UK Remembers the Fallen

The United Kingdom military forces held remembrance services in Afghanistan to remember the fallen from the Afghan War and previous conflicts. Read more in "British Forces in Afghanistan Remember the Fallen", UK Forces TV, November 10, 2014. (print and video).

Interview with Ambassador Volker

Kurt Volker, the former US Ambassador to NATO, is interviewed about the current and future situation in Afghanistan. He chats on China's increased involvement with Afghanistan (says it is a good thing) and about China's insurgent problem in Xiajiang province (and how a stable Afghanistan helps China defeat the ETIM). He concludes the 3 minute long interview with his list of 'uncertainties' that face Afghanistan in the future (Pakistan continued support of Taliban, a resurgent Taliban in the south, the loss of Kandahar province). Listen to the interview at "Kurt Volker, Former US Ambassador to NATO, on China, Afghanistan relations", CCTV America, October 31, 2014.

Video - Interview of UK SFAAT Team Leader

Major Bev Allen, a Security Force Assistance Advisory Team (SFAAT) commander from 1 Royal Anglian, explains about the work he does in Afghanistan in a 1 minute long video. Watch "My Job in Afghanistan: Advisory Team Commander", UK Defence Headquarters (posted on YouTube), June 13, 2012.

Video - "Spoke and Hub Footprint"

In a short video (1 minute) General John Campbell (COMISAF) describes the "spoke and hub" concept of the enduring footprint that NATO will have during the Resolute Support mission after December 2014. See "COMISAF Enduring Footprint", Defense Media Activity - Army, October 30, 2104.

Video - COMISAF Speaks on Afghan Future

In a short video clip COMISAF (General John Campbell) speaks about transition, Afghan security, and the need for the Taliban to come to the peace table. See Changes Underway with Afghanistan Drawdown, DoD News, October 30, 2014.

Interview with John Nagl - Author "Knife Fights"

Dr. John Nagl was recently (October 28, 2014) interviewed about his new book "Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice". Nagl is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and a former president of The Center for a New American Century. The book is an education in 21st Century Warfare - both its theory and its practice. Nagl first came into the public eye with his book "Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife" - about counterinsurgency and how the United States had to understand an insurgency and be flexible in its response and able to adjust its strategy to deal with the threat. The interview, narrated by Peter Bergen (no slouch himself on warfare, insurgency and terrorism) was recorded by The Center for a New American Century, it is 1 hour and 23 minutes long and can be seen at the link below on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6WLiErc2mw

Video - ANA Training at KMTC

One of the largest training centers for the Afghan National Army (ANA) is at the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC). The subjects taught by ANA instructors at KMTC range from house clearing, convoy operations, medical training and more. Watch a short video (2 mins) produced by NATO TV entitled "Afghan army learns from the battlefield", October 15, 2014.

19th SFGA NCO "Retired" Over Bikini Video

An NCO of the 19th Special Forces Group is being "retired" because he provided support to a United Kingdom firm that produces a "Wounded Warrior Calendar" that raises money for wounded U.S. and British solders. The NCO, who was also wounded during a deployment (receiving a Purple Heart), assisted in the photo shoots for the 2015 "Hot Shots Calendar" by providing access to a National Guard military installation and some equipment (vehicles). Most of the video and calendar photos were actually produced on the property of a private gun club utilizing the facilities, equipment, and weapons of the private shooting range. The company that produces the calendar donates proceeds toward wounded British and American veterans. In an older (not so politically correct) Army this sort of patriotic behavior was encouraged (and enjoyed by the male members of the military). But the times have changed (unfortunately for us older Soldiers who remember the good times) and our military leaders are much more politically correct now. It would have been great to see the NG leadership in Utah to stand up to the Utah politicians and state that the NCO was just doing his part in the overall fight but it seems they caved very quickly on this issue. Seems to me he was just putting his Special Forces training to good use! Read more in "Utah National Guard disciplines four servicemen over bikini-model video", Yahoo! News, November 2, 2014.

Video - COMISAF Explains Afghanistan

The commander of the International Security Assistance Force, General John Campbell, is interviewed by Gail McCabe about the current and future status of Afghanistan. He covers topics such as capability gaps of the Afghan National Security Forces (aviation, intelligence, logistics, etc.), effectiveness of President Ghani, how the signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement and SOFA has sent a strong message to the Taliban, and how the Train, Advise, and Assist mission will work at the MoI, MoD, and corps level. He says corruption won't go away but it should subside now that President Ghani is now on board. Campbell says that the difference between Afghanistan in 2001 and 2014 is significant. He believes that more work has to be done and feels confident the international community will continue to support Afghanistan and continue its investment. The video is 20 minutes long and can be viewed at this link.

www.dvidshub.net/video/369675/closer-look-moving-forward

Video - Traditional Afghan Pottery

The link at the bottom of this post takes you to a short video on Afghan potters and traditional Afghan pottery. In quotes below is a description of the video by NATO TV.

"Traditional Afghan pottery has been made in the village of Istalif for over 1,400 years using the same traditional methods. Its craftsmen believe that pottery arrived in Afghanistan with Alexander the Great and that their techniques have changed little since then.

But history has not been kind to Istalif’s artisans. The civil war found the small village on the frontline of the battle between rival militant groups, trying to capture nearby Kabul from the Taliban. The fighting almost destroyed the village and its kilns that had already been pounded by Soviet airstrikes.

Today the Turquoise Mountain Foundation is seeking to preserve the skills of Istalif’s ceramics masters. They have established a ceramics school in Kabul’s Murad Khane district and have produced 33 master potters."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9xlE3Kl3Vg

Video -"To Kill a Sparrow"

This video is the story of a woman from Afghanistan - named Soheila - who was betrothed at the age of 5 to an older man in an attempt to settle a family feud. Baad is a practice used to resolve disputes - providing a daughter to pay off a grievance. The video of the woman - now 24 years old - follows her tragic story. The documentary - "To Kill a Sparrow" - is a 30 minute long film that shows Soheila's long struggle to escape the life her father intended for her. See the video at "Bartered Away at Age 5, Now Trying to Escape to a Life She Chooses", The New York Times, October 19, 2014.

Video - "Modernising the Afghan Passport Office"

NATO TV has released (October 20, 2014) a video about the effort to modernize the Afghan Passport Office. The video depicts how Afghan citizens can now apply for e-passports, which provides biometric data that can be used to identify the passport holder and screen (and vet) people applying for passports. The new system has made it harder for criminals and insurgents to travel and reduce corruption (I don't believe that for a minute). In addition it has reduced the challenges that Afghan citizens face during their international travel. The video "Modernising the Afghan Passport Office" is about three minutes long and available at the following link. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsL0gBqa8Oo

Video on USACE

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has made great contributions to the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. In this video by Armed Forces Network Afghanistan, LTG Tom Bostick (USACE Commander) and COL Pete Helmlinger (Commander of USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District) are interviewed to explain what USACE has accomplished, the remaining projects still left to be completed, and why the reconstruction effort is needed in Afghanistan. (Published by AFN on YouTube n October 11, 2014 - 2 mins). www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGuFRXo1ypk

Video - "Unmanned: America's Drone Wars"

A full-length video (60 minutes) entitled "Unmanned: America's Drone Wars" present an "alternative" view of the drone war conducted from the skies over Pakistan. This feature documentary is Brave New Films and directed by Robert Greenwald. There are over 70 interviews from victims, investigative journalists, and top military officials. The film focuses on the human cost of the drone war; not the military benefits of taking out the high and mid-level leadership of terrorist and insurgent organizations with drone attacks. You can view the video at the link below.

http://unmanned.warcosts.com/unmanned_about

Video - Australia in Afghanistan

ISAF has released a short video (1 min) on Australia's mission in Afghanistan. You can view it on YouTube at the following link. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oesgOwy3XI

Video - Memorial Service at KIA

A memorial service was recently held at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. The service was held to honor two Americans (one Army major and one DoD civilian) and a service member from Poland who were recently killed in a suicide car bomb earlier in the month on airport road in Kabul. The airport road runs between the Kabul airport and Massoud Circle - the U.S. Embassy and ISAF HQ compound are adjacent to Massoud Circle. The video shows the preparation taken to ensure the memorial service is conducted smoothly - from practicing the firing squad, preparing the memorial service area, to lacing the fallen members boots. View the video (2 minutes long) - "Honoring Our Fallen", DVIDS, September 28, 2014.

Video: SFAAT visits COP Kherwar, Logar Province

A Security Force Assistance Advisory Team (SFAAT) accompanied their Afghan National Army (ANA) counterparts on a clearing operation in the areas surrounding Combat Outpost Khewar in southern Logar province. COP Khewar was built in 2009 by the U.S. Army and for three years infantry companies occupied the COP; alongside their ANA counterparts. In 2011 the COP was turned over to a company of the ANA and the U.S. departed Khewar district. Watch a 13 minute video featuring the SFAAT advisors from "Dragon Troop" based at FOB Shank (also known as "Rocket City"), a "Show of Force" run and close air support by U.S. fighters, and some sniper activity in "VIDEO: US troops sent to advise Afghan forces drawn into firefight", Stars and Stripes, September 26, 2014.

Video "The Future of Afghanistan" (Sopko)

"The Future of Afghanistan" is presented by Georgetown University Center for Security Studies. This video, published on September 17, 2014 features Special Inspector General for Reconstruction (SIGAR) John F. Sopko speaking about the future of Afghanistan. (video on YouTube, 77 minutes).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=32y-tfIaFYY

Videos About Security Force Assistance

The COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) has produced four videos that help explain the Security Force Assistance (SFA) mission in Afghanistan. The videos are entitled "Mission", "Mindset", "Approach", and "ANSF". The videos provide information on the the new "functionally-based" Security Force Assistance mission that the soon to deploy Security Force Assistance Advisory Teams (SFAATs) will be executing in Afghanistan. The videos can be viewed on the ISAF SFA page on the Ronna Apan website.

Briefing on Functionally-based Security Force Assistance

A video entitled Functionally-based Security Force Assistance (SFA) by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The briefing is on the ISAF shift in mission focus from combat-oriented, unit-based Security Force Assistance to functionally-based, multi-echelon Security Force Assistance. The video can be viewed at the below link:

https://youtu.be/DfwHQiKyxVs