Army to Deploy More M3 Carl Gustafs to Afghanistan

The Army will soon field more M3 Carl Gustaf weapons to Afghanistan.  Units that have received the Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) thus far are the 25th Infantry, 10th Mountain, and 82nd Airborne divisions.  Some view the "Goose" as an alternative to the AT4 or Javelin. Read more in "Army Units Want More M3 Carl Gustafs in Afghanistan", KitUp Military.com, February 28, 2012.  For more details about the Swedish Carl Gustav (or Carl Gustaf) weapon system visit the WikipediA page here.

Mineral Resources in Afghanistan Give Hope for Future but Corruption and Other Factors Diminish Possibilities

Afghanistan has lots of natural resources that can provide much needed money for the government and jobs for thousands of Afghan workers.  However much stands in the way of fully capitalizing on these resources and aiding in the development of Afghanistan.  See "How Afghanistan Can Escape the Resource Curse", Foreign Affairs, February 29, 2012.

Afghan Border Police (ABP) Suffer From Corrupt Medical Officers Within the Ministry of Interior (MoI)

The Afghan Border Police (ABP) have a tough job; but it is made even tougher with a lack of medical personnel and medical supplies. Although the Ministry of Interior (MoI) receives plenty of money to keep the ABP units in the field supplied with medicine and medical equipment - the units don't receive it. For the most part the fault lies with corrupt Ministry of Interior officials in Kabul that sell the medical supplies and equipment on the black market. As with almost everything in Afghanistan corruption has once again diminished the effectiveness of an Afghan organization. This has a disastrous effect on the morale and fighting effectiveness of the Afghan Border Police.  Read more in "Corruption, mismanagement handicap Afghan Police", Stars and Stripes, February 29, 2012.

Civil War in Afghanistan is More Likely

The fact that the U.S. (and its allies) are leaving Afghanistan by 2014 - if not sooner- is clear to the Afghans.  Many in the U.S. will highlight a "mission accomplished, I brought the troops home" moment (just in time for the Presidential elections).  Others are concerned about what happens when the stabilizing presence of ISAF goes away. ISAF has struggled to keep the Afghan government in line - trying its best to foster good governance, encourage development, diminish corruption, and build capability and capacity in the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). ISAF's combat troops have also done much of the fighting which has kept the Taliban at bay.

However, once the majority of ISAFs forces and the aid money dries up several things will likely happen.  The Taliban will move into areas vacated by ISAF forces and not held effectively by the ANSF - reestablishing their "shadow government".  The Afghan government will  become more corrupt, ineffective, irresponsible and inefficient without ISAF looking over its shoulder - losing more legitimacy and the support of the population. Once the money flow dries up many of the government leaders and officials (who have siphoned off money for their Dubai bank accounts) will quietly leave the country for their overseas villas. Warlords and power brokers on the national and regional level will try to reassert their authority - many times using private militias that are currently being built up.

Probably most important is the likelihood of ethnic division and an outbreak of civil war.  While Karzai seems intent (at least publicly) on holding peace talks with the Taliban (a Pastun-based insurgency) the major opposition political party - the National Front for Afghanistan (NFA) - is very opposed to negotiations.  The NFA is comprised mostly of Tajiks, Harara, and Uzbeks.  A combination of factors and events could easily push the country into civil war.

Read a detailed analysis of this in "The Coming Civil War in Afghanistan", Foreign Policy, February 3, 2012.

Many Afghans Leaving Afghanistan Before 2014

Many Afghans, those who can afford to, have left or plan to leave Afghanistan prior to the departure of ISAF troops in 2014.  Once ISAF leaves there are doubts about the Afghan governments ability to control the insurgency, questions about the current reconciliation talks with the Taliban, and worries about the economy when the aid money stops flowing. Some Afghans with international options will leave before the Taliban start to exert their influence over the country again.  Many who have tied their livelihoods to international aid organizations, NGOs, development firms, and the ISAF military structure are worried as well - both about the cutoff of their means to make a living and retributions for working with "the occupying powers".  There are many Afghans who are in an excellent position - as a result of the overwhelming corrupt nature of the Afghan government many of the high-level Afghan officials have already built their villas in Dubai and they are padding their overseas bank accounts with money siphoned off from the international donations.  Read more on the exodus from Afghanistan in "Racing for the exits", by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, February 28, 2012.

Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) Official Website

The Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF), under the direction of the Ministry of Interior, has launched its official website. The APPF website provides APPF customers with information on the process for contracting with the APPF and outlines the procedures necessary for Risk Management Companies (RMCs) or security companies to obtain risk management licenses. Also included on the website is background information about the APPF to include the Presidential Decree of August 2010 that established the APPF and some news updates on the progress that Afghanistan is making in its shift of security functions from private security companies (PMCs) to the Afghan Public Protection Force.

The Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) website can be viewed here www.appf.gov.af.  The website has lots of information and is worth looking at if you (as an NGO, implementing partner, or other entity) are in need of the APPF security services in Afghanistan.

View an ISAF press release about the launch of the APPF website here.

There is some news that just won't get posted on the official Afghanistan website; for instance critical news reports about the shortcomings of the APPF program, how the private security firms are having weapons confiscated, or how the APPF is already seeing signs of the ever-present corruption found everywhere else within the Afghanistan government. Click here for information and news articles about the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF).

Book: "Afghanistan Declassified" by Brian Williams

Brian Williams, an Associate Professor of Islamic History at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, has done extensive fieldwork in Afghanistan. He is the author of Afghanistan Declassified: A Guide to America's Longest War.  The book is adapted from a field manual he wrote for the U.S Army based on field work he conducted in Afghanistan.  Brian Williams has traveled to Afghanistan frequently over the past decade and is a historian of Central Asia. The book provides essential background to the war, tracing the rise, fall, and reemergence of the Taliban.  Sections of the book cover the Predator drone campaign in Pakistan, spread of suicide bombings, and comparisons of Soviet and U.S. experiences in Afghanistan.

His book can be purchased online at Amazon.com at the following link:

 Afghanistan Declassified: A Guide to America's Longest War.

Burning of Qurans by Bagram AFB Incites Protests and Violence Across Afghanistan

A number of protests and riots have occurred across Afghanistan following the burning of Qurans by NATO troops at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.  Several members of ISAF have been killed in attacks related to the Quran burnings. Read more in "Afghan president condemns fatal bombing at military airfield", CNN, February 27, 2012.

Haqqani Network Enjoys Pakistan Santuary According to Ambassador Crocker

The Haqqani Network is enjoying sanctuary in Pakistan according to the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan - Ryan C. Crocker.  Read more in "Secret U.S. cable warned about Pakistani havens", The Washington Post, February 24, 2012.

Edmonton Journal Reporters Look Back on Canada Participants of Afghan War

Four reporters for the Edmonton Journal catch up with four Canadian military members who served in Afghanistan and have now returned "home".  Read "Getting back in touch with the troops", Edmonton Journal, February 27, 2012.

Seven U.S. Soldiers Injured in Grenade Attack in Sahib district, Kunduz, Afghanistan

Seven U.S. Soldiers, trainers stationed in northeastern province of Kunduz, were injured in a grenade attack during an Afghan demonstration incited by the Koran burning event at Bagram Air Field.  Read more in "7 U.S. soldiers wounded by grenade during Afghanistan protest", Sun Herald, February 26, 2012.

Canada: Ten Years in Afghan War Has Effect on Military Members

In December 2011 Canada ended its "combat role" in Afghanistan after ten years.  It will continue in a smaller effort in the training and advisory role for the next few years.  Many observers are looking back over the last ten years to determine if the effort was worth the money and sacrifice.  In addition, many are looking at the effect the ten-year war had on its military members.  Read "After the 10-year mission: time of reckoning begins", The Montreal Gazette, February 27, 2012.

AfPak Hand One of Two Victims in Afghan Ministry of Interior in Koran Burning Backlash

2/26/2012 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- An officer assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command died Saturday of wounds suffered from a gunshot in Kabul, Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel John Darin Loftis, 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron, was deployed in support of OPERATION Enduring Freedom and working in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of the Interior with the AfPak Hands program as the chief plans advisor. The AfPak Hands program stood up in September 2009 to develop a cadre of specially trained U.S. servicemembers skilled in Afghan and Pakistani culture and language.

Lt Col John Darin Loftis was an AfPak Hand who was working in Afghanistan as a plans advisor.  Read more about Lt Col Loftis here in "AF Special Ops officer killed in Kabul shooting", February 26, 2012, U.S. Air Force.

Rule of Law in Afghanistan

The link below will provide you with information about organizations that are helping to bring about rule of law in Afghanistan.  Listed are implementing partners that are assisting these organizations.  In addition you will find publications and news articles about the rule of law in Afghanistan. 

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/ruleoflaw.htm

State of the Taliban Report - Secret Military Document Online at The New York Times

The State of the Taliban document prepared by prison interrogators at Bagram, Afghanistan from info gleaned from interrogations of Taliban prisoners is now available at the The New York Times. The full text of the report is available for viewing.  See "Reading Into the 'State of the Taliban'", At War blog of The New York Times, February 23, 2012.

Nation Building in Afghanistan Not Working

A member of a forensic accounting team who spent the past year in Afghanistan providing analysis on where the money spent on Afghanistan has gone wrote an opinion piece for the Chicago Tribune.  Mark Doyle says that "Implementing a nation-building plan in a country that is unprepared, unwilling and unable to accept the fundamental components of a democratic state is an impossible mission.  It is not worth one more American life or taxpayer dollar".  His job in Afghanistan was to " . . . determine how much of the money committed to reconstruction projects was supporting counterinsurgency strategies".  He states that Afghanistan does not have the right conditions to make nation-building work and that the society and government is too corrupt.  Doyle's advise to us?  It is time to leave Afghanistan.  Read his article entitled "Why we need to get out of Afghanistan - now", Chicago Tribune Opinion, February 24, 2012.

Is Politics Driving the Early Exit from Afghanistan?

"KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban are not beaten, the peace process is bogged down in internal squabbles and Afghan security forces aren't ready to take control of the nation. Yet the U.S. and its partners are talking about speeding up — rather than slowing down — their exit from the war.
It's becoming dramatically clear that politics is driving NATO's war exit strategy as much or more than conditions on the battlefield.

Political calendars in the West were never supposed to influence the decision about when Afghan forces take the lead and allow international troops step back into support roles or leave altogether. The U.S., Afghan and other international leaders have said repeatedly that transition decisions would not be held hostage to international political agendas."

Read the rest of the story in "Analysis: Politics drives exit from Afghanistan", Associated Press, February 3, 2012.

Can the Afghan War Afford the Obama Funding Cuts?

Max Boot has published an article criticizing the demobilization of over 120,000 Afghan troops and police over the next few years.  He calls this plan a disaster; particularly if the troops are left without a paycheck and with few legitimate job options.  Read more in "More Afghan cuts, more war", Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2012.

Read my comments on one way to reduce the size of the Afghan army and still provide for security and offer job prospects for the 120,000 to be demobilized in the blog posts below:

http://www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/afghan-defense-minister-worried-about.html

http://www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/us-to-switch-to-advisory-role-in-mid.html

Declare Victory and Bring the Troops Home - Geraldo Rivera

Geraldo Rivera, a senior columnist for Fox News Latino, says "It is past time to declare victory and to bring the troops home".  

We have spent ten years at war in Afghanistan, two and a half times longer than we spent waging World War II. How many more years, how many more lives and how much more American tax money would be enough to stabilize and westernize that perpetually medieval country?

We killed the man who killed our friends and neighbors on that September morning a decade ago. It is past time to declare victory and to bring the troops home. And if you don’t believe me ask the warriors who actually do the fighting and the dying.

Read the rest of the news article "Geraldo Rivera: Adios Afghanistan", Fox News Latino, February 3, 2012.

Massouma Esmatey-Wardak - Afghan Woman Pioneer

The fight for women's rights in Afghanistan is a long slog. Despite the advances women in Afghanistan have made in the past ten years there is more work to be done.  These advances are also threatened by the possible concessions that the Karzai regime and international community may be contemplating at the negotiating table with the Taliban and other insurgent groups.  However, woman's issues did not just surface in 2001 with the fall of the Taliban; the women's movement has seen Afghan activists for quite a while. Read the story about an Afghan woman from an earlier time in "Determination defined: remembering an Afghan pioneer", The AFPAK Channel, February 22, 2012.