Other Side". Computer forensics may derailed Bergdahl's defense. (The Weekly Standard, Apr 6, 2015).

"The Real Afghan War". An essay taken from chapter five of Anand Gopal's "No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War Through Afghan Eyes", - or "How an American Fantasy Conflict Created Disaster in Afghanistan". (The Huffington Post, April 6, 2015).

Info about Korean Hospital at Bagram. Korea has been operating a hospital at Bagram Air Field (BAF) in Parwan province since 2010. The hospital provides quality medical care for Afghan citizens. Read more in "Koreans sow seeds of hope in Afghanistan", The Korea Times, April 5, 2015.

Biometrics and the Changing World of Spies. The use of biometrics is hampering the ability of spy agencies to conduct their business. Iris scans and facial recognition software coupled with more and more public cameras in airports, train stations, stores, and public areas are making life difficult for the spy world. The routine collection and analysis of fingerprints, iris scans, and facial images are helping to ferret out terrorists and immigration fraudsters all over the world - but it is also making it difficult for undercover agents to remain anonymous. Read more in "To Catch a Spy", Foreign Policy, April 6, 2015.

Senators Visit to TAAC-E. A number of U.S. Senators recently visited Train, Advise, Assist Command East at Tactical Base Gamberi in early April 2015. The TAAC-East commander, BG Bentley, says that one example of how TAAC-E is assisting the 201st Corps is in helping to establish the Regional Military Training Center (RMTC) for the 201st Corps which will give the corps the capability to train new soldiers assigned to the corps. This is probably a bad example - as advisors assigned to the 201st Corps have been "assisting" with the establishment of the RMTC at least since 2010 (see press release by CJTF-101, August 2010). I would have to say that is very slow progress. In 2012 FedBizOpps.Gov issued a solicitation for the construction of the RMTC. (DVIDS, Apr 5, 2015).

Afghan War News Snippets (Mar 6, 2015)

Explosion in Kunduz City. The north of Afghanistan continues to experience growing unrest. Reports came in about an explosion in Kunduz on Sunday, April 5th.

Khost Suicide Attack by Haqqani Network. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) says that the Haqqani Network was involved in the deadly suicide attack that took place in Khost province. The bomber detonated his explosives among anti-corruption demonstrators. At least 20 people were killed and over 60 others injured in the attack. (Khaama Press, April 4, 2015).

High Peace Council Review Urged. A member of the executive board of the High Peace Council wants to see the government conduct a review of the organization's structure before serious peace talks with the Taliban commence. (Khaama Press, Apr 5, 2015).

Opinion - Speed Up Afghan Withdrawal. Doug Bandow, a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, says that the "Administration Should Speed, Not Slow, Military Withdrawal From Afghanistan", The World Post, April 5, 2015. Doug says that the United States quickly accomplished its two main goals in Afghanistan early on - destroy al Qaeda and oust its Taliban hosts. The quagmire began in a half-hearted effort (the nation's leadership shifted its attention to Iraq) to nation-build in a country not quite ready for nation-building. He says it is time to leave and to let the Afghans sort things out by themselves.

Opinion - "Slow Motion Retreat" Bad for Afghanistan. Sean Parnell, an Army veteran of the Afghan conflict and book author, writes that our slow retreat from Afghanistan is placing that country's future in jeopardy and will erase hard-fought gains by the U.S. (The Washington Times, April 4, 2015).

Is Mullah Omar Dead or Alive? Speculation still abounds as to whether the 'leader' of the Taliban is dead or alive. The Taliban leadership recently released a biography of the leader. Read more in a news article by BBC News, August 5, 2015. See also a news report by Radio Free Europe, April 5, 2015.

Operation Freedom's Sentinel Award Criteria. The Army has spelled out the eligibility criteria for the award of the Global War on Terrorism Medals to Soldiers serving in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. See news report by Army Times (April 5, 2015).

A-29 Super Tucano Next Best Thing to an A-10. Rick Smith writing for The Motley Fool (an investment newsletter) cites the value of the A-29 soon to be given to Afghanistan as a close support aircraft. His article (April 5, 2015) provides us with the operational details of the A-29 as well as the likelihood of additional purchases of the aircraft for the Afghan Air Force beyond the initial 20 aircraft fielding to take place in 2016-2018.

Video - Profile of a RSM Police Advisor. Major Russell Waight, an AFPAK hand and advisor to the Ministry of Interior, talks about his career, being an Advisor, and working with the Afghan people. (4 minutes long).
www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153204572713454

Female War Journalists and Adrenaline. Read the story of a female photojournalist who keeps going back to the war. (The Guardian, April 5, 2015).

Women in the CIA. A recent rash of television shows have depicted women in the Central Intelligence Agency in a manner not totally consistent with real life. At least according to an Op-Ed by Maureen Dowd who recently interviewed several career CIA female employees about 'real life' in the CIA. According to some TV shows alcoholism and bed-hopping is a way of life for female CIA employees. Read "Good Riddance, Carrie Mathison", The New York Times, April 4, 2015.

Women in Special Forces - American Odyssey. This new show premiered on Sunday night (April 5th). It is interesting to note that it features a women Soldier of a Special Forces unit who is the sole survivor of her team that went in to enemy territory on a counterterrorism mission in Africa. She, according to one online review, is a member of a Female Engagement Team or FET. Hmmmm. I thought that the FETs were assigned to the Army and the Cultural Support Teams or CSTs were assigned to Special Forces teams. Looks like Hollywood knows something I don't. Evidently we are to suspend reality and push that "I Believe" button to swallow the story line presented by American Odyssey. Its great that the TV series attempts to portray women in the military in a positive light but sad that they can't shake Hollywood's concept of reality. The premiere showcased many of the left-wing causes - big, bad corporations, high-ranking military officers not caring of their Soldiers, drones are bad, hacking government computers is good (Snowden?), private military corporations are bad, and counterculture movements (Occupy?) are good. I am sure for the uninformed masses it is great entertainment - especially if you are a big-government conspiracy theory believer. It is too bad - as there was a lot of potential to highlight women of the FETs, CSTs, HTTs, and other like units in a positive light. Read a preview of the show by The Daily Beast, (April 5, 2015).

Afghan News Snippets (Apr 5, 2015)

Combat Aviation Advisors. The 6th Special Operations Squadron is home to combat aviation advisors of the U.S. Air Force. Its' mission is Foreign Internal Defense (FID) and Combat Foreign Internal Defense (CFID). The combat advisors conduct assessments, provide training and advice and support to foreign aviation combat units across the world. These advisors are familiar with various types of foreign aircraft to include Russian Mi-17s, French A-332 Super Pumas, and others. The 6th SOS stood up in 1994 and is still a very small part of the Air Force despite the overwhelming demand for air advisors in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa and other parts of the world. Read more in "A day in the life of Combat aviation advisors", Special-Ops.org, July 22, 2014.

MD-530 Helicopters. This coming Thursday the MoD will officially enter the new MD-530 helicopters into the Afghan Air Force (AAF). Six armed MD-530s arrived last month from the United States. Read more in a news article in Khaama Press (Apr 4, 2015).

Video - "Afghan Police and Army Spending". The NATO Channel presents a 4 minute long video detailing how the Resolute Support hqs is helping the ANSF and the Afghan Security Institutions (ASIs) with fiscal discipline. This includes advising them on facilities divestiture and fuel auditing.

https://youtu.be/I8vwmDwyqdw

Factsheet on U.S. Leadership in Landmine Clearance. On April 3, 2015 the U.S. Department of State published a Fact Sheet on "U.S. Global Leadership in Landmine Clearance and Conventional Weapons Destruction".

www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/04/240274.htm

Motorbike Mine Blast in Kunduz. 10 people (perhaps more) were injured early Saturday in a mine blast in northern Kunduz province. The explosion took place near the police headquarters. (Tolo News, Apr 4, 2015).

Blast in Baghlan Province. According to Pajhwok News five civilians were killed and 7 others wounded in a mine blast in Baghlan province.

Peace Talks - Who are the Players? NBC News provides us with background material for the peace talks that may (or may not) occur between the Afghan government, the Taliban and other parties. Read "Afghan Peace Talks with Taliban: Issues, Players and Challenges", April 4, 2015.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/afghan-peace-talks-n333801

Women in as "Operators" in Special Operations. Surveys conducted by special operations units indicate that there are big concerns about integrating women into some SOF positions. While there are a number of positions currently open to women in SOF units (support and staff) the "operator" positions are the ones that are currently closed. These positions require attendance at grueling and physically demanding qualification courses such as Special Forces training and then assignment to units that sometimes deploy as a small element in geographically remote and austere locations. Read more in "Special ops troops doubt women can do the job", AP Big Story, April 4, 2015.

Afghan War News Snippets - (Apr 4, 2015)

Logar Landmine Kills 7 Civilians. Seven civilians were killed in a landmine explosion in Logar province on April 3rd. All of the dead were from the same family. They were traveling in a civilian vehicle from Kabul to Baraki Barak district of Logar province. (Khaama Press, Apr 3, 2015).

Hybrid Warfare in Europe Explained. Learn why some countries in Europe think that the use of the term "hybrid warfare" gives NATO and the U.S. a pass in confronting the danger posed by Russia. Of course, hybrid warfare is not a new concept - it is just the type of war that is fought unconventionally (such as the insurgency in Afghanistan). (War on the Rocks, April 3, 2015).

A Call for More Humanitarian Aid for Afghanistan. In a letter to the editor of The New York Times (April 3, 2015) David Miliband (former British foreign secretary and president of the International Rescue Committee) says that more humanitarian aid needs to be provided to community-based programs in Afghanistan (such as the National Solidarity Program).

Senator Worried on Afghan Withdrawal. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis recently visited Afghanistan. Following his trip the senator said that the U.S. military must remain in Afghanistan beyond President Obama's projected troop withdrawal in early 2017 to discourage prospects for the Islamic State militants to get a toehold there. The senator met with high-ranking U.S. generals as well as President Ghani. He stated that current counterterrorism efforts and advising Afghan forces gives U.S. leaders ground information about potential threats. North Carolina is the home of the USMC's Camp Lejeune and the Army's Fort Bragg. (Military Times, Apr 3, 2015).

OCP Uniforms Ready for Issue. The Army will soon start issuing combat uniforms in its new camouflage pattern to deploying Soldiers. The uniforms will also be available at military clothing sales stores in late summer or early fall. New gear matching the camouflage pattern will soon be issued as well. The new camouflage pattern is similar in appearance to Crye Precision's popular MultiCam.(Army Times, Apr 3, 2015).

Video - "Bridging the Civil Military Divide: The Role of the Media". The New America Foundation and the Yale Veterans Association presented this panel discussion about the civil - military divide. This 1 hour and 15 minute video features a number of panel participants to include Tom Ricks (war correspondent and author), Adrian Bonenberger (former Army and currently a journalist), and Kayla Williams (former Army and book author).
https://youtu.be/ZJF7nO9uAEM

Women's Rights - and Education. Despite Ashraf Ghani's pledges in the United States, Afghanistan still has a long way to go on women's rights. Read "Afghanistan's 'Separate but Equal' Education System", The Diplomat, April 2, 2015.

Fears of Abductions Grow. Recent abductions in northern Balkh and Sar-e-Pul provinces (as well as the ones that took place in Zabul and Ghazni) have put many citizens who travel on edge. Read more in "Increased Abductions Grow Fears of Citizens", Tolo News, April 2, 2015.

Afghan Cabinet Vote on Monday. The Afghan House of Representatives has scheduled a vote of confidence for approving or rejecting the 16 new candidates for the cabinet. The house is currently reviewing the academic documents, dual citizenship, and background of the candidates. (Khaama Press, Apr 3, 2015).

Date for Bergdahl Article 32. The Article 32 hearing for SGT Bowe Bergdahl is scheduled for July 8th at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Bergdahl was charge on March 25th with one count of desertion and one count of misbehavior before the enemy. General Mark Milley, the former commander of ISAF Joint Command (IJC), made the decision to charge Bergdahl. (Army Times, April 2, 2015).

ADT Member Talks about Developing Rapport. Deploying to Afghanistan is a cultural shock -especially if your job involves interacting with Afghans. There is the cultural differences and the language barrier. And lots of tea drinking. But sometimes a hot pepper can break the ice. Learn how eating a hot pepper helped a female member of an Agribusiness Development Team establish rapport in "One hot pepper equals three cups of tea", DVIDS, April 2, 2015.

Peace Talks. Under President Karzai - the United States and India played a leading role in trying to get peace talks under way with the Taliban. With President Ghani now in charge - the scene has changed - Pakistan and China are now leading the effort. China has a lot at stake here - a stable Afghanistan will be needed if China is to have ready access to the immense deposits of minerals (Mes Aynak copper mine) available in Afghanistan and can contribute to its vision of a "New Silk Road" connecting all of Central Asia to Europe and China. The wild card is Pakistan - will it stop supporting the Taliban? Read more in "Afghanistan Peace Talks: At a Geopolitical Crossroads", The Diplomat, April 2, 2015.

Mine Awareness Day - April 4, 2015. U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan - P. Michael McKinley - has published an Op-Ed in Khaama Press about how 80% of minefields from past conflicts have been cleared in Afghanistan. Since 1989 almost 600,000 mines of various types (anti-personnel, anti-tank, and explosive remnants of war) have been cleared. 

Afghan News Snippets (Apr 3, 2015)

Khost Suicide Blast Kills 16 or more. Reports say that a suicide attack against an anti-corruption protest killed at least 16 and wounded around 40 in Khost province. An MP from Khost province was wounded in the explosion. The acting governor of Khost has been accused of land-grabbing (a common practice in Afghanistan) and rampant corruption (also a common practice among government officials). Civilian casualties have jumped by 22% in 2014.

Hope and Obstacles in Afghanistan. President Ghani's recent trip to the United States secured continued funding and a pause in the U.S. troop withdrawal. His visit also inspired some hope that Afghanistan can turn the corner; yet having hope won't fix the many obstacles in Afghanistan's path. Much work has to be done. Read "Tentative Hope, Continued Obstacles After Leaders' U.S. Trip", by Farishta Jalazai, Gandhara Blog, April 2, 2015.

China's Fiber-Optic Silk Road. One of the overlooked benefits of China's "New Silk Road" initiative (which involved connecting China with Central Asia and Afghanistan with rail and road LOCs) is the building of a fiber-optic regional network. The fiber-optic cable (1/10th the cost of satellite usage) can be laid alongside rail lines. This will benefit Afghanistan as well. Read more in "A Fiber-Optic Silk Road", by Nadege Rolland, The Diplomat, April 2, 2015.

Video - AMC Perspective on Afghanistan Retrograde. General Dennis Via, commanding general of Army Materiel Command provides an AMC perspective during the 2015 Global Force Symposium. (Posted by US Army TRADOC on YouTube.com on April 1, 2015, 30 mins).

https://youtu.be/7QocyaEk5GE

SIGAR Questions USAID's PROMOTE Project. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is spending lots of money on the Promoting Gender Equity in National Priority Programs (Promote) project. This project is committed to provide support for Afghan women. However, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) office is concerned that USAID will not be able to effectively implement, monitor and assess the impact of Promote. Read a SIGAR letter (March 27, 2015) to USAID expressing its concerns and requesting additional information.

www.sigar.mil/pdf/special%20projects/SIGAR-15-44-SP.pdf

Expensive Wedding Cap. Afghan lawmakers have passed a law limiting the costs for weddings. The cap is now at $3,500. Over the past ten years the cost of weddings have grown significantly and become a huge social problem and a burden for families. The law caps the number of wedding guests to 500 and the cost per head at 400 afghanis (which is about $7 U.S.). (NBC News, April 1, 2015).

Afghan War News Snippets (Apr 2, 2015)

Kabul Bank Case. President Ghani met with investigators of the Kabul Bank case as part of his commitments during his inauguration to finalize the country's largest corruption scandal. The Kabul Bank, once the country's largest institution, collapsed in 2010 due to corruption - much in part by the Karzai family.(Tolo News, 31 Mar 15).

Fighting in Helmand Gets Bloodier. The northern Helmand province area is seeing an upsurge in casualties as Afghan forces take the lead. (The Wall Street Journal, April 1, 2015, requires login).

10 Most Dangerous Countries in the World. Afghanistan made the list and is ranked fifth. Other countries include Nigeria, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine. (Radio Free Europe, April 1, 2015).

Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami Fight Each Other in Maidan Wardak. The Taliban and another insurgent group continue to fight each other in Wardak province. So there is a three-way fight going on there -  The ANSF, Taliban, and Hezb-i-Islami. (Khaama Press, Apr 1, 2015).

11 Passengers Kidnapped Sari-e-Pul. Passengers were kidnapped in Sari Pul. Looks like this is an ongoing event at least once a week across Afghanistan.

Ghani. One writer says things are different with Afghanistan. He wants us to "Give Ghani a Chance". The RAND Blog, March 31, 2015.

Females & Ranger School. Six more women qualified to attend Ranger School by passing the March rotation of the Ranger Training Assessment Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. That brings the number of women qualified to attend the 60-day course to 12 total. (Army Times,  April 1, 2015).

Turkmenistan-Afghan Border History. Do you ever wonder why Afghanistan's border with Turkmenistan looks so odd? Read "How the British and the Russians Drew the Afghan-Turkmen Border", by Akhilesh Pillalamarri, The Diplomat, March 31, 2015.

U.S. Vision for Central Asia. Antony J. Blinken, Deputy Secretary of State, addressed the Brookings Institute on March 31, 2015 and the topic was on Central Asia and how it relates to security in Afghanistan.

New Focus on Central Asia By U.S. Joshua Kurcera writes in The Bug Pit of Eurasia.net that Washington has rolled out a new Central Asia policy with a focus on counterterrorism. (April 1, 2015).

What's Next for Central Asia? Richard E. Hoagland, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the State Department, addressed a gathering at Georgetown University on March 30, 2015. Topic was Central Asia.

ISIL in Central Asia. Silk Road Reporters published a post by Joe Peerson on April 1, 2015 entitled "ISIL in Central Asia - Swiftly Becoming a Reality".

Blackwater and Afghan Drugs. An article in Fortress America says that the paramilitary firm "Blackwater Is Still Getting Rich Screwing Up Our War on Afghan Drugs". (March 31, 2015).

Relying on Pakistan. The Huffington Post has an article that says securing Afghanistan means relying on the Pakistani Army. (March 31, 2015).

Taliban Commander Captured. The NDA captured a senior Taliban commander who is involved in targeting foreigners in Kabul. (The Long War Journal, Mar 31, 2015).

IED Analysis Course. ANA soldiers have recently graduated from the "Improvised Explosive Device Analysis Course". The ten-day long course is intended to help the ANA students build on their existing intelligence analysis skills to assist them in countering IEDs.  IEDs are the number one cause of casualties for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Learn more about this IED course in "Afghans learn to analyze IED threat", RS News, April 1, 2015.

Customs Revenue Increases. The Ministry of Finance announced a four percent increase in government financial income in the first quarter of this year. (Khaama Press, April 1, 2015).

$400,000 Helmet. An infantryman's kevlar helmet costs a few hundred dollars but the helmet that an F-35 pilot wears is much more expensive. Read "Meet the most fascinating part of the F-35: The $400,000 helmet", The Washington Post, April 1, 2015.

Resistance to DCGS-A Persists. The Army's main intelligence gathering component, the Distributed Common Ground System, continues to face criticism among lawmakers and members of the military. The DCGS will eventually cost the military over $10 billion. (GCN, March 31, 2015).

Parliamentary Election Postponed? Second Vice-President Sarwar Danish revealed on Wednesday that the parliamentary election will be postponed and held in 2016. (Khaama Press, April 1, 2015).

More on Ghani. Dr. Harland K. Ullman writes about President Ghani in an article entitled "Winston Spencer Ghani", The Huffington Post Politics Blog, March 31, 2015.