UNDP Can't Find $200 Million for LOTFA

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is responsible for administering the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA). A recent investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) finds that there is $200 million that was taken from the LOFTA fund by the Ministry of Interior that is unaccounted for. SIGAR has sent a letter to Helen Clark (admistrator of the UNDP) asking for clarification. The UNDP has had a troubled past in administering and providing oversight on the billions of dollars given by member nations to LOFTA; and it seems that poor performance is continuing . . . as well as Afghan corruption. The Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan is used to support police remunerations, police infrastructure, and police capacity development. The money is provided by the international community - funneled through the UNDP into the LOFTA fund - and then given to the Afghans for "national execution". That means we give the money to the Afghans so they can develop their programs, budgets and execution plans. Sure . . . that sounds good . . . it helps develop "institutional capacity" and "organizational capability". But there is a "BIG BUT"; there should be some rigorous oversight to ensure the Afghan crooks don't run off with the money. And that is something that the United Nations, the international community at large, and ISAF have failed at miserably through the years. There is a horrendous lack of oversight to ensure that crooks (like Karzai) don't run off to Dubai with suitcases filled with greenbacks. Read more in this story in "UN agency blamed after hundreds of millions diverted from Afghan fund", Fox News, October 16, 2014.

Taliban Attacks Continue

While many are waiting for the fighting season to end (it usually tapers down in the fall) the Taliban still seem to be busy. They recently killed the District Chief of Police (DCoP) for Nad Ali district in Helmand province. Read more in "Insurgent Attacks Kill 10 Across Afghanistan", ABC News, October 15, 2014.

Bulgaria to Join Resolute Support Mission

Now that the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Afghanistan and the United States has been signed other nations are making decision on whether to continue helping Afghanistan and formalizing their agreements with Afghanistan. Bulgaria recently decided to take part in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. There will be about 110 Bulgarian military members in Afghanistan that will focus on the preparation, support and provision of advisors for Afghan institutions (MoI, MoD, etc.). Read more in "Bulgaria to take part in NATO-led Resolute Support mission", BNR.bg, October 15, 2014.

International Humanitarian Aid Drying Up

As Afghanistan moves from center stage on the world scene the international community is sending less aid. Other areas of the world (Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Africa, etc.) are taking the attention in the news and demanding scarce resources. One example of the diminished aid is an Afghan girl's school in Kandahar. The Kandahar Institute of Modern Studies will be closing its doors. It's reliance on international aid kept it open but the aid has fallen off. Read more in "Afghan girl's school in Kandahar faces closure as international funds dry up", The Guardian, October 15, 2014.

Rula Ghani - a Bio

Rula Ghani, the wife of Afghanistan's President Ghani, is not keeping a low profile. She intends to play a role in Afghan society (much to the dismay of conservative religious leaders in Afghanistan). In being publicly in the open she will become a lighting rod for the opposition. Her issues that she hopes to promote include women and children rights in a conflict-ridden nation. Read more in "Afghanistan's new first lady to focus on women and children", DW.de, October 16, 2014.

India Provides Entrepreneurial Training to Afghans

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is providing entrepreneurial training to Afghan professionals through its ITEC fellowship program. The program enhances management skills in project development, gender development and planning. Read more in "India offers entrepreneurial skills to Afghan professionals", Business Standard, October 16, 2014.

Video - "Street Angels"

There are an estimated six million children working part or full time on the streets of Afghanistan. A photography project run by the French Institute in Kabul gave cameras to some of these children. The video shows us a unique perspective on the children's lives. View Street Angels: a child's view of Kabul, October 16, 2014, NATO TV (3:17 mins).

New PM for DCGS-A

For all you Intel types out there who have had the frustration of working with the Army's Distributed Common Ground System there is some news. The DCGS-A venture has a new program manager. His job will be to roll out new (and better) versions of DCGS to intelligence analysts that actually work. Read more in "New program manager of DCGS-A hopes for strong start", FCW.com, October 14, 2014.

Afghan Daily News

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Telecommunications Industry Continues to Improve

The telecommunications industry in Afghanistan is one of the bright spots of the Afghan economy. Over 89% of Afghanistan has cell phone coverage. Most of the population (about 30 million) has access to cell phones. The banking industry has been revolutionized by financial transactions by cell phone - helping the economy improve and reducing corruption in the military and government. There are six mobile operators in Afghanistan: MTN, Etisalat, AWCC, Roshan, Afghan Telecom, and Wasel Telecom. Ericsson, a telecommunications company, currently provides network and IT operations services to MTN and is on the verge of providing the same services to another Afghan telco. Read more in "Ericsson in talks for second Afghan telco contract", Gulf News, October 14, 2014.

Pakistan Cooperation in Drone Attacks

It appears that Pakistan is once again cooperating with the United States on drone attacks against insurgent targets in Pakistan. A series of drone attacks conducted by the CIA in early October leads some observers to conclude that the cooperation is improving. It would appear that the drone attacks are in support of Pakistani military operations in the North Waziristan tribal area. The Pakistani military has launched a months-long offensive against Pakistan Taliban insurgents. Read more in "Pakistan, U.S. again cooperating on drone strikes", News and Observer, October 14, 2014.

More Strykers to Get Double V-Hulls

Another Stryker Brigade Combat Team will be receiving Double V-Hull vehicles to protect them from roadside IEDs. This project will refurbish 360 vehicles between the years 2016-2018 (dependent on funding of course). If funded, this will be the fourth Stryker Brigade to get the new design. Also included in the re-design is improved mine resistant blast seating, improved fire suppression features, and a better suspension system. Currently there are nine Stryker brigades - three of the with the double hull configuration. Read more in "Army Will Buy More Strykers with Double V-Hulls", DoD Buzz, October 14, 2014. (Photo by U.S. Army, March 4, 2012).

India to Remain Friend of Afghanistan

The Prime Minister of India has said to President Ghani that India will stand by as a friend and partner. During their phone call they both said "good things" about each other. Read more in "India will stand as friend and partner, Modi tells new Afghan president", Business Standard, October 15, 2014.

First Lady Stepping Out

Zeenat Karzai, the wife of former President Karzai, was kept hidden from view. Rula Ghani does not hide well. She will likely have a public role in advocating for Afghan women and children. Among urban and educated Afghans this is likely seen as a step forward. However, religious conservatives are fuming. Mrs. Ghani, a Christian, met here husband in Beirut, Lebanon and moved to the United States with him. She is Lebanese-American. Read more in "Jolting Some, Afghan Leader Brings Wife Into the Picture", The New York Times, October 15, 2014.

Elections and Young Democracies

Jordan Olmstead has wrote a piece entitled "Will AfPak Democracy Survive?" posted on The South Asia Channel of Foreign Policy on October 14, 2014. He looks back at the Afghan elections and examines the rise in political violence that young democracies experience.

"If not me, then who?"

The management team at Team Rubicon make the case that the United States should provide opportunities for Afghan and Iraq war veterans to contribute once they leave military service. They say that the vast majority of returning veterans want to continue to serve their country - not only here in the United States but in troubled areas overseas. They believe that organizations such as the Peace Corp and USAID should make a concerted effort to recruit veterans for their programs and that funding should be increased to support those programs. Read more in "Why We Should Send Vets Back to Iraq and Afghanistan", Time.com, October 14, 2014.

Operation Inherent Resolve

While Afghanistan is still struggling with their insurgency, high ANSF casualty rates, concern about international financial support during the Resolute Support mission, post-election crisis, economic downturn, and more - the world's attention is focused on the Ebola crisis in Africa and the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Pentagon has finally named the campaign against ISIS - it is called "Operation Inherent Resolve". Kind of catchy, isn't it? NOT! Sounds just a bit bland.

France to Fund Agriculture Development

The government of France will spend 10 million Euros for agricultural development projects in central Maidan Wardak and Bamyan provinces of Afghanistan. Read more on the story here, Khaama Press (Afghanistan online news), October 14, 2014.

More on Bulgarian Commando Select Vehicles

Yesterday we posted news about the Bulgarian Army getting new Commando Select armored personnel carriers for their upcoming Afghan deployments. Here is a news article on the same topic with a little bit more information - "Bulgarian military orders Commando Select vehicles from Textron", Army Technology.com., October 15, 2014.

Inquest Into Insider Attack Against Diggers

An inquest is underway in Australia concerning the death of three Australian military members on Patrol Base Wahab in Afghanistan. The soldiers were killed by an Afghan soldier in August 2012. This time period was plagued by a rash of insider attacks - killings of ISAF military members by personnel in the Afghan National Security Forces. Read more in "Diggers ill-prepared for Afghan attack, inquest told", The Australian, October 15, 2014.