Marines Mount Winter Campaign in Helmand Province

"Marine forces in Afghanistan have launched an “aggressive winter campaign” in Helmand province that will include special operations raids, conventional military operations and efforts to improve the economy by creating jobs, said the senior Marine commander in Afghanistan." 

Read the rest of the article in "Aggressive winter campaign in Helmand", Marine Corps Times, December 8, 2010.

Karzai is Hurting His War Effort

Karzai has been critical of the U.S. and coalition effort in the war in Afghanistan.  It is difficult to determine what he supports and what he does not support.  His critical statements about the CT efforts (night raids, etc.) are not helping his cause.  Read more on this topic in "Karzai's Worst Enemy", Hoover Institution, November 16, 2010.

Joint Task Force Two - Canada's Elite Special Forces

"They are Canada's most elite troops – the faceless soldiers who go to places they won't name, to complete missions they won’t talk about.  Hailed as a world-class special-operations unit for missions abroad, while facing mounting criticism at home, Joint Task Force Two remains a shadowy counterterrorism force about which little concrete can be said. Save for the fact that observers are clamouring more than ever to lift the veil on the ultra-secretive unit's operations." 

Read the rest of the article in "Silent killers: Secrecy, security and JTF2", The Globe and Mail, December 7, 2010.

Anti-Taliban Militias in Pakistan - A Lesson for U.S. in Afghanistan

Militias or "laskhars", in the frontier regions of Pakistan are having some success in fighting off the Taliban.  Read more in "Pakistani anti-Taliban militias offer lessons for U.S in Afghanistan", The Washington Post, December 7, 2010.

Graphics Depict Violence Increase in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense released its semi-annual report to Congress entitled "Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan (November 2010).  A website has pulled some of the info out of the report and put together some graphics to depict the rise of violence in Afghanistan to include a map showing key terrain districts and areas of interest.  See the maps and graphics at "Afghanistan: DoD report shows increase in violence", Threat Matrix - Long War Journal Blog, November 26, 2010.

Hazara Ethnic Group Winners in Ghazni - A Pashtun Province

One of the elections results in Afghanistan is prompting protests from the Pashtun community.  As a result of Pashtus boycotting the elections (or intimidated by the Taliban not to vote) the Hazari minority have secured eleven elective seats in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan.  Read more in "Afghan election: Minority group's election victory upheld", The LA Times, December 2, 2010.

A VIP View of Afghanistan (as Viewed by an On-the-Ground Reporter)

"Whenever Kandahar Air Field officers are briefed on an upcoming visit by politicians or dignitaries, they sigh and map out a coddled tour that diverts valuable personnel away from the military purpose of the mission.
There are superior accommodations to arrange, scarce helicopters to round up, suitable officers to assign as tour guides, forward operating bases to spruce up and schools, preferably filled with Afghan schoolgirls, to book for photo-ops. Senior brass repeatedly confided to me they dread the arrival of most VIPs and cheer their speedy departure."

Read the rest of the article in "Coddled VIPs don't see real Afghanistan", National Post, November 27, 2010.

Afghan Poll Shows Mixed Results in US Efforts in Afghanistan

A new poll recently conducted by major news services (The Washington Post, ABC News, BBC, and ARD) has mixed results. 

"More Afghans are pessimistic about the direction, less confident in the ability of the United States and its allies to provide security and more willing to negotiate with the Taliban than they were a year ago, according to a new poll conducted in all of Afghanistan's 34 provinces."

Surprisingly the poll results are positive in Kandahar and Helmand province where most of the coalition efforts are focused and most of the heavy fighting is occurring.  Read more in "Afghan poll shows falling confidence in U.S. efforts to secure country", The Washington Post, December 6, 2010.

Horn of Panjwaii - A Taliban Stronghold

Canadian forces, along with American and Afghan forces, are moving into the Horn of Panjwaii - a historical Taliban controlled area.  While a number of offensives have taken place in the last few years to rout out the Taliban the forces never stayed on after the battles.  This time the Canadians plan on staying to ensure the Taliban don't return. Read more at the link below:
"Canadian Forces move into longtime Taliban stronghold", The Star, December 5, 2010.

Newest Afghan Special Forces Honored in Ceremony

"KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army special forces in the Shah Wali Kot District of Kandahar province received their tan berets in a ceremony Dec. 3, marking the completion of their training and induction in to the Afghan special forces community.

The district governor, Ubiedallah Popal, and new district chief of police, Bacha Khan, were present for the ceremony.

“The beret ceremony served as an event to bring the [Afghan National Army] special forces, Afghan National Police and the district governor together,” said the Special Operations Task Force – South team leader presiding over the ceremony, whose unit is partnered with the Afghan special forces team.

Following the ceremony, the Afghan army special forces attended a lunch at the district center hosted by the district governor and district chief of police.

The first class of Afghan soldiers completed the special forces qualification course at Camp Morehead in Kabul May 13."

"Afghan special forces recieve berets in ceremony", ISAF Joint Command, December 6, 2010.

Operation Herrick 12 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan

The commander of the British 4th Mechanized Brigade reflects on his units' tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan that took place this past year.  His article precedes a memorial service for members of his unit that lost their lives in the Afghan War.  Read more in "Reflections on Afghan Mission", The Press, December 6, 2010.

Are We Winning or Losing in Afghanistan?

An opinion piece by a Canadian columnist who says we are not winning in Afghanistan.

"The few Taliban fighters who are able to read would find your assertion that they will be hard pressed to wait out NATO laughable. While NATO looks for nice tidy end dates, Afghanistan is steeped in a tribal culture where time is irrelevant. The defending of honour or exacting of revenge could happen today, four years from now or a generation from now. The West has poured billions of dollars into the fight. We have jet fighters, helicopter gunships, tanks, artillery, unmanned drones and the best trained and equipped soldiers in the history of warfare. The mostly illiterate Taliban have AK 47s, Soviet era RPGs, opium to finance their battle and a few goats. Still they fight."

See "West losing an unwinnable war", The Star, November 27, 2010.

The Karzai Clan of Kandahar, Afghanistan

Led by Hamid Karzai's half-brother, the Karzai clan is consolidating its hold over the Kandahar area.  While supposedly fighting the Taliban - it is more likely that the Karzai's are lining their pockets for now and the future.  There are actually three governments vying for control of Kandahar.  There is the half-hearted attempt by the inept and corrupt Afghan government propped up by the coalition forces, there is the Taliban "shadow government" most ascendent in the rural areas around Kandahar and there is the Karzai clan and its associated allies.  Read more in "US embassy cables: President Karzai's half-brother is kingpin of Kandahar", The Guardian, December 2, 2010.

Fighting to Keep a School Open in Afghanistan

A news article describes the ordeal involved in trying to keep a school open in Senjeray, Zhari District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Keeping schools open is part of the development and governance piece of counterinsurgency.  Unfortunately it doesn't always go as like the Field Manual tells you it should.  Read "US fights to open school in Taliban area", Fox News, December 4, 2010.

British Paras See Progress in Nad-e-Ali, Helmand Province, Afghanistan

A place that was once controlled by the Taliban - Nad-e-Ali, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - is now firmly in Afghan (and British control).  Medical clinics, schools, and the markets are now operating.  Security has improved. Read more in "British Paras see progress in the fight against the Taliban", The Telegraph, December 4, 2010.

Obama Visits Afghanistan

Obama paid a visit to Afghanistan to meet some of the troops and do a photo op. Presumably he is having some private talks with Karzai and his military leaders as well.  Read more in "Obama in Afghanistan", Afghanistan Crossroads Blog - CNN, December 3, 2010.

Building Bridges in Afghanistan

It isn't combat every day in Afghanistan - at least for some units.  There is the "development" piece of counterinsurgency and stability operations that has importance as well. Here is an article about how one unit - the 172nd Cavalry Regiment -  built a bridge over a swift and dangerous river so that inhabitants of one village in Parwan Province could travel to the local community market and medical clinic safely.  Posted by Bouhammer's Afghan Blog at the link below:

http://www.bouhammer.com/2010/12/tobins-pass-bridging-a-river-bonding-the-people/

Some Background on Talks with Taliban

The WikiLeaks documents are providing some insight behind the talks with the Taliban.  It would appear that in public Karzai is trying to work things out with the Taliban but secretly he has limits on how far he will accommodate them.  Read more in "WikiLeaks: Talks with the Taliban a non-starter", Reuters, December 5, 2010.

Fake Taliban Talks Embarrass Coalition

The U.S. military has been saying that the relentless pace of surgical drone strikes, Special Forces night raids, and conventional forces surge on the battlefield will force the Taliban to the negotiating table.  In fact, it has been assisting in talks between a supposedly high-ranking Taliban official and the Karzai government - paying money, arranging for safe passage, and providing flights on aircraft.  Now it seems that all are now embarrassed as they were getting scammed by a shop keeper from Pakistan.  Hmmmmmm.

Read more in "Goodspeed Analysis: Fighting a faceless enemy", The National Post, November 27, 2010.

Information, Photos, News, Maps of Bagram Air Field (BAF), Afghanistan

Bagram Air Field website by AFCENT
http://www.bagram.afcent.af.mil/

Fox News Reports about Bagram Airbase
http://www.foxnews.com/topics/politics/bagram-airbase.htm

USA Today News Reports about Bagram Air Base
http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Bagram+Air+Base

Info and Facts by Wikipedia Info on Bagram Airfield
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagram_Airfield

Maps and Overhead Photos of Bagram Airbase by GlobalSecurity.org
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/afghanistan/bagram-imagery.htm

Weather at Bagram, Afghanistan by weatherforyou.com
http://www.weatherforyou.com/weather/KQSA.html

Photos of Bagram Airfield by AFCENT
http://www.bagram.afcent.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?galleryID=6154

Photos and Images of Bagram Airfield by Google.com
Photos of Bagram Airfield

USO Facebook Bagram Air Base
http://www.facebook.com/pages/USO-Bagram-Air-Base-Afghanistan/135773896448565

Google Overhead Photo of Bagram Air Base
Overhead Map / Photo of Air Base

Videos of Bagram Airfield by Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS)
http://www.dvidshub.net/tags/video/bagram-airfield

Obama Surprise Visit to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan

President Obama paid a surprise visit to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Friday, December 3, 2010.  Read more about the visit at "During Surprise Trip to Afghanistan, Obama Thanks U.S. Troops for Their Service", Fox News, December 3, 2010.

Are There Any Alternatives to Karzai?

There is a lot of sniping about Karzai, how he is corrupt, inept, and probably not the best U.S. ally.  But nowhere on the horizon is there an alternative.  If there is one - he is not well-known.  Read more on "If not Hamid Karai, then who?", The National Post, December 2, 2010.

The Difficulties of Training Afghan Forces

There are too few NATO trainers for the Afghan security forces, too many Afghan deserters, and corruption erodes the efforts at many levels.  The Afghan police do not understand the laws they are supposed to uphold and the Afghan population see the Afghan police as predatory militias.  Read more on a posting of the Afghan situation from Sangin, Afghanistan by a correspondent.  See "Why it's so hard for NATO to train Afghan forces", Christian Science Monitor, December 2, 2010.

Corruption Found Throughout Afghan Government

Leaked memos from Wikileaks indicate that coalition documents show that Karzai and almost his entire government is rampart with corruption.  The coalition nations seem unable and unwilling to stem the corruption.  A case in point - the Ministry of Transportation collects $200 million annually in fees in truck traffic but turns over only $30 million to the government.  Meanwhile much of the aid money that pours into Afghanistan gets diverted for other uses - lining the pockets of the ruling elite.  Read more in "Mission Impossible: Standing up to Afghanistan", The Star, December 3, 2010.

Training Female Police Officers in Afghanstan

Read an article about training female police officers in Afghanistan by Canadian police.  See "Training female Afghan police officers rewarding, but challenging for Canadian", The Montreal Gazette, November 23, 2010.

Afghanistan has a history of Occupation

Now that the U.S. and NATO has exceeded the time that the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan reporters and others are looking back into Afghanistan's history to learn more about the countries past occupations.  Read "Afghanistan: a history of occupation", The Telegraph, November 26, 2010.

Intel Efforts to Catch Roadside Bombers in Afghanistan

Social network analysis is being used to help in defeating the IED network.  Read more in "U.S. Connects the Dots to catch Roadside Bombers", NPR, December 3, 2010.

Afghan Corruption "Overwhelming" according to Secret Embassy Cables

"WASHINGTON — From hundreds of diplomatic cables, Afghanistan emerges as a looking-glass land where bribery, extortion and embezzlement are the norm and the honest man is a distinct outlier. Describing the likely lineup of Afghanistan’s new cabinet last January, the American Embassy noted that the agriculture minister, Asif Rahimi, “appears to be the only minister that was confirmed about whom no allegations of bribery exist.”

Read the rest of the news article about corruption in "Wikileaks: Cables describe scale of Afghan corruption as overwhelming", The New York Times, December 2, 2010.

Ammonium Nitrate - Key Ingredient of IEDs in Afghanistan

Ammonium nitrate is a key ingredient of IEDs in Afghanistan.  The coalition forces are attempting to limit the availability to insurgents in order to decrease IED incidents.  Read more in "U.S. cracks down on IED chemical in Afghanistan", Army Times, December 2, 2010.

ABC News Doing Special Series on Afghanistan

"ABC News announced the launch of a special series on the war in Afghanistan, "Afghanistan: Can We Win?" The series starts on Sunday, and will examine the toll the war has taken, whether the US should withdraw from the country and what a "victory" in Afghanistan would look like."

Read the rest of the article in "ABC News Launching Special Series on Afghanistan", The Huffington Post, December 2, 2010.

New, Younger Breed of Taliban Leaders

The recent months-long attack by U.S. Special Operations Forces against the high- and mid-level Taliban leadership has had some unintended results.  A new, younger breed of Taliban leader is emerging that is taking the place of the older Taliban leaders who have been caught, killed, are lying low or gone to Pakistan.  Read more in "Afghanistan sees new breed of dangerous young Taliban leader", The Telegraph, December 3, 2010.

COIN Qualification Standards Established for Afghanistan

The DoD has established a checklist of essential counterinsurgency skills needed by troops deployed to Afghanistan.  They are called the "COIN Qualification Standards".  The standards are a list of nine major skill areas with roughly 52 sub tasks that will focus a units' training before they deploy to Afghanistan.  Read more in "COIN standards for Afghanistan approved", Marine Corps Times, December 2, 2010.

Iran Undermining U.S. Effort in Afghanistan

Iran has been busy undermining the efforts of the U.S. and other coalition partners in Afghanistan.  Recently leaked U.S. Embassy cables (leaked by WikiLeaks) show that Iran is providing "lethal support" to the insurgents.  Read more in "US embassy cables: Iran busy trying to undermine the US in Afghanistan", The Guardian, December 2, 2010.

Afghanistan's Foreign Fighters - Some European Citizens Fighting for the Taliban

Most foreign fighters in Afghanistan fighting for the Taliban are usually Arabs, Chechens, Pakistani, or from the former Soviet republics of Tajikistan or Uzbekistan.  But occasionally one will find a British Muslim from the United Kingdom.  Read more in "Afghanistan's foreign fighters in the shadows", The Guardian, November 24, 2010.

Report Will Show That British Aid Worker Killed by SEALs

Would-be rescuers will be cited as the cause of death of Linda Norgrove.  Norgrove was a British aid worker in Afghanistan who was kidnapped.  U.S. Navy SEALs attempted a rescue but accidentally killed her during the attempt.  Read more in "Linda Norgrove killed by US special forces, report will say", The Telegraph, November 28, 2010.

Counterinsurgency Leaders Course Attendees Learn about Village Stability Operations (VSO)

Students attending the Counterinsurgency Training Center in Afghanistan are learning about how the Village Stability Operations (VSO) concept is implemented in rural villages outside of the Afghan government control. The Afghan Local Police (ALP) initiative, a part of VSO, was also presented by speakers from CFSOCC-A.  Read more on this topic in "COIN Leadership Course Students Gain Insight", NTM-A, December 1, 2010.

State Department Upbeat About Success in Marjah, Afghanistan

The battle for Marjah, Afghanistan did not go as smooth as it could have. The "clearing" operation went well although there was some tough fighting and many casualties.  The "hold" operation is still in full-swing and basically the coalition and Afghan forces hold Marjah even though IEDs are still a problem and "night letters" are still posted as a means of intimidation.  Of course, a big part of "holding" is not "leaving".  The "build" part of "clear, hold, and build" is now in the works as well.  According to the State Department - this phase of the operation is going well.  See "Marjah: Progress on the Road to Stability and Prosperity", State Dept Blog, November 27, 2010.

Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Conference - Dec 9, 2010

The Jamestown Foundation 4th Annual Terrorism Conference will be held on December 9, 2010 in Washington, D.C.  Learn more about the conference at the link below:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/941206173

Special Forces Strikes Take Out Thousands of Taliban in 90 Days

Relentless strikes by coalition and Afghan special forces units have caused havoc among the Taliban leadership according to some sources.  Read more in "90-day blitz takes out 3,200 Taliban", The Sun, November 30, 2010.

Taliban's Shadow and Parallel Government in Afghanistan

The Afghan government is corrupt, ineffective, and does not reach out to the rural areas of Afghanistan.  Into this void the Taliban have set up a shadow, parallel government through fear and intimidation but also delivering on basic needs and services that the Kabul regime should be providing.  Read more in "Talking to the Taliban about life after occupation", Guardian, November 26, 2010.

Oxfam Australia Comes Out Against Arming Local Militias in Afghanistan

Oxfam Australia has come out against community defense initiatives in Afghanistan citing the dangerous aspects of militias and lack of ISAF control over armed village bands. 

"The agencies argue ISAF should abandon dangerous schemes such as the so-called “community defense initiatives”, which involve supporting local militia groups to fight the Taliban. They say that the international forces must immediately stop arming these community militias. Recruits are barely vetted, receive little training and are often accountable only to the local commanders. Far from helping to stabilise the country, they are likely to contribute to the growing instability."

Read more at the link below:

http://www.oxfam.org.au/media/releases/?p=3775

Restrepo Documentary on Afghanistan Premieres on National Geographic Monday, November 29, 2010

The movie Restrepo premieres on National Geographic on Monday, November 29, 2010 at 9:00 pm EST.  The documentary follows one platoon for one year in a valley in Eastern Afghanistan.  The filmmakers are Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington.  The film was a Sundance Film Festival award winner.  A description of the film from the National Geographic website follows:

"The feature-length documentary chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.  The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, "Restrepo", named after a platoon medic who was killed in action.  It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. This is an entirely experimental film: the cameras never leave the soldiers; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats.  The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment.  This is war, full stop.  The conclusions are up to you".

Click here to see the National Geographic web page on Restrepo.  The movie can be ordered from Amazon.com at the following link - Restrepo.

Units Scheduled for Afghan Deployment for 2011

The Department of Defense has announced some unit deployments for 2011.  See the link below for more info:

http://www.military.com/news/article/dod-announces-2011-afghan-deployments.html?wh=news

Map of NATO Troop Disposition in Afghanistan (Nov 2010)

The link below will bring you to a map of NATO troop disposition in Afghanistan.  The United States provides the largest contingent followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Canada.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11795066

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/maps.htm

Afghanistan Troop Drawdown to Proceed Slowly

The drawdown of troops is expected to take some time.  Read more in "Troop drawdown in Afghanistan expected to go slowly", The Fayetteville Observer, November 26, 2010.

Job Creation in Afghanistan Designed to Weaken Support for Taliban

Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Paul Brinkley directs a Pentagon task force with the mission of creating jobs in Afghanistan.  The intent is to help the Afghans develop an economy that will eventually provide income for the maintenance of its security forces as well as a functioning government.  Read more about this project in "Job creation will weaken Taliban in Afghanistan, Pentagon official says", The Dallas News, November 16, 2010.

The Cost of Afghan War to Rise

With the news that 2011 is the "start" of the troop withdrawal instead of when the bulk of the troops would start leaving folks have been looking at what this date slip to 2014 will mean for our pocketbook.  About another $125 Billion is what some estimates are.  Read more in "New Afghan war plans could cost US taxpayers an extra $125 billion", The Christian Science Monitor, November 19, 2010.

NATO Passes Soviet Union in Afghanistan Occupation Length

NATO troops have now been in Afghanistan longer than the Soviet Union occupation that ended some twenty years ago.  Read more in "Nato in Afghanistan longer than Soviet Union: analysis", The Telegraph, November 26, 2010.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) Recruits Graduate Course in Paktiya

"KABUL, Afghanistan – More than 70 villagers graduated from the Afghan Local Police course in Chamkani District, Paktiya province Tuesday.

The course is a Ministry of the Interior initiative to train and equip local nationals to protect their villages. Over three weeks, the students are given classes on the Afghan constitution, penal code, basic marksmanship and first aid.

The Chamkanai graduation is the second ALP course to be completed, the first was conducted in the Dand Patan District. Graduation certificates were presented by Lt. Col. Mohammad Khan, the Chamkani police chief and Saadat Khan, the Chamkani sub-governor.

After the graduation ceremony, the students are issued weapons, uniforms and vehicles provided by MOI. The graduates represent three tribes from the northern Chamkani District."

http://www.dvidshub.net/news/59579/second-afghan-local-police-course-graduates-paktiya

How to Fix Afghanistan's Judiciary System - Recommendations by International Crisis Group

The International Crisis Group is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.  The ICG has just release a comprehensive report that identifies the problems with the Afghanistan judiciary system and provides recommendations on how to fix it.  A brief description taken from the Executive Summary of the report is provided below.  The link below will take you to the organizations website where you can view the entire Executive Summary and read the report or download it (Adobe Acrobat file). 

"Afghanistan’s justice system is in a catastrophic state of disrepair. Despite repeated pledges over the last nine years, the majority of Afghans still have little or no access to judicial institutions. Lack of justice has destabilised the country and judicial institutions have withered to near non-existence. Many courts are inoperable and those that do function are understaffed. Insecurity, lack of proper training and low salaries have driven many judges and prosecutors from their jobs. Those who remain are highly susceptible to corruption. Indeed, there is very little that is systematic about the legal system, and there is little evidence that the Afghan government has the resources or political will to tackle the challenge. The public, consequently, has no confidence in the formal justice sector amid an atmosphere of impunity. A growing majority of Afghans have been forced to accept the rough justice of Taliban and criminal powerbrokers in areas of the country that lie beyond government control."

See "Reforming Afghanistan's Broken Judiciary", Asia Report No 195, International Crisis Group, November 17, 2010.