Karzai and Money Leaving Afghanistan

President Karzai recently made strong remarks on those Afghans (businessmen and others) who are sending their money overseas to Dubai and elsewhere. Most of this money is from the drug trade, skimmed off the top of development projects, or diverted from government ministries by corrupt government officials.  Of course, hearing this from Karzai is perplexing as he and his family have wrote the book on how to put your money away overseas for safekeeping for that "rainy day". Read one commentator's thoughts on Karzai and this topic in "Karzai's Misdirection", Registan, March 31, 2012.

USAID Projects Threatened by Use of APPF Guards

The Professional Services Council (PSC) warned Congress that a mandatory shift from private security contractors to the Afghan Public Protection Force or APPF will jeopardize USAID development projects in Afghanistan and put USAID personnel at risk. This warning took place during a Congressional hearing on the APPF. The PSC provided a written statement and oral testimony. See "New Security Paradigm in Afghanistan Could Jeopardize USAID Projects", Professional Services Council, March 29, 2012.

Commentary: Why We Won't Be Successful in Afghanistan

George H. Wittman writes a weekly column for the American Spectator Online. In this post he tells us why we have not been successful in defeating the Taliban and in our nation-building endeavor in Afghanistan. Part of his message is that the Afghan people cannot be divided into Pro and anti-Taliban. Their loyalties lie with their family, clan, and tribe. Read "Beginning of the End", The American Spectator, March 30, 2012.

Torture in Afghanistan

A writer from the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), Kate Clark, has posted a passage on torture in some of Afghanistan's detention centers. Read "The Trouble with Torture: NDS, Special Forces and the CIA", AAN, March 29, 2012.

Is the Afghan Transition "Good Enough"

A columnist for CNN's blog "Security Clearance", Tim Lister, provides us with his thoughts on where we are with the transition to Afghan forces. His analysis is that some things are going well while other things are not going well. Read his post in "Analysis: The Afghan balance sheet - a transition to good enough", CNN, March 30, 2012.

APPF Profits On USAID Projects Offend US Lawmakers

The increased costs for security associated with the use of the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) for USAID development projects has offended a number of US lawmakers. The lawmakers feel we are being held hostage by the Afghan government and that we should just say "NO" to paying for the increased cost of security and just cancel the USAID projects. Read more in "US lawmakers offended by spike in Afghan guards' costs", Reuters.com, March 29, 2012.

ALP Member Kills 9 Comrades from Afghan Local Police

A member of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Paktika province, Afghanistan killed nine members of his unit in their sleep. Read more in "Afghan police officer kills 9 comrades as they sleep", The Washington Post, March 30, 2012.

Afghan Night Raids Important to Overall Mission

President Karzai wants to reduce if not eliminate all night raids in Afghanistan. However, according to U.S. military officials, night raids are an important part of the overall effort in capturing or killing the Taliban. Read more in "U.S. Wants to Avoid Ban on Afghan Night Missions", U.S. News and World Report, March 29, 2012.

Funding the Afghan War

In a time of budget constraints the United States is asking its allies to cough up more money for the Afghan security forces after 2014. It is estimated that it will cost $4.1 billion to pay for the Afghan army and police. The U.S. is asking that foreign donors contribute at least $1.3 billion while the U.S. would pay for most of the remainder of the cost. Read more in "U.S. seeks more money for Afghan force", Stars and Stripes, March 29, 2012.

Mining Minerals in Afghanistan - Still on Hold

Afghanistan appears to be sitting on significant mineral deposits; however the current political and security situation prevents large international firms from getting to these minerals. Read more in "Dreams of a Mining Future on Hold in Afghanistan", NPR, March 29, 2012.

British Not Optimistic about Afghan Effort to End Corruption

The British Foreign Officer Minister, Alistair Burt, expressed doubts on the willingness of senior Afghan government officials to do anything about ridding the Afghan government of corruption. Read more in "British official expresses doubts about Afghan efforts to tackle corruption", The Washington Post, March 29, 2012.

Do Afghans Have PTSD? Does that Make Counterinsurgency Problematic?

A researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies is advancing the argument that populations of weak states are so psychologically traumatized by war and violence that they can not be helped by counterinsurgency campaigns and stability operations. Read more in "One Theory for Why Counterinsurgency Campaigns Might Be Hopeless", National Defense NDIA, March 16, 2012.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) an Important Part in Counterinsurgency Strategy

The Afghan Local Police or ALP are playing a quiet but huge role in the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan. The ALP is a part of the Village Stability Program or VSO that provides security, governance, and development to local communities and attempts to tie these villages to the district center throughout rural Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghan Local Police key to success against Taliban", The Washington Times, March 29, 2012.

Ghost Teachers of Ghor Province - Corruption in Afghan Education at Provincial and National Level

We all know that Afghan government officials are corrupt. But every once in a while a story comes along that just boggles the mind. Red "Afghanistan: The Ghost Teachers of Ghor", Ground Report, March 29, 2012.

Hezb-i-Islami Suspends Afghan Peace Talks

The Afghan insurgent group named Hezb-i-Islami has formally suspended its involvement in the Afghan peace talk process. This recent action underscores the fragility of the peace talks on the Afghan War. Hezb-i-Islami (or the Islamic Party) is headed by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar - a once powerful warlord, mujaheddin from the Soviet occupation era, and former Afghan prime minister. Read more in "Second Afghan Insurgent Group Suspends Peace Talks", The New York Times, March 29, 2012.

Canada Issues Final Afghan Report

The Canadian government issued a final report on Canada's participation in the Afghan War. The report documents the successes and failures of the Canadian role in Afghanistan. Some of the successes include an increase in education, agriculture and medical access. Some projects that were not too successful included polio eradication and elimination of Afghan government corruption. Read more about the report in "Final Afghan report quietly released", Canada.com, March 29, 2012.

Progress in Afghanistan?

Among all the doom and gloom commentary about Afghanistan you can sometimes stumble across an online news article that says we are making headway in the Afghan War. The editorial at the following link says we are making progress in transitioning the lead for security in some areas of Afghanistan, seeing a reduction of poppy cultivation as a result of anti-drug operations, and making strides in setting up a functioning government. Read "Progress in Afghanistan", Voice of America, March 29, 2012. Of course, VOA is somewhat associated with the U.S. government, isn't it?

Texas National Guard Agribusiness Development Team to Deploy to Afghanistan

A small group of Soldiers from the Texas National Guard will soon deploy to Afghanistan as part of a Agribusiness Development Team (ADT). The team is headed to Ghazni province later this year. They will be working on agricultural projects that will benefit the Afghan people. Read more in "Agricultural development team trains for deployment", DVIDS, March 28, 2012.

Banking by Cell Phone Cuts Back on Corruption of Afghan Government Officials

Corruption is the biggest problem that people face in Afghanistan - and is looked at as more serious than violence or poverty. One aspect of life that is a force in eliminating corruption is the spread of cell phone use and mobile banking.

When police officers in Afghanistan's mountainous Wardak province began receiving their $200-per-month salaries via their mobile phones in 2009, many wondered why they had gotten a raise. They hadn't. It turns out their superiors had been skimming from their salaries, which were previously paid in cash.

Some government officials, police, and Army soldiers are now getting paid by cell phone - eliminating that boss or superior officer who took his percentage. The pay by mobile phone is meeting resistance by some government officials - most likely the ones who will lose the most when they find they are not getting their "fair share" skimmed off the top of the payroll. Read more in "Cashing Out of Corruption", Technology Review, March 19, 2012.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) Expands in Paktika Province

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan Local Police recruits were recognized as a legitimate security force during a graduation ceremony in Yayha Khel district, March 24. The ceremony included 174 ALP graduates from western Paktika’s Zarghun Shahr and Yayha Khel districts. It was the largest ALP graduation in the area since the program started. ALP from nearby districts showed their support for their fellow Afghan National Security Forces by providing security for the event. District Sub Governor Mahmoud and District Chief of Police Naim Jahn attended the ceremony, and validated their continued support for the ALP program. Coalition special operations forces also attended the ceremony to show their commitment to Afghanistan’s security concerns at all levels. The new ALP graduates will provide increased security for Yayha Khel residents and allow the populace greater freedom of movement throughout western Paktika. “This was the largest ALP graduation since the program was started in the area,” said Lt. Col. William Linn, Special Operations Task Force-East Commander.” It was really great to see the local district governance show up and show their support for their sons, stepping up to protect their villages.”

Source of story. The text above came from "Afghan Local Police presence expands in eastern province", DVIDS, March 24, 2012. Learn more about the Afghan Local Police and read past news articles about the ALP.