AWN Early in Morning

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box at the top of the right hand column. The only info needed is your email. No personal data, forms to fill out, or passwords needed. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

Lara Logan Interviews COMISAF

Lara Logan interviews General John Campbell and President Ghani for a "60 Minutes" segment. The interview (about 14 mins long) is entitled "Ending America's Longest War". During the interview several topics are presented and discussed: retrograde operations, the lights of Kabul at night, the ability of the ANSF to fight alone, the ANSF special operations forces, funding of the ANSF post-2014, operating on President Obama's timeline, frustration with Pakistan, worries about ISIS, concern about an Iraq situation in Afghanistan post-2014, President Ghani's outlook on Afghanistan, Ghani's expression of a flexible timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops, and the topic of sanctuaries in Pakistan for the Taliban comes up as well.

www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-war-60-minutes-lara-logan/

U.S. Drone Fleet Almost Broke

According to senior military leaders the U.S. drone fleet is at the breaking point. Too many missions and too few drone pilots are threatening the readiness and combat capability of the United States unmanned Air Force. There are enough Predators and Reaper drones just not enough manpower. Those drone operators who are fully trained are over-worked with many leaving the service because their service careers have been damaged due to lack of professional schools, cancelled leaves, and unsatisfactory work conditions. In addition, the drones require maintenance workers to keep the UAVs flying and intelligence analysts to collect the information, analyze it, and disseminate the resulting intelligence in reports. Read more in "Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at 'Breaking Point', Air Force Says", The Daily Beast, January 4, 2015.

Video - COMISAF Interview

General John Campbell, ISAF Commander, was interviewed by ABC News. He addressed the purpose of the mission under Resolute Support - which is Train, Advise, and Assist (TAA) at the Corps and ministry level. In addition, special operators, in a TAA will accompany their Afghan counterparts at the lower unit level. He addressed whether the war was worth fighting - saying he was in the camp that says the war was worth it; dismissing a recent poll that reflected a contrary view by the U.S. public. He also answered questions on the high profile attacks in Kabul that have increased lately. No big news here - good to hear the General is staying on message!

http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/full-interview-gen-john-campbell-27990189

Corruption - Drug Kingpin Goes Free

Afghanistan's judicial system is a farce. We are once again confronted with another example of how corrupt the Afghan police and judicial system is with the news that a leading opium trafficker has been released from prison. Haji Lal Jan Ishaqzai has been on the U.S. kingpin list but is now free - having been released. He has fled to Pakistan. His high-profile prosecution by Afghan authorities had been trumpeted by ISAF as proof that the Afghan judicial system was working. Not so much. Mr. Ishaqzai bribed his way out of prison - paying off a cross-section of people in the criminal justice system with millions of dollars. Read more in "Bribery Frees a Drug Kingpin in Afghanistan, Where Cash Often Overrules Justice", The New York Times, December 31, 2014.

Eikenberry: "The Great Draft Dodge"

Karl Eikenberry, a retired 3-star general and former ambassador to Afghanistan, is interviewed about the military-civilian compact, the elimination of the draft for military service in the early 1970s, and Afghanistan (where he served two tours with the military). Read "The Great Draft Dodge", National Journal, December 12, 2014.

C-17 Flying Hospital

A news article describes the C-17 Globemastter III that is a 'flying hospital'. It is used for MEDEVACs from the war zone to a hospital for patients requiring advanced care. In the case of Afghanistan, the C-17 would transport the patient(s) from Bagram or Kandahar to Landstuhl, Germany. Read more in "The Flying Hospital That Rushes Wounded Soldiers to Safety", Danger Room by Wired.com, January 5, 2015.

Ghani Suggest Troop Timetable Change

President Ghani of Afghanistan believes the end of 2016 may be too soon for the complete withdrawal of international troops. 2014 was the deadliest year for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and some critics are voicing concern about the ANSF ability to go it alone once the international forces depart. Read more in "Afghanistan president suggests US 'reexamine' troop withdrawal timetable", Fox Politics, January 5, 2015.

And . . .  drum roll . . . after hearing about Ghani's thoughts on a re-examination of the troop withdrawal timeline the White House issued a statement saying that President Obama has been "really clear" about the U.S. strategy. Read more in "White House: Obama 'clear' about Afghanistan withdrawal", The Hill, January 5, 2015.

Pakistani Balochs in Afghanistan

Some Balochs from Pakistan are seeking refuge in Afghanistan. There is a small insurgency in the Balochistan province of Pakistan that has been simmering for years. The Balochs are mostly nomads and are spread out among three countries - Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. The terrain and geography makes it a desolate place providing little economic opportunity. Most make their living from migratory animal husbandry and some smuggling. The Balochs have been at odds with the central Pakistani government since Pakistan gained its independence. There have been a number of attempts at independence and several insurgent movements. Many Balochs flee to Pakistan to avoid persecution by Pakistani security forces. Most Pakistani Balochs move to Nimroz province, Afghanistan where the majority of the population is also Baloch. Read more in "Pakistani Balochs seeking shelter in Afghanistan - analysis", Eurasia Review, January 4, 2015.

French Hold Ceremony for End of Msn

A ceremony was held in Kabul by French troops to mark the end of their deployment and the end of the NATO ISAF mission. Part of the French contingent ran the military side of Kabul International Airport. This function was turned over to the Turks. France withdrew most of its combat troops from Afghanistan over two years ago. The country had lost 89 soldiers and saw 700 wounded since 2001. Read more in "French ceremony as new NATO Afghan mission takes over", Daily Mail, December 31, 3014.

News - Brain Injuries

A "SEAL Breacher Study" will explore the way that Navy SEAL brains are affected by repeated blasts. Two researchers will conduct the study. A 'breacher' is someone who uses explosives to blow open a door. The researchers will use specific brain-scanning equipment and will study 10 former Navy SEALs who recently left the service. Read more in "Are Navy SEALs affected by repeated blasts", U-T San Diego, December 10, 2014.

Pub - "Tip of the Spear"

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has published its "Tip of the Spear 2014 in Photos" issue. You can view online or download off DVIDS at the link below:

www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/24177

Daily News Snippets (Jan 6, 2015)

Afghan news outlets report that a EUPOL vehicle was attacked by a suicide bomber on Monday afternoon in east Kabul in PD9 on Pul-e-Charkhi road. Kabul police confirm that 1 civilian is killed and 5 other wounded. Estimates of damage and casualties differ.

A news report examines the implications of drawing down troops to an "unsafe level". Read more in "Taliban sees opportunity to gain ground in Afghanistan", Fox News, January 5, 2015.

On Monday an explosion occurred that killed two civilians and and injured eleven in Zabul province. The explosives were placed on the vehicle of an Afghan security officer - he escaped unharmed.

A reporter visits Tactical Base Gamberi in Laghman province and explores what our troops are doing there. Read "Smaller NATO mission has big job to train Afghan army in time", Reuters, by Kay Johnson, January 5, 2015.

The Afghan government is in the process of conducting a census of the Afghan population. One of the difficulties is that many Afghans have only one name. This is especially true in the more rural areas. Read more in "The Politics of Last Names", The Atlantic, January 5, 2015.

Australia remains committed to the mission in Afghanistan. They will continue to deploy troops for the new training and mentoring mission in Afghanistan. (Daily Mail, Dec 30, 2014).

The Nebraska Air National Guard's 155th Air Refueling Wing is sending about 50 airmen to participate in Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East. The airmen come from the Security Forces Squadron, Force Support Squadron, and Civil Engineer Squadron. Their deployment will last six months. (Omaha.com, Dec 30, 2014).

Afghan health care is at risk with the decrease coming in international aid. While great strides have been made in the health care sector much work still needs to be done. Critics say that the advances in health care have been exaggerated by some organizations (can you spell USAID?). Read more in "Afghan health care at risk as international aid is scaled back", Stars and Stripes, January 5, 2015.

According to news reports the new F-35 fighter will not be able to fire its 25mm cannon until 2019 - over four years from now. Yet the U.S. Air Force wants to retire the A-10 next year. Hmmmm. Read "New U.S. Stealth Jet Can't Fire Its Gun Until 2019", The Daily Beast, December 31, 2014.

The Afghan Army Chief of Staff, General Sher Mohammad Karimi, recently visited the 203rd ANA Corps headquartered in Paktia province on Monday. The 203rd ANA Corps is responsible for the security in seven southeastern provinces of Afghanistan. Read more about his visit and his comments to the troops in "Gen. Karimi Rallies Troops Ahead of Looming Push Against Insurgents", Tolo News, January 5, 2015.

James Stavridis, a retired 4-star Navy admiral and Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University , has penned an article about Afghanistan. He sounds optimistic about the ability of the Afghan security forces (with a little help from the Coalition) to "contain the Taliban insurgency". He sees the war lasting for a while. He says that the key to attaining a successful outcome will depend on three things. Read more in "All Is Not Lost in Afghanistan", Foreign Policy, January 5, 2015.

The 215th ANA Corps commander has been replaced by BG Dadan Lawang, a former commander of the 4th Brigade of the ANA 201st Corps in eastern Afghanistan. Lawang also headed the ANA Special Operations Command (ANASOC) for a few years. (Marine Corps Times, January 4, 2015).

Practice Your Writing Skills for AWN

The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition, we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links please let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Coffee and Afghan News at 5:00 AM

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box at the top of the right hand column. The only info needed is your email. No personal data, forms to fill out, or passwords needed. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

Bibliography for Resolute Support (Updated Jan 15)

The Annotated Bibliography for Resolute Support - has been updated and posted. The ISAF mission ended on 31 December 2014 and the NATO Resolute Support mission started on 1 January 2015. The Resolute Support mission is primarily Security Force Assistance along functional areas at the ministry, institutional, and ANA corps level. The bibliography will be very helpful for advisors at all levels in Afghanistan as well as staff members of the RS mission. It has links to hundreds of documents, papers, publications, and websites about advising, the Afghan National Security Forces, and Afghanistan. The bibliography is updated every month and posted the first day of the month. The publication is an Adobe Acrobat PDF, is almost 200 pages long, and is less than 3 MBs big. You can read online or download at the link below.

www.afghanwarnews.info/pubs/RSM-Bibliography.htm

SF Combat Dive School Changes Unit Motto

The U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Dive School located at Key West, Florida has quietly changed its school motto. The motto - "I Can't Breath" - is now a phrase that is politically incorrect since the civil rights movement has adopted the phrase. Students who undergo training at the physically demanding course often find themselves in circumstances where they are short of breath - thus the origin of the phrase. Of course, the dive school used to be a hard school when students had to do "cross-overs" and "bobbing"; but that was before the school got easy. Reportedly, the Special Forces community is somewhat dismayed that one of their best school slogans has been hijacked. Special Forces training is one of the most rigorous in the world and the Green Berets are reluctant to have to change any aspect of their Special Forces culture. Read more about the change of the dive school motto in "Army Dive School Quietly Changes 'I Can't Breath' Unit Motto", Duffel Blog, January 4, 2015.

Afghan COIN Lessons Learned

With the conclusion of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, the end of U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan, and a "responsible end to the Afghan War" pundits are commenting on lessons learned of waging a counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. These lessons learned will inform the public and military for years to come in future counterinsurgency operations. Steve Metz is the director of research at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute and an author. He provides us with three lessons learned on the counterinsurgency effort in Afghanistan.

1. Political culture must shape any U.S. counterinsurgency campaign.
2. Success is not simply a matter of picking the right local leader.
3. A successful counterinsurgency is almost impossible when the insurgents have external sanctuary.

Read his complete article entitled "What are the real lessons of the Afghanistan War?", World Politics Review, January 2015.

China-U.S. Relations . . . and Afghanistan

Zhao Minghao writes about how China and the United States are interacting in relation to Afghanistan. With the withdrawal of American troops and a reduction in the U.S. financing of the Afghan government comes a reduction in the influence that the United States can wield in Afghanistan and the surrounding region. This vacuum will be filled - in part - by China. In this area of U.S. - China relations there is great possibility for some common ground. Read more in "Afghanistan and China-U.S. Relations", Exploring the Frontiers of U.S.-China Strategic Cooperation: Roles and Responsibilities Beyond the Asia-Pacific Region, edited by Melanie Hart, Center for American Progress, November 2014.

https://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ChinaReport-Global-FINAL.pdf

USAID CHAMP

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has many programs to assist development throughout the world. One of these programs, Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program (CHAMP) is in operation in Afghanistan. Read a story on how CHAMP assisted an Afghan grape farmer to rebuild his farm and his life in "From Charikar to the World", USAID FRONTLINES, November/December 2014.