372nd Military Police Training Afghan Security Forces

A member of the 372nd Military Police Army Reserve unit provides insight on his tour in Afghanistan.  See "Adjusting to a different world", Mount Airy News, December 18, 2010.

Report on Counterinsurgency Effort in Kandahar (2010 Hamkari Campaign)

The Institute for the Study of War has issued a comprehensive report on the counterinsurgency effort in Kandahar known as the Hamkari Campaign.  The link below will take you to an Executive Summary and also give you access to the entire document.  See "Counterinsurgency in Kandahar: Evaluating the 2010 Hamkari Campaign" (December 2010).

U.S. Medevacs Save Afghan Civilian Lives

The medevac system in Afghanistan has improved dramatically.  Several years ago the medevacs would be launched from four locations - Bagram, Salerno, Kandahar, and K2 (Uzbekistan).  Now, the flights can be dispatched from locations all across the country.  The medevacs will serve the Afghan civilian population when available and not in high demand.  The article link below will bring you to a story that illustrates this fact - the story of a woman having a breached birth who was fortunate enough to have a Special Forces team call for a medevac.  Go ahead, read the story - it has a good ending!  See "A U.S. Crew's Urgent Flight Into the Afghan Desert", The New York Times, December 18, 2010.

The Harm the Taliban do to the Afghan Population - Keep it Quiet or Let Everyone Know?

Many have stated that there are very few differences between how McCrystal and Petraeus are running the war.  One difference, although not a big difference, is the decision by Petraeus to spread the word on the harm the Taliban is doing to the Afghan population. Read more in "How Petraeus has changed the Afghanistan war", The Christian Science Monitor, December 31, 2010.

Security Contractors Cite Corrupt Afghan Police as Constant Problem

Security contractors working in Afghanistan are concerned about the corruption of the Afghan National Police (ANP).  Read more in "Security contractor: Afghan police running amok", MSNBC World Blog, December 15, 2010.

Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR)

"The Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR) was created in August 1988, in response to the demand from the many aid agencies and their international donors for a coordinated approach to humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.Originally,the organization was based in Peshawar, Pakistan, where it focused mainly on coordinating NGOs' humanitarian response. Since it moved to Afghanistan, ACBAR provides the framework within which Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the Afghan Government, the UN and bilateral donors can exchange information, share expertise and establish guidelines for a more coordinated, efficient and effective use of resources for aid to the Afghan people. Its activities have focused heavily on information to its members and the aid community in general, coordination of activities at the national and regional levels, and advocacy on issues affecting the work of its members in Afghanistan."

ACBAR is a coordinating organization for many of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in Afghanistan.  It's website offers a wealth of information for NGOs to include job announcements, publications, training, advocacy, and more.  Visit their link at http://www.acbar.org/.

Private Aid Group has Bold Plan for Afghanistan

A group of private citizens have developed a bold plan for revitalizing Afghan villages.  The group consists of some highly influential members of the private sector and they are critical of current aid efforts by the U.S.  Read more in "Force behind Charlie Wilson's War has new plan for Afghans", Houston Chronicle, December 26, 2010.

Kandahar: Taliban Suffer Setbacks But . . .

A news article explores the tactical gains that the coalition forces have made in Kandahar but worries that the Afghan government is not taking advantage of the situation.  There are fears the gains will be lost when the Taliban resume the fight in the spring. Read more - "In deadly Kandahar, skepticism over gains cited in Afghan war review", The Christian Science Monitor, December 16, 2010.

Airlines in Afghanistan

When one thinks of travel in Afghanistan you have thoughts of UH-60s, C-130s, and C-17s.  However, Afghanistan has its own airlines for civilian travel.  Click on the link below for international and domestic travel to/from and within Afghanistan.

http://www.isaf.nato.int/images/stories/File/Media-Visit-Docs/Afghanistan%20Flights%20and%20Hotels.pdf

Five Ways to Win Afghan War by Andrew Exum - Foreign Policy Magazine

Andrew Exum, a former infantry officer, has penned an article that provides five ways to help win the war in Afghanistan.  The steps are 1) cut funding for the war as the aid is being misspent and much of the money is put into the pockets of corrupt Afghan officials 2) compromise on combat enablers - helicopters may be more important than an infantry battalion 3) find a way to replace Ambassador Holbrooke 4) leverage the corrupt Afghan officials through family members with U.S. passports 5) cut back troops but commit to the long fight.  Read his article in "5 Ways to Win the War in Afghanistan", Foreign Policy Magazine, December 15, 2010.

3rd Commando Kandak - A Success Story of the ANA

The Afghan Commando Kandaks are the elite units of the Afghan National Army (ANA).  Trained by U.S. Army Special Forces - these units are the tip of the spear for the ANA.  Read about the 3rd Commando Kandak in the following story. 

"Commando Squad Leaders Separated by Age, United by Country", ISAF, December 25, 2010.

Afghan Artillery Students Train on 122mm Howitzer

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael James

The Artillery School at the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC) recently took to the field to conduct a live fire gunnery exercise.  The students fired the 122mm howitzer.  Upon receipt of further training and graduation the artillery students will be assigned to the 205th Corps as fully qualified gunners.  Read more in "Live Fire Exercise demonstrates artillery school's capabilities", NTM-A, December 29, 2010.

Australian Police Assist in Building Target Data in Afghanistan

"AUSTRALIAN police in Afghanistan have helped compile secret intelligence files on insurgent leaders later targeted in capture-or-kill missions by special forces soldiers. The Pentagon has confirmed that Australian Federal Police officers are ''assigned to work with'' a joint police task force in Kabul that produces files used by military commanders to "shape the battlefield" - a term often used to describe the capture-or-kill raids mounted by elite troops in Afghanistan." 

Read the rest of the article in "Australian police share intelligence on insurgent leaders", Sydney Morning Herald, December 27, 2010.

"Clash of Cultures" - Opinion by GlobalSecurity.org on Afghanistan

GlobalSecurity.org has published an opinion piece about what has gone wrong in Afghanistan and what has to be done to salvage the situation.  Read "Clash of Cultures" (December 28, 2010).

Provincial Response Company (PRC) of Uruzagan Province Now Fully Trained

The Provincial Response Company (PRC) of Uruzagan Province has now been fully trained by Australian Special Forces.  Read more in "Afghan National Police reach milestone with SOTG", Australian Defence Department, December 29, 2010.

Army Provides a History of Battle of Wanat

The Army's official history of the battle of Wanat - which took place in 2008 in a remote valley outpost along the Pakistan border - is now out.  It can be viewed or downloaded at the weblink below on the Command and General Staff College website (an Adobe Acrobat PDF file).

http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/download/csipubs/Wanat.pdf

The Washington Post recently published an article on this battle and how the Army has assigned blame for the loss of nine men.  See "Army edits its history of deadly battle of Wanat" (December 29, 2010).

Aid Groups Say Situation in Afghanistan is Worse

Non-government organizations (NGOs) who dispense aid and services throughout Afghanistan state that the security situation on the ground in Afghanistan is getting worse.  Read more in "Afghanistan security worsening, say aid groups and analysts on the ground", The Age, December 30, 2010.

British Troops See Progress in Helmand Province

The British forces are seeing some progress in Helmand Province after several years of fighting there.  Read more in "War in Afghanistan: A 'breeze of change' blows in Helmand", The Telegraph, December 27, 2010.

Modernization of UAVs Face Budget Constraints

"The Army is working to meet its troops’ huge demand for unmanned aircraft systems, but the expected budget cuts will force the service to prioritize what they really need, officials said." 

Read more in "Army: Tremendous demand fo UAVs in Afghanistan", Air Force Times, December 16, 2010.

Militias in Afghanistan - Part of the Problem and Part of the Solution

Militias are a mixed blessing in Afghanistan.  On one hand they can provide the security that the central Afghan government fails to provide due to its cronyism, corruption, and inept security forces.  On the other hand the militias diminish the authority of the Afghan security forces.  Read a news article that provides a sense of this dilemma in "Militia ties undercut security steps in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, December 28, 2010.

Village Stability Operations, Tribal Militias, Special Forces, and General Petraeus

The military leaders in Afghanistan are now touting "Village Stability Operations" conducted by U.S. Army Special Forces as a remedy for the Afghan War. This is the bottom-up approach to compensate for a corrupt and inept Afghan government and Afghan security forces whose influence and control do not reach into rural areas.  Read more on this topic in "Petraeus Looks For A Rabbit Under His Hat", Investors.com, December 28, 2010.

Combat Advising the ANA Commando Kandaks

A Special Forces Warrant Officer has posted a paper on the Small Wars Journal that he wrote about his tour of duty combat advising the 205th ANA Commando Kandak.  He provides his thoughts on some of the obstacles his detachment faced and how they overcame them.  One of the detachments first tasks was to define their role to the many other military organizations that were present to "help" train the Commando Kandak.

Read "Combat Advising the ANA 205th Commandos", posted on the Small Wars Journal, December 27, 2010.

Fighting for the Pech Valley in Eastern Afghanistan - Victory is Elusive

The U.S. military and the Taliban have been fighting for control of the Pech Valley since the introduction of U.S. forces in 2006.  Now it appears that the U.S. is on the verge of leaving the valley to inexperienced Afghan security forces . . . and the Taliban.  The goals and objectives of the U.S. forces are a bit confusing as recent reports indicate that the U.S. may pull out of the Pech Valley  - transitioning the area to Afghan security forces.  Read more in "U.S. troops battle to hand off a valley resistant to Afghan governance", The Washington Post, December 27, 2010.

DynCorp Wins Contract Training Afghan National Police (ANP) - Despite an Unsuccessful Past in Afghanistan

DynCorp, a large contracting firm providing police and military contractors and instructors worldwide, has again won a lucrative contract training the Afghan National Police (ANP).  The ANP is a corrupt and untrained force and DynCorp is partially responsible for its failure. Yet DynCorp seems to have won the contract.  Is this just another case of the lowest bidder winning out?  Hmmmmmmm.  Read the rest of the article in "Mercs Win Billion Dollar Afghan Cop Deal. Again.", Wired.com Danger Room, December 21, 2010.

Billions of Dollars Unaccounted for in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR CITY -- In its bid to win the hearts and minds of Afghanistan’s teeming population, the United States has spent more than $55 billion to rebuild and bolster the war-ravaged country. That money was meant to cover everything from the construction of government buildings and economic development projects to the salaries of U.S. government employees working closely with Afghans. Yet no one can say with any authority or precision how that money was spent and who profited from it. Most of the funds were funneled to a vast array of U.S. and foreign contractors. But according to a recent audit by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), there is no way of knowing whether the money went for the intended purposes

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/us-cant-account-for-billions-spent-in-afghanistan-2010-12#ixzz19Q4dUIcK

American Support For Afghan War at Record Low

A recent news article states that American support for the Afghan war is at a record low.  See "Afghan war not worth it, say most Americans", The Sydney Morning Herald, December 18, 2010.

Top Ten Myths about Afghanistan

A commentator has listed his "Top Ten Myths about Afghanistan for 2010". Read them here at juancole.com.

The Fight for Andar District, Ghazni Province

While the fight in the south (Helmand and Kandahar Provinces) appears to be showing coalition gains the same cannot be said of areas of eastern Afghanistan.  Resources, enablers, and manpower has been shifted south to Kandahar and the east has seen less attention from the military leaders planning the overall campaign in Afghanistan.  This lack of attention is having results with the Taliban controlling many areas.  One such area is Andar District in Ghazni.  Read about the fight for Andar District in "Taliban Challenge U.S. in Eastern Afghanistan", The New York Times, December 25, 2010.

Taliban - Ruling Villages Through Fear

A recent news report depicts how the Taliban can control a village through fear and intimidation.  It also shows that given some support from the Afghan National Army (ANA) and coalition forces Afghan villagers will attempt to stand up to these Taliban fear tactics.  Read more in "Canadians, Afghans confront Taliban legacy of fear in small village", The Gazette, December 26, 2010.

United Nation Maps Depict Worsening Security Situation in Afghanistan

The Wall Street Journal published an article citing two United Nations maps of Afghanistan that depict a worsening security situation in Afghanistan.  Read more in "Afghan Security Deteriorates", The Wall Street Journal, December 27, 2010.

Coalition Reports Progress in Afghan War

A coalition spokesman recently detailed the progress that military forces have made in Afghanistan against the Taliban. During the same time frame The Wall Street Journal reported that security has worsened in many areas of Afghanistan based on reports from the United Nations.  Read more in "Coalition Reports Progress in Afghanistan, UN Data Paint Bleaker Picture", Voice of America, December 27, 2010.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan and USAID: Some Background

The Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) located in 26 regional areas across Afghanistan are an interagency effort to deliver governance and development to rural areas.  The PRTs assist the Afghan government, coalition military and the international community in delivering assistance at the provincial and district levels.

USAID plays a major role with the Provincial Reconstruction Teams.  Read a fact sheet on USAID and the PRTs at the link below:

http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/Page.PRT.aspx

The Baltimore Sun Calls for New Afghan Strategy

The Baltimore Sun has called for the withdrawal of most U.S. forces from Afghanistan.  It says that we have reached a stalemate in Afghanistan. While we can kill the Taliban mid-level leadership in large numbers they have the ability to regenerate.  The sanctuaries in Pakistan still exist due to Pakistan's two-faced policy towards the war, Karzai is ineffective, corrupt and an undependable ally.  The Sun says we should keep a small Special Forces contingent and drones in the war to hit al Qaeda targets when they appear and withdraw the bulk of our forces.  See "The longest war", The Baltimore Sun, December 15, 2010.

International Council on Security and Development (ICSD) Comments on White House Afghan Report

The President and founder of the International Council on Security and Development (ICSD), Norrine Macdonald, has commented on the latest White House report on Afghanistan.  Some points raised include a surprising increase in support for women's rights, a lack of understanding by the Afghans of why we are occupying their country, the inability of the Afghan government to connect with the population in the rural areas, and the questionable loyalty of the Afghan security forces - specifically the Afghan National Police (ANP).  Read her article in "The good, the bad, and the ugly in Afghanistan, The AfPak Channel, Foreign Policy, December 16, 2010.

Bill Harris - Senior Diplomat for Kandahar Province - Provides Insight to War

Bill Harris, at one time the senior diplomat for Kandahar Province, has returned to the states after a one-year long tour of duty in Afghanistan. In this news article he provides his perspective on the Afghan War - including what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong. Read his thoughts on the war in "Civilian leader: This is our war to lose", Colorado Springs Independent, December 23, 2010.

Elders Meet with Afghan and Coalition Leaders in Bakwah District, Farah Province

"Nearly 50 elders met with Afghan and coalition leaders in Bakwah District, Farah province to discuss the process of fostering increased security in the district through reintegration Dec. 20.  Six Afghan brigadier generals represented the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Border Police and National Security Dictorate. They accompanied the Regional Command-West commander and governor of Farah." 

Read the rest of the article in "Afghan, coalition leaders discuss progress", DVIDS, December 24, 2010.

Iranian al Quds Agent Captured in Afghanistan

It has long been known that Iran has been supporting elements of the Taliban.  A member of the Iranian al Quds force was recently captured by U.S. Special Forces in Kandahar on December 18, 2010.  The agent is accused of supplying weapons from Iran to Taliban fighters for attacks on British and American Soldiers.  Read more in "Forces in Afghanistan Face New Threat From Iran", Fox News, December 24, 2010.

Progress in Arghandab District - Zabul Province, Afghanistan

A news correspondent visits the Arghandab District of Zabul Province and cites examples of how things have gotten better in terms of security, schools, roads, and markets.  Read "Good News, for a Change", The Weekly Standard, December 4, 2010.

 

Happy Holidays

from the staff at

www.AfghanWarNews.Info

Petraeus Comments on Strategy Aspects of Afghan War

General Petraeus has commented recently on the strategy for the Afghan war.  See "Petraeus: All Strategy Aspects Contribute to Progress", U.S. Department of Defense, December 17, 2010.

Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan has Harsh Words for Karzai

The WikiLeaks documents show that Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan has a dim view of Karzai and his corrupt half-brother in Kandahar.  Read more in "Canadian envoy didn't mince words about Hamid Karzai", The Globe and Mail, December 3, 2010.

Hazaras of Afghanistan Gain Political Power in Parliamentary Elections

The recent parliamentary elections in Afghanistan revealed a united Hazara ethnic group that is flexing its political muscle.  The minority Hazaras are experiencing some political freedoms it has not known recently.  This newly found political power came about as some Pashtuns have seen their candidates ousted in the elections; this due to Taliban threats against voters, too many Pashtun candidates, and lack of interest in the elections.  See "Afghanistan's Hazaras gain clout in disputed parliamentary elections", The Washington Post, December 24, 2010.

Medical Supplies for Afghan Army Diverted by Corrupt Afghan Officials

Another instance of corruption by Afghan officials has now been reported by the media.  This case involves the diversion of medical supplies for the Afghan army by corrupt Afghan officials within the Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD).  Read more in "US medicines for Afghan soldiers disappear", Yahoo! News, December 24, 2010.

The Effort in Afghanistan Needs a Policy Ground in Reality

Louis Arbor - a former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - is currently the president and CEO of the International Crisis Group.  Read an insightful critique of the war strategy by Arbor in "Get real: That's the road to Afghan peace", The Globe and Mail, December 23, 2010.

Canadian Special Operations Command to Replace Current Fleet of Reconnaissance Vehicles

The Canadian Special Operations Command (CANSOFCOM) is looking to replace the HUMVEE fleet currently in use by forces such as JTF-2 in Afghanistan.  See "Special Forces put park order for new trucks", Ottawa Citizen, December 22, 2010.

Corruption and the Karzai Clan in Kandahar

The WikiLeaks has released thousands of documents that clearly will endanger lives and harm the war effort.  On the other hand, it has certainly exposed just how corrupt the Karzai regime is.  Money is pumping into the pockets of the extended Karzai clan, being dumped into overseas bank accounts, and the US and its allies are being taken to the cleaners.  Read more in "Cable from Kandahar: You can't buy peace", The Globe and Mail, December 4, 2010.

Dec 2010 War Review - Fragile Progress (Wall Street Journal)

According to the White House review of the Afghan War - the president thinks that the U.S. is on track in Afghanistan but that the gains are fragile.  Read some commentary on this report in "Obama Says Afghan Goals are on Track", by Julian Barnes, The Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2010. 

Story Behind Ban on Security Contractors in Afghanistan

Matthieu Aikins has wrote a piece on the background of the dispute between Karzai and the west concerning private contracting security firms.  While Karzai takes the public line that security contractors are in violation of Afghan law and counter to the interests of Afghan citizens he is maneuvering himself and his cronies for political control and monetary gain by allowing only those security firms he can control to work in Afghanistan.  Read more in "The Real Story Behind the Ban on Contractors", Foreign Policy, December 23, 2010.

Military Campaign in Southern Afghanistan Taking Its Toll on Taliban

The military operations of the past several months have taken its toll on the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.  Read more in "Afghan Taliban leadership splintered by intense US military campaign", The Guardian, December 22, 2010.

Afghan Culture - Dancing Boys

Afghan culture - especially among the Pashtuns of the south and east - is sometimes perplexing to U.S. combat troops. This is especially true when it comes to the practice of "dancing boys" or what we in the U.S. would call pedophilia.  Read more in "Afghan sex practices concern U.S., British forces", Washington Examiner, December 20, 2010.