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| APPF unit assigned to guard the Tarakhil power plant (Photo DVIDS, March 201@) |
Sunday, November 12, 2017
APPF and ABP to Fall Under the MoD
Commentary on Afghanistan
The Afghan Diversion. Jill Aitoro, editor of Defense News, has penned an opinion piece about how Afghanistan caused the U.S. Department of Defense to take its eye off other pressing national security concerns. She believes that we need to re-focus our efforts back on technology and we need to regain our technological edge. Read "Afghanistan sucked the oxygen out of the room - at the worst time", Defense News, November 4, 2017.
Update on Afghanistan. Thomas Ruttig provides a good overall update on the conflict in Afghanistan. Read "Conflict Portrait: Afghanistan", PRIO Blogs, November 1, 2017.
U.S. and Pakistan - Spawned the Current Problems of Afghanistan. "Operation Cyclone" was the name given for the campaign against the Soviets in Afghanistan where the U.S. supported the Afghan Mujahadeen. Later, when the CIA and the US abandoned Afghanistan, the Pakistan ISI picked up the remnants of the Afghan resistance. Read an interesting editorial on this past history and current conflict in "The Warring Lovechildren of Cold War era", Deffan Chronicle, November 11, 2017.
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The Way Forward for Peace Talks. Abdul Rahman Rahmani is an Afghan Army aviation pilot who is currently a student at the Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. He outlines the past attempts by the Afghan government to engage in peace talks with the Taliban and offers some recommendations for future courses of action on this topic. See "A Peace Dilemma: Afghan Peace Talks Require a New Approach", Strategy Bridge, November 7, 2017.
Afghan Governance News
Reducing Voter Fraud. Elections in Afghanistan are continually held in low regard by the Afghan population and the international community. Almost all elections in Afghanistan have been marred by massive election fraud and malpractice. The next elections are scheduled for 2018 but it is very doubtful that these elections will be any different from the past elections. Duplicate and fake voter registration is one of the constants in an Afghan election. The country's Independent Election Commission (IEC) has introduced a new, high-tech biometric system that uses fingerprints and digital photos to eliminate duplicate and false voter registration. However, time is short and the IEC needs to implement an equipment distribution and training plan for the biometric system to make a difference. Read more in "Reducing Voter Fraud in Afghanistan", United States Institute for Peace (USIP), November 2, 2017.
Anti-Corruption Officials Under Attack. Several investigators for the Anti-Corruption Justice Center (ACJC) have been murdered. Indications are the murders are a result of public hearings of high-level cases of corruption in Kabul. The anti-corruption center was established in June 2016 but security measures to protect its officials and investigators are lacking. Read more in "We don't feel safe: Afghan anti-graft officials demand protection", France 24, November 11, 2017.
Afghan Security News
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| ANA Commandos receive training from ANA instructor. (photo form RS HQs video posted Nov 11, 2017) |
U.S. Casualty. On Saturday, November 4, 2017 SFC Stephen Cribben died from wounds sustained during a combat operation in Logar province, Afghanistan. He was a member of the 10th Special Forces Group.
CRS Report. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has published a report entitled "Afghanistan: Post Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy", dated November 7, 2017. This 78-page report provides a historical background to the conflict in Afghanistan as well as up to date reporting on the current security situation.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL30588.pdf
Pakistan
Pakistan Still Not Helpful. General Nicholson, the commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan says there has been no change in Pakistan's support of the Taliban. (CNN, Nov 9, 2017).
Pakistan's Wire Fence. The erection of a wire fence along the Afghan - Pakistan border is really not going to stop terrorism. The Taliban will continue to cross the border at will. What the fence will do is increase the hostility between the two countries and separate the Pashtun people who live on each side of the border. Read more in a article by Gandhara Blog, November 8, 2017.
Taliban
"Taliban Can't Win". General Nicholson, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, says the Taliban can't win on the battlefield. The general sounds upbeat on the prospects of pressuring the Taliban into reconciliation. Of course, it is common knowledge to many counterinsurgency gurus that insurgents don't need to win on the battlefield . . . they just need to wear down the opposition over time. But, according to Nicholson, we are turning the corner in the long conflict.
October 2017 - a Wave of Violence. While the 2017 fighting season was not the Taliban's best effort in recent years the group still managed to attain a high level of violence and continues to grow its control over rural areas of Afghanistan. The month of October was especially active with several truck bomb incidents causing hundreds of casualties. Read more in "The Humvee Bomb Series: The October wave of Taleban attacks in 2017 context", Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), November 7, 2017.
Turmoil in Jawzjan Province? A Taliban commander has separated himself from the Taliban movement and declared allegiance to the Islamic State of Khorisan Province (ISKP). The Taliban are struggling to regain control. Read more in "Qari Hekmat's Island: A Daesh enclave in Jawzjan?", by Obaid Ali of Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), November 11, 2017.
Afghan Media Targeted. The attacks against the Afghan media by the Taliban and other insurgent and terrorist groups is on the rise. "In Afghanistan, Militant Groups Unite Against a Common Enemy: Journalists", Gandhara Blog, November 11, 2017.
Getting the Taliban to the Negotiating Table. NATO and U.S. officials are expressing hope that regional engagement, pressure on Pakistan, and battlefield reversed suffered by insurgents will get the Taliban to the negotiating table. Wishful thinking. Read more in "Afghan plan focuses on pushing Taliban to the bargaining table", Military Times, November 9, 2017.
Miscellaneous
SIGAR Report - Some Analysis. The Department of Defense classified much of the data used to measure the development and progress made by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) that one usually finds in the quarterly report to Congress by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. This quarter the SIGAR report dated 30 October was missing some key ingredients. Read more in "Secrecy shrouds US development of Afghan security forces", FDD's Long War Journal, November 4, 2017.
Finland Asked to Send More Troops. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis recently visited Finland and discussed the possibility of Finland sending more troops to Afghanistan. Currently there are 30 military Finns serving in Afghanistan. ( Helsinki Times, Nov 7, 2017).
Black Hawks to Save the Day? The U.S. is abandoning the Mi-17 helicopters that do the brunt of the air support for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and going with a more expensive and complicated flying machine known as the UH-60 Black Hawk. Naturally it is a U.S. aircraft which satisfies the political objectives of many members of Congress. Read more in "US, Afghans hope new Black Hawk Squadron will help turn tide against insurgents", Stars and Stripes, November 5, 2017.
CIVCAS in Kunduz. The United States military is investigating reports that as many as 13 civilians may have been killed in airstrikes in the northern region of Kunduz province. The U.S. confirmed that an operation did take place in the area but offered no further details. (Reuters, Nov 5, 2017). However, it subsequently released a statement saying that no civilian casualties took place. (Military Times, Nov 6, 2017).
Videos and Movies about Afghanistan
"A Game Changer". In this 30-second video posted by Resolute Support on their YouTube.com account General Nicholson, the commander of Resolute Support, says 2018 will be different. He states that the ANA Commandos, Special Police Units, and the Afghan Air Force will be taking the fight to the Taliban. Published on November 11, 2017.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIe1YDUYM_I
"No Greater Love". A documentary directed by an Army chaplain who served in Afghanistan provides a look at the members of a U.S. Army battalion and their experiences during a 2010-2011 deployment to Afghanistan. (Variety, Nov 9, 2017).
NATO JTACs. A French Joint Terminal Air Controller describes how she calls in fire support for ground troops in "She Has the Firepower", NATO, November 6, 2107.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n01QT4c9Pz4
"Special Operations Soldiers". The U.S. Army has posted a video (Nov 6, 2017) about U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) on its YouTube.com site. A 1 1/2 minute long video with some great shots of ARSOF conducting training events.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-pIdRvXCa4
Afghan War News Snippets
Afghans Wary of Trump Plan. While the Afghan elite in Kabul applauded the roll-out of Trump's strategy for Afghanistan and his tough stance on Pakistan - others are not so keen on Trump's plan. Read "Afghans Wary of Trump's Pledge to Challenge Terrorists & Islamabad", The Cipher Brief, November 5, 2017.
Farsi or Dari? There is a language dispute going on in Afghanistan. An interesting article on how the BBC changed the name on its website from Farsi to Dari and how it ignited a political storm. (Radio Free Europe, November 7, 2016.
Regional Security Conference. At a conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan the main topic was Afghanistan. The conference ended up with speeches and discussions about who is the main cause for instability in Afghanistan with fingers pointed in almost every direction. Read Catherine Putz's description of the event in "At the Samarkand Conference, Bilateral Bad Blood and Mistrust Loom Large", The Diplomat, November 11, 2017.
Friendly Fire Incident of June 2014. A few years back five U.S. Soldiers and an Afghan soldier were killed when a B-1 bomber dropped ordnance on their position. An Air Force investigation blamed the Special Forces team on the ground but members of the SF community say that the B-1 was the wrong aircraft for the close air support mission. Read more in "The Afghan War's Deadliest Friendly Fire Incident for U.S. Soldiers", CBS News, November 9, 2017.
Rochester, NY Army NG Aviation Unit Completes Deployment. Members of Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation has returned from an 8 month long deployment to Afghanistan. The aviators flew the CH-47 transport helicopter - a workhorse for the Afghan conflict. (DVIDS, Nov 8, 2017).
Climate Change and Afghanistan. The agriculture sector in Afghanistan is deeply affected by weather and climate. Afghan farmers, for the most part, do not have a good understanding of how climate change is affecting their livelihood. Read "For Afghan farmers, climate change is 'god's will'", Deutsche Welle, November 11, 2017.
Afghanistan NOT Banning WhatsApp and Telegram. The popular messaging services will not be banned by the Afghan government. The two mobile apps are popular among smartphone users in Afghanistan. Of course, the Taliban also use the service as well. Some say a temporary ban was implemented because the Taliban militants use the encryption service with the apps. (Radio Free Europe, Nov 7, 2017).
Privatizing the Afghan War. Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, believes that eventually the Trump administration will move to privatized elements of the Afghanistan war. (Washington Examiner, Nov 6, 2017).
Farsi or Dari? There is a language dispute going on in Afghanistan. An interesting article on how the BBC changed the name on its website from Farsi to Dari and how it ignited a political storm. (Radio Free Europe, November 7, 2016.
Regional Security Conference. At a conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan the main topic was Afghanistan. The conference ended up with speeches and discussions about who is the main cause for instability in Afghanistan with fingers pointed in almost every direction. Read Catherine Putz's description of the event in "At the Samarkand Conference, Bilateral Bad Blood and Mistrust Loom Large", The Diplomat, November 11, 2017.
Friendly Fire Incident of June 2014. A few years back five U.S. Soldiers and an Afghan soldier were killed when a B-1 bomber dropped ordnance on their position. An Air Force investigation blamed the Special Forces team on the ground but members of the SF community say that the B-1 was the wrong aircraft for the close air support mission. Read more in "The Afghan War's Deadliest Friendly Fire Incident for U.S. Soldiers", CBS News, November 9, 2017.
Rochester, NY Army NG Aviation Unit Completes Deployment. Members of Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation has returned from an 8 month long deployment to Afghanistan. The aviators flew the CH-47 transport helicopter - a workhorse for the Afghan conflict. (DVIDS, Nov 8, 2017).
Climate Change and Afghanistan. The agriculture sector in Afghanistan is deeply affected by weather and climate. Afghan farmers, for the most part, do not have a good understanding of how climate change is affecting their livelihood. Read "For Afghan farmers, climate change is 'god's will'", Deutsche Welle, November 11, 2017.
Afghanistan NOT Banning WhatsApp and Telegram. The popular messaging services will not be banned by the Afghan government. The two mobile apps are popular among smartphone users in Afghanistan. Of course, the Taliban also use the service as well. Some say a temporary ban was implemented because the Taliban militants use the encryption service with the apps. (Radio Free Europe, Nov 7, 2017).
Privatizing the Afghan War. Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, believes that eventually the Trump administration will move to privatized elements of the Afghanistan war. (Washington Examiner, Nov 6, 2017).
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Sunday, November 5, 2017
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
U.S. Casualty in Logar Province on Sat, Nov 4, 2017
Logar province, Afghanistan
On Saturday, November 4, 2017 a U.S. service member died of wounds from an operation in Logar province, Afghanistan. The Soldier was a member of the 10th Special Forces Group based at Fort Carson, Colorado and identified as SFC Stephen Cribben.
SIGAR Quarterly Report - October 30, 2017
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) Quarterly Report to Congress dated 30 October 2017 has been published. It appears that some significant information that used to be in previous reports is no longer available. Some of the missing information includes key figures about the growth and progress of local security forces.
Of note is the diminishing numbers of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). In 2017 the Afghan National Army (ANA) shrank by 5,000 troops while the Afghan National Police (ANP) suffered a net loss of 4,000. The decrease in numbers was attributed to combat casualties, defections to the Taliban, and desertions.
'Green on Green' attacks are up since January 2015.
News stories on the SIGAR report:
October 2017 SIGAR Report, SOF News, October 31, 2017
"Afghanistan Stares Down the Barrel of the Long Defeat", The Diplomat, November 4, 2017.
An Insider Attack: FOB Connolly (Feb 2012)
One of the principal threats to a U.S. military advisor providing training, advise, and assistance to a foreign military force comes from that force itself. An 'insider attack' is when a member of the foreign force being advised turns his weapon on a U.S. advisor. Sometimes called 'green on blue' - these insider attacks cause great harm to the advising effort.
In 2012 in Afghanistan there were a large number of insider attacks conducted by Afghan police or army members against U.S. and NATO forces. These attacks resulted in over 60 deaths that year - accounting for 15% of Coalition deaths. In the late summer and early fall of 2012 NATO and U.S. forces in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) significantly curtailed operations for several weeks to reduce tensions and decrease the number of deaths from these 'green on blue' incidents. 'Partnered' and 'advising' missions were put on hold. When missions did resume it was at a reduced pace with careful consideration given to the insider threat and mitigating measures that provided greater safety to advisors; but, in many cases, reduced the effectiveness of the advising effort.
Throughout the many years of the U.S. involvement in the Afghan conflict one can find cases of insider attacks but 2012 was a significant year. While the incidents of green on blue attacks peaked in the late part of 2012 the early part of the year saw a number of attacks as well.
A few days earlier the Koran burning on Bagram Air Field took place that caused widespread discontent and demonstrations across Afghanistan. FOB Connolly was not spared the Afghan reaction to the burning. The small FOB saw crowds in the hundreds gathering outside its gates destroying structures and burning vehicles beyond the protective walls of the compound. It was during one of these demonstrations that two U.S. Soldiers from a military police platoon died in a attack by an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier from within the FOB. Learn more about this incident in the online article and podcast below:
Listen to a Podcast about the Green on Blue Attack at FOB Connolly:
The military police platoon leader, CPT Jannelle Allong-Kiakabana, is interviewed about the attack by The Spear - a podcast on military topics presented by the Modern War Institute at West Point. Listen to her account of the incident and the aftermath in Podcast: The Spear - Green on Blue, November 2, 2017.
https://mwi.usma.edu/podcast-spear-green-blue/
Read more about the Green on Blue Attack at FOB Connolly:
CPT Seth Hildebrand, "Insider Attacks: Repairing a Damaged Relationship", Infantry Online, Jan-Mar 2014. The XO of Comanche Troop describes the attack and the aftermath.
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| Sunset view of TOC at FOB Connolly, Afghanistan (photo by SSG Christopher Allison, 17 July 2009) |
Throughout the many years of the U.S. involvement in the Afghan conflict one can find cases of insider attacks but 2012 was a significant year. While the incidents of green on blue attacks peaked in the late part of 2012 the early part of the year saw a number of attacks as well.
One incident that illustrates how an insider attack can take place happened on February 23, 2012 on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Connolly in western Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. FOB Connolly was a small U.S. outpost located 1 1/2 hours drive southwest from Jalalabad. This was a joint base - with an Afghan kandak (battalion of about 400 men) and an American company-sized unit (Comanche Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment) with attachments - for a total of approximately 120 U.S. personnel. The attached units included MPs, EOD specialists, civilian contractors, a HUMINT element, and others. In addition, a 12-man Security Force Assistance Advisor Team (SFAAT) from the 101st Airborne Division was present on the small base. The Cav company was 'partnered' with the ANA kandak while the SFAAT was 'advising' the ANA kandak.
A few days earlier the Koran burning on Bagram Air Field took place that caused widespread discontent and demonstrations across Afghanistan. FOB Connolly was not spared the Afghan reaction to the burning. The small FOB saw crowds in the hundreds gathering outside its gates destroying structures and burning vehicles beyond the protective walls of the compound. It was during one of these demonstrations that two U.S. Soldiers from a military police platoon died in a attack by an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier from within the FOB. Learn more about this incident in the online article and podcast below:
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| Memorial for two victims of insider attack FOB Connolly |
The military police platoon leader, CPT Jannelle Allong-Kiakabana, is interviewed about the attack by The Spear - a podcast on military topics presented by the Modern War Institute at West Point. Listen to her account of the incident and the aftermath in Podcast: The Spear - Green on Blue, November 2, 2017.
https://mwi.usma.edu/podcast-spear-green-blue/
Read more about the Green on Blue Attack at FOB Connolly:
CPT Seth Hildebrand, "Insider Attacks: Repairing a Damaged Relationship", Infantry Online, Jan-Mar 2014. The XO of Comanche Troop describes the attack and the aftermath.
Update on Afghan Train, Advise, & Assist Mission
Marine Advisors at Kandak Level. The U.S. Marines in Task Force Southwest are pushing their advisors down to brigade and kandak level. According to one Marine advisor, the task force of roughly 300 Marines (augmented by other services to a larger number) have pushed about six teams to Afghan forward operating bases. The expeditionary advisor packages are made up of advisors, enablers, and security personnel. Read more in "Small teams of Marines advising Afghan brigades and battalions", Marine Corps Times, October 28, 2017.
1st SFAB and Their Beret. The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) is gearing up for their Afghan deployment in early 2018. While they are participating in important pre-deployment activities and training they are surrounded with a bit of controversy. Seems that the Army leadership has decided to allow them to wear a distinctive beret. This, naturally, has inflamed past and current members of the Special Forces community. Read more in "Beret for Soldiers of 1st SFAB - Concern in SF Community", SOF News, October 29, 2017.
Canada Rejects NATO Invite for TAA Mission. Canada turned down an invitation from NATO to send troops to Afghanistan for the Train, Advise, and Assist mission. (CBC News World, Nov 3, 2017).
Deserter Beau Bergdahl Escapes Prison
One of Bergdahl's attorneys wants the deserter to receive the POW medal. It appears that the defense team will also appeal the dishonorable discharge penalty. (Military.com, Nov 4, 2017).
Commentary on Afghanistan
Gendered Approaches to Peace and Security. Jessica Zimerman writes that there is mounting evidence that gendered approaches to peace and security are more effective than traditional, militarized approaches. See "Lessons from the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda", The Diplomat, November 2, 2017.
Trump and Pakistan. Many have drawn the conclusion that Pakistan is of an immediate concern to the D.C. crowd. The visit by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Islamabad in late October was tense. Pakistan continues to, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that there are no Taliban sanctuaries within its borders. The U.S. isn't buying that line. But the position of the U.S. is not without peril. Touquir Hussain, a former ambassador of Pakistan and Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister, is now an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University. He believes that taking a tougher line on Islamabad without a clear strategy is a losing proposition. Read his article in "The Danger of Trump's Pakistan Approach", The Diplomat, November 4, 2017.
Afghan Governance News
NATO and Afghan Elections. A recent news report carried remarks by the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Cornelius Zimmerman, that stressed "timely holding of upcoming elections'. (Pajhwok.com, Nov 3, 2017).
Prison for Dostum's Bodyguards. Seven of First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostom's bodyguards were sentenced to eight years in prison for the illegal imprisonment and sexual assault of Ahmad Eshchi, the former Jawzjan provincial governor. (Tolo News, Nov 4, 2017).
Afghan Security News
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| ANA outpost, Pekha Valley, Achin district, Nangarhar province (Photo CPL Mattew DeVirgilio, NSOCC-A, 19 Oct 2017) |
Taliban and IS-KP Clash. Scores of fighters from the Taliban and the Islamic State Khorsan Province have been killed in fighting in the north and east of Afghanistan. The clashes have occurred in Nangarhar and Jawzjan provinces. Many civilians have fled their homes to escape the violence. Read "Taliban, IS Face Off in Afghanistan", Gandhara Blog (Radio Free Europe), October 30, 2017.
Civilians Killed in U.S. Airstrike in Kuduz. Unconfirmed reports in Afghan media say that 55-65 civilians were killed in U.S airstrikes in an eastern Afghan province on Saturday. The incident reportedly took place in the Char Dara district.
"Cat-and-Mouse Games for Afghan Districts". The conflict in Afghanistan shows little sign of dissipating. The armed opposition's ability to capture territory - even if on a temporary basis - shows that the insurgents have a strong foothold in the rural areas. (Think Progress, Nov 3, 2017).
Videos & Movies about Afghanistan
"The Breadwinner". US movie star Angelina Jolie is the producer of "The Breadwinner" - which premiered at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood on Friday, October 20th. The film is about a young girl in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy to provide for her family. (Variety, Oct 21, 2017).
Afghan War Blog News Snippets
Refined Opium and the Taliban. The insurgents revenue stream has become more robust as the Taliban have developed the capability to refine opium into morphine and heroin. Read an article by Mujib Mashal entitled "Afghan Taliban Awash in Heroin Cash, a Troubling Turn for War", The New York Times, October 29, 2017.
WhatsApp and Telegram Banned? There are some reports that the government of Afghanistan has banned popular messaging applications. The move may have been a government attempt to prevent terrorists and insurgents from using the messaging service with its encrypted application. (BBC, Nov 3, 2017).
Human Terrain System - How to Preserve Capability. Dr. Brian R. Price, an Associate Professor of History in the Department of History and International Studies at Hawaii Pacific University, advocates the sustaining of a 'human terrain' capability within the DoD. He offers possible avenues for this to include an organic team within BCTs, posting in embassies, or within SOF organizational structure. The Human Terrain System played an important role within Brigade Combat Team (BCT) staffs in the later years of the Afghan conflict. Read more in "Human Terrain at the Crossroads", Joint Force Quarterly 87, National Defense University Press, October 2017.
Subscribe to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter
You can receive the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter by email. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 0500 U.S. East coast time or just after lunch (1330) in Kabul every Sunday. It is easy to subscribe. To submit your subscription request go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and enter your email in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box at the top of the right hand column. The only info needed is your email. No personal data, no forms to fill out, and no passwords needed. You will receive a confirmation email asking you if you want to subscribe. Just confirm and you are done. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Afghan War Blog Newsletter - October 29, 2017
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
U.S. Service Member Dies in Helicopter Crash in Logar Province, Afghanistan (Oct 27, 2017)
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| Map with location of Logar province |
"U.S. Service Member Dies in Helicopter Crash, Logar Province", Resolute Support, October 28, 2017.
Commentary on Afghanistan
Failure of SFA. Mara Karlin writes that the concept of training and equipping foreign militaries is not the big ticket item that many senior policy makers believe it to be. Read "Why Military Assistance Programs Disappoint", Foreign Affairs, Nov / Dec 2017.
Thinking about South Asia Strategy. Doug Livermore, a former Special Forces officer, writes up his thoughts on the new strategy of the Trump administration. In regards to Pakistan, Livermore believes that the new South Asia Strategy seeks to change Pakistan's destabilizing actions through punitive means
". . . that do not address the underlying causes that motivate Pakistan's behavior in the first place. By tackling the root causes that drive Pakistan's support for the Taliban and other groups, the US could fundamentally alter the course of the conflict and increase the likelihood of arrival at an acceptable and durable political arrangement."Apparently, it is all about the Durand line. Read "Rethinking the South Asia Strategy - Addressing the Root Causes of Afghanistan / Pakistan Tensions", Georgetown Security Studies Review, October 23, 2017.
Keeping the Pressure on Pakistan. One commentator, Mohammad Taqi, says the US needs to continue putting pressure on Pakistan. (The Wire, Oct 24, 2017).
Afghanistan Still a Fragile State - Why? An analysis of what went wrong in Afghanistan over the past 16 years and the way forward is provided by Shahmahmood Miakhel. He is a former Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and is currently serving as the Country Director of the United States Institute for Peace in Afghanistan. Despite Enormous Support of International Community, Why is Afghanistan Still a Fragile State?, Afghanistan Diplomacy Studies Organization, August 30, 2017.
Analyzing R4S Plan. Earlier in October Secretary of Defense presented to Congress the new strategic plan for Afghanistan known by the acronym R4S - for regionalize, realign, reinforce, reconcile, and sustain. Daniel L. Davis, a retired Army officer with time in Afghanistan, provides his thoughts on how this strategy will fail in "The Afghanistan Illusion", National Interest, October 23, 2017.
Afghan Governance News
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| Photo by GoA, Oct 23, 2017 |
Fixing Afghanistan - Not So Much. Scott Guggenheim has spent a lot of time in Afghanistan and is a key advisor to President Ghani. He started his Afghan journey in 2002 very optimistic but now . . . well read more here - "The Man Who Thought He Could Fix Afghanistan", Politico Magazine, Nov Dec 2017.
Ghani in New Delhi. President Ghani spent a day visiting India where he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 24, 2017. The purpose of the visit was to review bilateral relations between the two countries and discuss regional security and the fight against terrorism. See "Afghan President Reviews Bilateral Ties with India During New Delhi Visit", Gandara Blog, October 23, 2017. See a press release by the Government of India Ministry of External Affairs (Oct 24, 2017).
Karzai in Iran. The former president seems to take delight in criticizing U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. On a recent visit to Iran he took time to speak harshly about the U.S. counter-terrorism mission. He once again called for the convening of the traditional Loya Jirga to resolve the key issues facing the country. (Khaama Press, Oct 27, 2017).
Afghan Warlord on Political Scene. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar - a former ally of al-Qaida and notorious warlord from Afghanistan's past - has surfaced on the political scene in Kabul. Read "Kabul welcomes the Afghan warlord who once shelled its citizens", The Guardian, October 24, 2017.
Security News for Afghanistan
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| Afghan Commando instructor provides direction to student at Camp Morehead, Afghanistan. (Photo Senior Airman Xavier Navaro, NSOCC-A, Oct 4, 2017) |
Security Incidents
Mosque Bombings. Ali M. Latifi writes on the recent bombings of Afghan mosques in "The Enemy is Everywhere: Afghans Mourn Dead as Attacks Mount", The Cipher Brief, October 22, 2017.
How the Taliban Have Evolved. The Taliban are reaching out beyond the Pashtun population, shifting and adjusting tactics, and advancing its political agenda. Part of this tactical shift is the increasing intimidation of government security forces (at the individual level) in the rural countryside. Read "How Taliban are evolving to compete in Afghanistan", by Scott Peterson (Istanbul Bureau Chief), The Christian Science Monitor, October 26, 2017.
ANA Killed in Farah. Nine ANA soldiers were killed by the Taliban on Wednesday, Oct 25th at a security post in the western province of Farah (Gandhara Blog, Oct 25, 2017).
Surge of IEDs in Afghanistan. According to a Pentagon report the use of roadside bomb attacks around the world are declining - except in Afghanistan. The report by the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO) credits the IED increase to the current military stalemate that favors the insurgents. See "Pentagon Report: IED Casualties Surge in Afghanistan", Foreign Policy, October 20, 2017.
201st Corps. An Insider Attack took place on Sunday, October 22, 2017 in northern Afghanistan.
Some Successes?
Nad'Ali District Liberated from Taliban. The ANDSF have destroyed the Taliban during the recent Operation Maiwand 7 held in October. The clearing mission resulted in huge gains for the Afghan security forces. At least that is what a news release by Resolute Support HQs would have us believe. (DVIDS, Oct 25, 2017).
Rival Militant Groups Fight in Herat. At least 40 Taliban have been killed in clashes between groups in Shindand district, Herat province. (Voice of America, Oct 22, 2017).
Remote Town Haven Against Insurgents. An area in Nuristan province, Afghanistan has managed to keep insurgents at bay. Read "Afghans Turn Remote Town Into Safe Haven Against Insurgents", Gandhara Blog, October 23, 2017.
Train, Advise, & Assist
Six More A-29s for AAF. The Afghan Air Force will receive more A-29 Super Tucanos for its growing fleet of aircraft. The A-29 Super Tucano is ideally suited for the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan. (DoD Buzz, Oct 25, 2017).
SMA Dailey Addresses 1st SFAB. The members of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade will soon deploy to Afghanistan. The Sergeant Major of the Army - Daniel Daily - provided his thoughts about the new SFABs to an audience at Fort Benning. Seee "SMA Dailey pays a visit to Army's 1st SFAB", DVIDS, October 16, 2017. See also a related article in "Combat engineer turned combat advisor in Army's 1st SFAB", DVIDS, October 19, 2017.
Afghan Trainees go AWOL. A recent report by SIGAR says that a high percentage of Afghan military members who go to the United States for military training go AWOL. Over half are never caught and some could pose a security risk. See "Training Afghan soldiers exposes the US to a huge risk", New York Post, October 28, 2017.
Marine Advisors in Helmand Province. The Marines of Task Force Southwest have been sending out small advisor teams to the brigades of the 215th ANA Corps. See "Small teams of Marines advising Afghan brigades and battalions", Marine Corps Times, October 26, 2017.
India to Provide Assistance? President Ghani recently visited India. He probably presented a shopping list of military, economic, and developmental assistance projects. See "India mulls security-related assistance to Afghan forces", Khaama Press, October 25, 2017.
215th Corps Artillery Training. Some members of the ANA in Helmand province recently graduated from an artillery course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan. U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest led the 8-week long course. Read "215th Corps soldiers building artillery skills during eight-week course", DVIDS, October 21, 2017.
RS Has New Deputy Commander. Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell is the new Dep Cdr of the Resolute Support Mission. Had conducted a change of responsibility with the out-going Dep Cdr on October 24th. Read a news release by RS HQs, Oct 24, 2017.
Afghan Commandos Graduate Course. Over 800 Afghan soldiers graduated from a 14-week long Afghan-led special operations course held at Camp Morehead (near Kabul). (DVIDS, Oct 25, 2017). 800 students is a lot of Joes to push through in 14-weeks. Is there a danger of producing quantity over quality? Hopefull SOF Truths numbers 2 and 3 were taken in consideration during the training course.
CIA and Pentagon's Omega Program. The Central Intelligence Agency will step up its use of paramilitary officers in Afghanistan in conjunction with US SOF operators from the Pentagon's Omega program. (NYT, Oct 22, 2017).
MI Unit Returns to FBNC. The 525th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina after a nine-month long deployment to Afghanistan. (Stars and Stripes, Oct 24, 2017).
Movies and Videos about Afghanistan
New Deputy Commander at Resolute Support, Resolute Support, YouTube.com. October 26, 2017. British Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell joined Resolute Support as the deputy commander on October 25, 2017 replacing Italian Lieutenant General Rosario Castellano.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TVO0hc0VVU
"The Breadwinner". US movie star Angelina Jolie is the producer of "The Breadwinner" - which premiered at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood on Friday, October 20th. The film is about a young girl in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy to provide for her family. (Variety, Oct 21, 2017).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TVO0hc0VVU
"The Breadwinner". US movie star Angelina Jolie is the producer of "The Breadwinner" - which premiered at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood on Friday, October 20th. The film is about a young girl in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy to provide for her family. (Variety, Oct 21, 2017).
Afghan War News Snippets
Books, Reports, and Pubs
SIGAR Report. Phil Hegseth writes about a recent report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction on the number of Afghan trainees that go AWOL in the United States during training events and while attending military courses and schools. (FDD's Long War Journal, Oct 23, 2017).
Book on Extortion 17. A new book is out about a SOF mission in Afghanistan that cost 30 American lives. Extortion 17 was the call sign of a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter that was infiltrating U.S. Navy SEALs on a mission. A small element of Taliban fired a rocket propelled grenade at the chopper and hit the rear tail rotor causing a catastrophic crash. Read a review of the book in "New Book Tells Story of Fallen Navy SEALs from Shreveport", Shreveport News, October 26, 2017.
Development
The U.S. and China's BRI. The 'Belt and Road Initiative' of China will have a great impact on the economy and development of Central Asia. To an extent, this will have implications for Afghanistan as well. Read more in an article by Luke Coffey of the Foreign Policy Center at the Heritage Foundation in the Huffington Post, October 23, 2017.
AAN Examines Ministry of Education . . . and Corruption Within. The Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC) recently released its 'vulnerability to corruption' assessment of the Ministry of Education. The Afghanistan Analyst Network summarizes the reports findings and recomendations and concludes that this is the first eye-opening report on corruption produced by an Afghan institution. (AAN, 29 Oct 2017).
Improving Healthcare in Afghanistan. The World Bank has published a story on a program for improving access to medical treatment. See "Partnering to Improve Healthcare in Afghanistan", The World Bank, October 23, 2017.
Red Cross Scaling Back. The International Committee of the Red Cross is closing down some of its clinics and reducing staff in Afghanistan due to security concerns. "Red Cross To Scale Back in Afghanistan", NPR, October 26, 2017.
Miscellaneous
Bowe Bergdahl - The Deserter. Bergdahl has decided to plead guilty to desertion. While he faces up to life in prison it is doubtful he will spend that much time behind bars. Sentencing to come. Read "Why the Army Can't Forgive Bowe Bergdahl and May Lock Him Up for Life", Daily Beast, October 22, 2017.
Erik Prince - and Afghanistan. Prince, the founder of Blackwater, is still giving voice to his belief that 2,000 Green Berets and 6,000 contractors could win the war in Afghanistan. See "A Private Military", The Ottawa Herald, October 26, 2017.
U.S - Pakistan Relations. The ties between the US and Pakistan have frayed over the past several years and they are unlikely to improve during the Trump administration. Pakistan's support of the Taliban insurgents that kill members of the Afghan security forces (as well as U.S. and NATO troops) have weakened the relationship. A recent news report provides a timeline of the ups and downs of the relations between the two countries. Read "Factbox: U.S.-Pakistan ties falter as Afghanistan war drags on", Reuters, October 23, 2017.
Family Held Hostage. More Details on the Released Family Held Hostage in Pakistan are recounted in an article in The Guardian, October 24, 2017.
Drones Fighting Drones. Over the past few years there have been reports of the Taliban using drones for various purposes. Conducting battlefield reconnaissance, filming there attacks, and more. ISIS has rapidly put small, commercially available drones into use in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. has responded to the threat. Read how the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO) has picked up the anti-drone mission in an article by Caroline Houck - "The Pentagon's IED-Hunters Have a New Target: Drones", Defense One, October 26, 2017.
Afghan Youth in Syria. Iran has recruited thousands of Afghan youths to fight on its behalf in Syria. In an attempt to escape poverty and lack of jobs the Afghan Shiites have taken on jobs offered by Iran to join the Tehran-backed Fatemiyoun division fighters in Syria. The primary motivation is not religion - it is money and the promise of legal residency in Shiite-dominated Iran. Read "Just about money: Iran recruits Afghans for Syrian Fight", by Anne Chaon, Yahoo! News, October 24, 2017.
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter - Oct 22, 2017
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
SFABs - Once Again or "TA3E"
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| Soldiers of 1st SFAB fire 9 mm pistols during training (photo credit below) |
However, the use of the SFABs in an advisory capacity was not forgotten. General Milley - now head of the Army - served as the commander of the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) in Kabul while the SFABs were at the height of the deployment cycle in Afghanistan. He saw the value in the SFABs but also noted they were an ad hoc arrangement. He decided to institutionalize the SFAB concept. The Army is now establishing six SFABs. Five active and one reserve component. The first one has stood up at Fort Benning and is undergoing training in the tasks associated with Security Force Assistance.
The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan in early 2018. So, once again, we will see the SFABs back in Afghanistan. The difference is that it isn't an ad hoc arrangement . . . and hopefully that will improve the caliber of the advising effort with the ANA and ANP. The unit's core mission is to "train, advise, assist, accompany and enable missions with allied and partner nations".
So observers of the Afghan conflict will note that previous advisors and advisor teams were very attuned to TAA or 'train, advise and assist'. However, now we have TAA plus 'accompany' and 'enable'. In a push to get the ANA up to speed advisor teams will now (once again) work below corps level at brigade and kandak (battalion) unit level. I suspect this is the 'accompany' part of the mission. The 'enable' part would likely be the providing of ISR, artillery, and close air support 'enablers' along with other types of support.
So welcome to the "TA3E" mission!
References:
"All Things SFAB - Explainer of Security Force Assistance Brigades", SOF News, October 10, 2017. www.sof.news/sfa/all-things-sfab/
"First Security Force Assistance Brigade training for deployment", Army.mil, October 12, 2017.
www.army.mil/article/195178/first_security_force_assistance_brigade_may_deploy_in_four_months
Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by SGT Joseph Truckley, 50th Public Affairs Detachment. Soldiers of the 92nd Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade fire their 9 mm pistols at Hibbs Range on October 17, 2017 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Commentary on Afghanistan
Failure of SFA. Mara Karlin writes that the concept of training and equipping foreign militaries is not the big ticket item that many senior policy makers believe it to be. Read "Why Military Assistance Programs Disappoint", Foreign Affairs, Nov / Dec 2017.
Lessons of Vietnam . . . and Afghanistan. James E. Wright, a historian and former Marine, provides some analysis of lessons from Vietnam that apply to Afghanistan and some that do not. "The Real Lessons of Vietnam - and Afghanistan", Defense One, October 13, 2017.
Afghan Governance News
Karzai Speaks Out. Former President Karzai held a press conference where he criticized the United States for the role it plays in Afghanistan. He also called for an immediate loya jirga, talks with Pakistan, and talks with the Taliban. See "Karzai Calls for Urgent Loya Jirga", Tolo News, October 12, 2017.
Security News Updates on Afghanistan
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| Afghan Commando instructor provides direction to student at Camp Morehead, Afghanistan. (Photo Senior Airman Xavier Navaro, NSOCC-A, Oct 4, 2017) |
Car Bombs Working for Taliban. A number of attacks by the Taliban against the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have involved the use of captured security force vehicles. The vehicles are outfitted with explosives and then driven into ANDSF positions or compounds. Read more in "A new Taliban tactic is racking up a huge body count in Afghanistan", Business Insider, October 19, 2017.
Gardez Attack - PCoP Killed. General Abdyani, the police chief of Paktia, was killed in a complex attack on Tuesday, October 17, 2017. Up to 30 people killed and 160 were wounded in the attack. The attack was against a police training center near the police headquarters in Gardez (the capital of Paktia province). Insurgents detonated two large vehicle borne improvised explosive devices. (Resolute Support HQs, October 17, 2017).
Crossing the Durand Line. Not so Hard. The folks at Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) have produced an article that informs us on how the Taliban use Pakistan as a sanctuary and how easy it is to cross over from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Learn about the 'commuting routes' between Pakistan and Afghanistan in "Jihadi Commuters: How the Taleban Cross the Durand Line", AAN, October 17, 2017.
Crawl, Walk, Run - Artillery Training for ANA. Marine advisors and trainers are assisting in an 8-week long course to get ANA folks qualified as artillery men. (RS HQs, Oct 21, 2017).
Use of IEDs Increases in Afghanistan. A recent report by the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO) says that the use of IEDs in Afghanistan has increased. (Foreign Policy, Oct 20, 2017)
Kabul Mosque Attack. The death toll from an attack on a Kabul mosque on October 20th (Friday) is said to rise to over 50 fatalities.
Questions on Drone Attack in Kunar. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacked a suspected ISIS location in Kunar province on October 13th. Officials say it was a location used by the Islamic State in Khorasan; however, some civilians say that a number of civilians were killed and wounded. Gandhara Blog (RFERL), October 16, 2017.
The Haqqani Network. One of the most feared militant groups in Afghanistan is the Haqqani Network. View a 10-slide pictoral presentation that provides a brief history of this insurgent group.
www.dw.com/en/militant-haqqani-network-a-brief-history/g-40983897
Afghan Cadets Killed. 15 Afghan cadets were killed in a suicide bombing attack on October 21, 2017 in Kabul at the Marshal Fahim Nationa Defense University. An attacker on foot targeted a minibus carrying the students who were on their way home. (RFE/RL, Oct 21, 2017).
Fighting Alongside Afghan Troops. Tim Kirkpatrick writes "This is what it was like fighting alongside Afghan troops", We Are the Mighty, October 19, 2017.
Ghazni Attack. A district police center was attacked on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 by the Taliban. At least 15 government security forces were killed with many wounded. A number of civilians were also killed.
More Advisors for Afghanistan. General Votel believes that things are looking a bit brighter in Afghanistan. He also sees some benefit with the introduction of additional advisors for the Afghan National Army - where they will work at the tactical level. See "How advisors could win the war in Afghanistan instead of combat troops", We Are the Mighty, October 13, 2017.
SOF News Update
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| Photo by USSOCOM, 2016 |
Podcast - SOF in Afghanistan in Fall 2001. Listen to a one-hour long podcast about the first Special Forces teams that infiltrated into Afghanistan weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Jason Amerine and Mark Nutsch were Special Forces ODA team leaders tasked with linking up with the Afghan resistance movements in an effort to topple the Taliban and kill or capture al Qaeda operatives and fighters. Podast: The Spear - First Into Afghanistan, Modern War Institute, October 18, 2017. https://mwi.usma.edu/podcast-spear-first-afghanistan/
SF Raid in Kunduz Goes Bad. Read the story of how a 10th Special Forces Group ODA got into the fight of their life during a raid in Kunduz, Afghanistan. "How a US Raid on an Afghan Village Went Wrong", BuzzFeed News, October 17, 2017. In a related story (same raid) see "Air Force combat controller, AC-130 crew honored for valor in Afghanistan", Air Force Times, October 18, 2017.
Paper on SOF. RAND Corporation has published an interesting paper entitled Supporting Persistent and Networked Special Operations Forces (SOF) Operations. It provides insights from forward-deployed SOF personnel. Some of the research questions it addresses include "What are the operational challenges that deployed personnel have encountered?" and "Can persistent, networked, and distributed operations resolve the operational challenges?" The 48-page paper dated October 2017 can be read online or downloaded here: www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1333.html
Navy IW. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has published a report entitled Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress. The report, dated October 2017, explores the IW and CT missions of the Navy and how they are funded. Read more in an article by SOF News, Oct 20, 2017.
Videos about Afghanistan
Resolute Support Mountain Warfare Training Center - TAAC-W. A quick video produced by Resolute Support HQs in Kabul depicts the mountain warfare training that is taking place at Train, Advise, and Assist Command - West (TAAC-W) in Herat, Afghanistan.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfejjGhTc8g
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfejjGhTc8g
Afghan War News Snippets
U.S. / Canadian Family Freed. A family held captive in Pakistan for five years by the Haqqani Network were released and now is back in Canada. But there is some difference of opinion between Pakistani and U.S. officials on the circumstances of the captivity. (Reuters, Oct 19, 2017).
Personnel Rotation Policies for Afghanistan. A former enlisted Soldier writes on how he saw three units rotate through Afghanistan during his 12-month deployment. (Foreign Policy, Oct 20, 2017).
Book Review: "Our Latest Longest War". A book by Aaron O'Connell is reviewed. The book implies that the American and NATO efforts were doomed to failure due to massive cultural ignorance in Western forces. This " . . . is not a book for optimists." Sixteen years of "we are on the verge of winning . . ." are . . . . well, . . . read the book I guess. "Our Latest Longest War: Losing Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan", Small Wars Journal, October 19, 2017.
Training for Senior Military Advisors. The Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Interior (MoI) has seen a host of advisors come and go over the past decade and half. Some of these advisors have been effective while others have been found wanting. The effectiveness of an advisor at the MoD or MoI is determined by a host of factors - personality, education, experience, age, background, selection for the position, and advisor training. The Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute has published a tract that looks into the senior leader advisor attributes necessary to be successful. Read "Training for Senior Leaders Going into an Advisory Role - Is there a Training and Education Gap?", Peace Stability Journal, Volume 7, Issue 2, October 2017, pages 22-25.
Korengal Valley and Hip Straps. A Navy medic assigned to a scout sniper platoon wondered why no one used hip straps on their heavy packs. He later would explore the use of hip straps in the science world. See "The Surprising Science of Backpacking", Outside Online, October 16, 2017.
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