Afghan War Blog

Monday, November 3, 2014

Burnout of SOF Operators

The last 13 years has seen multiple deployments for those in the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). However, just as things look like it would ease up (Iraq War ended in 2011 and Afghanistan is closing down in December 2014) trouble spots are erupting (Ukraine, North Africa, and Middle East). A very important factor in this ongoing, never-ending fight is "burnout" among the special operators of SOCOM. Read more in "Special Operations: SOCOM Operators Flee the House of Lies", Strategy Page, October 28, 2014.

Ghani on Security, Peace, and Corruption

President Ghani has returned from his trip to China. Upon his return to Afghanistan he made some comments about security, peace, and corruption. He promises to pursue corrupt officials (citing the reopening of the Kabul Bank investigation), increase security, and to bring the Taliban to the peace table. Read more in "Afghan President: Corruption, Security Top Issues", ABC News, November 1, 2014.

Afghan Economy is Suffering

The business climate in Afghanistan is suffering with the prospect of ISAF departing in December 2014. The business community in Kabul is worried and optimism is falling. Read more in "Afghan economy struggles amid security fears as U.S. troops pull out", The Washington Times, October 27, 2014.

Confronting the Afghan Narco State

A news report says that the new Afghan government will not be successful in curtailing the huge drug trafficking enterprise in Afghanistan. Read more in "Confronting the Afghan Narco-State: End the International Drug War", Forbes.com, October 30, 2014.

Incoming at ANDF-P

It appears that the Taliban conducted an indirect fire attack on a detainee housing unit at the Afghan National Detention Facility - Parwan (ANDF-P) located adjacent to Bagram Air Field. Twenty-six detainees - including members of the Taliban and other insurgent groups - were injured in the attack. Read more in "ISAF condemns indirect fire attack on Afghan detention facility", ISAF News, November 1, 2014.

Journalist Has Reservations on ANSF

A journalist who spent time with British forces in Afghanistan remembers his impressions of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Read more in "I have my reservations about Afghanistan, says defense reporter Tristan Nichols", The Herald, October 28, 2014.

303 EFS Departs Bagram Airfield (A-10s)

The 303rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt pilots have completed their deployment in Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan they conducted close air support missions throughout the country. They will return to the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base.

19th SFGA NCO "Retired" Over Bikini Video

An NCO of the 19th Special Forces Group is being "retired" because he provided support to a United Kingdom firm that produces a "Wounded Warrior Calendar" that raises money for wounded U.S. and British solders. The NCO, who was also wounded during a deployment (receiving a Purple Heart), assisted in the photo shoots for the 2015 "Hot Shots Calendar" by providing access to a National Guard military installation and some equipment (vehicles). Most of the video and calendar photos were actually produced on the property of a private gun club utilizing the facilities, equipment, and weapons of the private shooting range. The company that produces the calendar donates proceeds toward wounded British and American veterans. In an older (not so politically correct) Army this sort of patriotic behavior was encouraged (and enjoyed by the male members of the military). But the times have changed (unfortunately for us older Soldiers who remember the good times) and our military leaders are much more politically correct now. It would have been great to see the NG leadership in Utah to stand up to the Utah politicians and state that the NCO was just doing his part in the overall fight but it seems they caved very quickly on this issue. Seems to me he was just putting his Special Forces training to good use! Read more in "Utah National Guard disciplines four servicemen over bikini-model video", Yahoo! News, November 2, 2014.

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Sunday, November 2, 2014

Afghan Warlords and Democracy

A recent article provides us with an alternative and "kinder" view of warlords in Afghanistan. The author refers to the interaction of warlords within Afghanistan's political environment as "Warlord-Democracy Nexus" - a transition of warlords from fighters to politicians. The author shows us that the warlords provided a useful function in the early formation of the Afghan state post-2001. These warlords, typically based on regional and ethnic lines, provided support to the early Karzai regime. Afghanistan is a country used to de-centralized power and regional power brokers; early support from these regional power brokers ensured the weak central government could survive. One example provided is the warlord Rashid Dostum, who was chosen by President Ghani to be one of his vice-presidents. Dostum is an Uzbek warlord from northern Afghanistan who has wielded power of great importance over the past twenty years. Read more in "Afghanistan: Warlords and Democracy", The Diplomat, October 26, 2014.

Video - COMISAF Explains Afghanistan

The commander of the International Security Assistance Force, General John Campbell, is interviewed by Gail McCabe about the current and future status of Afghanistan. He covers topics such as capability gaps of the Afghan National Security Forces (aviation, intelligence, logistics, etc.), effectiveness of President Ghani, how the signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement and SOFA has sent a strong message to the Taliban, and how the Train, Advise, and Assist mission will work at the MoI, MoD, and corps level. He says corruption won't go away but it should subside now that President Ghani is now on board. Campbell says that the difference between Afghanistan in 2001 and 2014 is significant. He believes that more work has to be done and feels confident the international community will continue to support Afghanistan and continue its investment. The video is 20 minutes long and can be viewed at this link.

www.dvidshub.net/video/369675/closer-look-moving-forward

Tajik Militants in Badakhshan

News reports say that a number of Tajik militants are fighting alongside the Taliban in the remote province of Badakhshan, Afghanistan. There are a number of militant organizations fighting in this province including the IMU, al-Qaeda, and Jamaat Ansarullah. The Taliban have started to mass their numbers and attack district centers. Over 300 insurgents attacked a police outpost in Warduj district, Badakhshan province in late October. Read more in "Tajik militants fighting in Badakhshan, Afghan official says", Central Asia Online, October 28, 2014.

ANSF is Winning

The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is winning. So says LTG Anderson, ISAF Joint Command leader. Ummm, okay. Read about LTG Joe Andersons's thoughts on how the war is going in "Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson gives update on Afghanistan mission", Fayetteville Observer, October 31, 2014.

Latest 1230 Report - ANSF Improving

The latest assessment by the Department of Defense (1230 report) states that the Afghan National Security Forces held together during the 2014 fighting season. The report states that the Taliban failed to achieve their goal of disrupting the elections (true statement, the ANSF did well in April and June during the elections). In addition, the Taliban were ". . . unable to hold any significant terrain and were consistently overmatched when engaged by ANSF enabled by coalition air and intelligence support". Yep. When coalition air support and intelligence was provided to the ANSF in a battle the ANSF typically came out on top. And when the coalition air support and intelligence was NOT provided the ANSF . . . probably did not fare as well. Wording in the 1230 report is everything. The report makes a big deal about the Taliban not controlling significant territory. I guess "significant" has to be defined. Obviously the districts of Sangin, Azra, and Charra Darra are not significant. Neither is the province of Nuristan I suppose. Usually guerrilla and insurgent groups are less concerned about controlling terrain and more concerned about controlling the population and having freedom of movement. Read more in "In latest Afghan war report, Pentagon lauds Afghan security forces", Stars and Stripes, October 31, 2014.

Taliban Free Russian Pilot

The Afghan Taliban has freed a Russian contract helicopter pilot who was captured in eastern Logar province in April 2013. The pilot had fallen seriously ill. Eight Turkish engineers, and one Afghan citizen were captured when their helicopter made an emergency landing in a part of Logar province that has been controlled by the Taliban for a number of years. Read more in "Taliban free Russian pilot after 18 months in captivity", Reuters, October 31, 2014.

Afghanistan: Never Ending Story

A commentator paints a dismal picture of the state of Afghanistan in "The Neverending Story, or How to Mess Up Afghanistan", The Huffington Post Blog, October 30, 2014.

Six Surprising Facts on Afghanistan

There is a lot of doom and gloom in the news reporting about Afghanistan. Two writers, Mehreen Farooq and Waleed Ziad, are fretting that we won't appreciate some of the good things about Afghanistan. They have penned an article entitled "Six Things About Afghanistan That May Surprise You", The South Asia Channel (Foreign Policy), October 27, 2014. Briefly:

1. Hardline Islamism is not the mainstream religion in Afghanistan.
2. Afghanistan has had some famous poets and artists.
3. Kabul and Kandahar were not always the backwaters of Asia.
4. While socially conservative some women have played major roles.
5. Sectarianism is not as big a problem as viewed by westerners.
6. It is possible to promote progressive values.

Suicide Car Bomber Kills 11 ANSF

A suicide car bomber killed eleven members of the Afghan security forces and wounded over 20 civilians near a police checkpoint in Azra district eastern Logar province in Afghanistan. Read more in "Suicide car bomber kills 11 police, soldiers in Afghanistan", Reuters, November 1, 2014.