U.S. Army Chief of Engineers Tours Afghanistan

The U.S. Army Chief of Engineers recently visited Afghanistan touring several bases. He received mission update briefings, met with U.S. and Afghan engineers, and learned about efforts of building partner capacity, supporting base master planning, force protection, and Afghan engineer development. On a visit to Camp Ghazi he visited the Afghan National Engineer Brigade. Read more in "Chief of engineers visits Afghanistan", DVIDS, October 22, 2014.

Interview - Former Foreign Minister Lafraie

The former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan between 1992 and 1996, Professor Najibullah Lafraie, was interviewed recently and provided his assessment of the political and security situation of Afghanistan. An interesting look from an Afghan statesman's perspective. Read "US Troops Surge in Afghanistan, Repetition of  Mistake Committed in Iraq", Eurasia Review, October 19, 2014.

1st Cav Redeploys From Afghanistan

The HQs of the 1st Cavalry Division has returned home. They were deployed to the south of Afghanistan to form the core of Regional Command South (RC South). About 70 1st Cav members remain for several more months to constitute the core of the replacement headquarters for RC South - which was renamed Train Advise Assist Command - South or TAAC South. RC South was the headquarters element for about 16 partner nations in southern Afghanistan conducting the Security Force Assistance mission. Read more in "1st Cavalry headquarters returns from Afghanistan", Fort Hood Herald, October 22, 2014.

Comedian Taking Up Cause of Afghan Interpreters

A comedian has lambasted the United States Department of State for its inept handling of the Afghan interpreter Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. Read more in "Why is a Comedian the Only One Talking About the Plight of Afghan Interpreters", Council on Foreign Affairs, October 23, 2014.

Failed States Index - Afghanistan #7

Good News! Afghanistan is not the "most failed state" in the world; although it does come in on top ten. The country may be the 1st (sometimes 2nd) most corrupt nation in the world but it seems to be considered less fragile than 6 other countries. The nations that beat out Afghanistan are:


1. South Sudan
2. Somalia
3. Central African Republic
4. Democratic Republic of Congo
5. Sudan
6. Chad

Quite an achievement. So the the corrupt Afghan government leaders may be the world's most corrupt but at least there are several African countries that are more "fragile"! All those lives and billions of dollars we have spent have really brought Afghanistan out of the 14th century and into the . . . well, maybe . . . um . . .  15th century. You can view rankings of the most failed states on Foreign Policy at the following link:

www.foreignpolicy.com/fragile-states-2014

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International Military Education and Training - IMET

Every once in a while we hear about an Afghan from the ANA or ANP who, while attending a training course in the United States decides he has had enough of the war and he goes missing or requests asylum. How does this ANA soldier or ANP policeman get to the United States in the first place? Usually it is through the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. IMET provides funds for training and education on a grant basis to students from allied and friendly nations (one of them being Afghanistan). The IMET program is a great training and educational vehicle for our military allies; and it is a great program for Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the slots for IMET in Afghanistan have not been fully filled (historically with a fill rate of just over 50%). In addition, the Afghan personnel selected for IMET training and education opportunities do not have a good command of English and are usually associated with the political patronage net of some of the higher ranking military or police officials. So, once again, the Afghans have squandered a great opportunity because of corruption, political patronage, and incompetence. You can learn more about IMET at the website of Security Assistance Monitor at this link:
www.securityassistance.org/content/international-military-education-and-training

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

Trends of 2014 Fighting Season

The fighting season in Afghanistan typically starts in the spring and ends in the fall. Insurgent activity does not end completely; it just subsides significantly (somewhere around 30 to 60 %). The Afghan National Security Forces (army and police) usually take the winter time to do some re-training, re-fitting, leave time, and re-organization; although 2012 and 2013 saw some ANSF activity to "shape" the battlefield for the summer fighting seasons. This past fighting season (2014) is easing up; the activity level will go down as we move into November. Both the Taliban and the ANSF (along with ISAF) conduct a review of what worked and what didn't work. Once the fighting season assessments are completed, then they adapt their training and preparations for the upcoming fighting season (2015). One analyst, Jason Lyall, has identified five trends and lessons of the 2014 fighting season. Jason is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Yale University and his work examines wartime dynamics of violence and insurgencies.

1. The ANSF suffered highest loss rates of war in 2014.
2. Taliban massed on the battlefield with operations against 41 districts.
3. Taliban now has capability to conduct operations across the entire country.
4. Pakistan's aid to the Taliban continues and may have increased.
5. Intensity of fight forced ISAF to use its dwindling air power.

You can read his entire analysis of these five trends in "A (fighting) season to remember in Afghanistan", The Washington Post, October 20, 2014.

Afghan Corruption Tougher Than Mafia

The head of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) Mr. John Sopko says that it was easier to take on the mafia in Ohio than corruption in Afghanistan. Sopko's organization, SIGAR, has issued over 160 reports during his two years on the job that point to tens of billions of U.S. dollars being squandered due to Afghan corruption or inept oversight on the part of the U.S. military, USAID, and the State Department. Read more in "Afghan Corruption a Tougher Job After Taking on the Mafia", Bloomberg News, October 23, 2014.

WSJ - "Afghan Troop Casualties are Rising"

The Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released some casualty figures. Since March 21st, 2014 (the beginning of the Afghan calendar year) over 950 soldiers were killed. The casualty figures from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) show that over 2,200 policemen have died since March 2014. Using the western calendar - starting January 1, 2014 a total of 4,380 Afghan soldiers and policemen have been killed in combat. Thus far, 2014 has been the deadliest year for Afghan troops since the war began 13 years ago. Read more in "Afghan Troop Casualties Are Rising", The Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2014.

Ghani Brings Economic Optimism

With the election of President Ghani a new optimism is taking hold about Afghanistan's economy. Read more in "With New President, Economic Optimism Returns to Afghanistan", National Public Radio (NPR), October 21, 2014.

Aid Workers in Risky Business

There are numerous aid workers of all sorts working in Afghanistan throughout the country. Many work in the more dangerous areas. Read an online article about the risks that aid workers face in Afghanistan and elsewhere in A risky business: Aid workers in danger, DEVEX, October 8, 2014.

Drones Over Pakistan

An article about drone attacks against insurgents in Pakistan provides us with some recent background on drones and their effectiveness. Read "Pakistan-US: Death From the Skies - Analysis", Eurasia Review, October 20, 2014.

Withdrawal Under Fire in RC East

A recent news article paints a worrisome picture of the security situation in the south-eastern sector of Regional Command East (RC East). As the remaining Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) have been closed down or transferred to the Afghan National Army (ANA) U.S. Soldiers find that the Taliban have become increasing aggressive. Some observers say that the Taliban want to project the image that these attacks in the closing days of the U.S. presence are causing the U.S. to close up shop. Others say that these attacks are a sign of a deadly fighting season ahead in 2015. Read more in "Parting shot: No fond farewell for 82nd paratroopers in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, October 23, 2014.

President Ghani to Visit China

The newly-elected President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, will soon visit China. His first official trip out of the country will last three days. While in China he will sign agreements and have discussions on aid and Afghanistan's economy. Read more in "Afghan President to Visit China", Radio Free Europe, October 21, 2014.

COMISAF Upbeat on PoA

The Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) - General John Campbell - has met with President Ghani and observed his actions since he became President of Afghanistan (PoA). Campbell is "excited" about the future and the fact that Afghanistan now has a president who cares about the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). According to Gen Campbell, President Ghani has met with many of the leaders of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and visited troops at several ANA bases. General Campbell has been on the job for two months; having replaced General Joe Dunford in August. Campbell was interviewed by Gail McCabe in this short video - "COMISAF Looking Ahead SB", DVIDS, October 20, 2104.

Tangi Valley - Taliban Stronghold

The Tangi Valley in eastern Wardak province and western Logar province has always been an area controlled by the Taliban. Sure, the U.S. Army or the Afghan National Security Forces may go into the valley for 3 or 4 days each year but the remainder of the year the Taliban rule this mountainous area.The valley has its own Taliban governor, judicial system, and school system (funded by the Kabul government with international aid). A reporter from BBC news recently spent some time there and provides us with his observations in "Afghanistan conflict: Life inside a Taliban stronghold", BBC News Asia, October 20, 2014.

State Dept Blasted on Afghan Interpreter Issue

The State Department has done a horrible job in managing the Special Immigrant Visa program for Afghan interpreters. Congress has allocated by law thousands of visa quotas for Afghans who served as interpreters and translators for the U.S. military yet the State Department has been an obstacle to allowing Afghans who served the U.S. military who wish to re-locate to the United States. For instance, in 2011 there were 1,500 visas that could have been granted; yet the State Department issued only 3 visas. Appalling! John Oliver, of the "Last Week Tonight" show, provides us with a humorous yet very pointed look at how badly the State Department has performed its duties. View a video (16 minutes of pure laughs) on a description of the red tape an interpreter must make his way through in order to get a visa at this link. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QplQL5eAxlY

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.