New Zealand Rejects Karzai's Call for End of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan

The Minister of Defence of New Zealand has rejected calls by Karzai to dismantle the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan. New Zealand has been running the PRT in Bamyan Province in central Afghanistan for several years. 

"Speaking to the BBC, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said the provincial reconstruction teams throughout the country are hindering the development of home-grown institutions. Mr Karzai said the teams are like an alternative system of government and threaten to undermine stability in Afghanistan.

There are 125 Defence Force personnel with New Zealand's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan province in central Afghanistan. The team has been based there since 2003 running regular security patrols and working with local companies to build bridges, schools and police stations." 

Read more in the news article "Minister defends work of NZ team in Bamyan", Radio New Zealand News, February 10, 2011.

Karzai Wants to End Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT)

Karzai has called for the dismantling of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) that are scattered around Afghanistan at the province and district level.  The PRTs are organized to help provide medical care, development projects and dispense international aid (money) throughout the country - complementing and working with local Afghan government officials at the province and district level.  In many areas, the PRTs are the only sign that the Afghan government has any presence at all.  Karzai says the PRTs are a dual mechanism competing with the Afghan governmental structure.  Most observers are critical of Karzai's stance on PRTs and say he just wants to get the aid money to flow through Afghan government institutions in order to provide more opportunity for corruption and to gain more political clout throughout the country. This observer says keep the PRTs and keep the money out of the hands of Karzai's corrupt cronies.  This is one of the few things we are doing right in the country.  Read more about Karzai's criticism of the PRTs in "Karzai Seeks End to NATO Reconstruction Teams", The New York Times, February 6, 2011.

Canadian General Posted to NATO Training Mission

A Canadian general will become the Deputy Commander of NATO's training mission in Afghanistan.  Canada is shifting its support in the war from combat in the south of Afghanistan to training the Afghan security forces at a central location in or near Kabul.  Brigadier General Michael Day will be promoted to Major General before departing for Afghanistan.  Read more in "Canadian general appointed second in command of NATO Afghan training mission", Winnipeg Free Press, February 7, 2011.

Cultural Support Teams (CST) in Afghanistan

USSOCOM is forging ahead with fielding teams comprised of females that will interact with the local population in Afghanistan.  The Marine Corps fielded Female Engagement Teams (FETs) over two years ago with great success.  The U.S. Army is supposedly doing the same although the jury is out on how well they are implementing the program.  USSOCOM is quietly embarked in the same direction as the Marine Corps - calling their female engagement teams Cultural Support Teams (CST). 

Read more in "CST: Afghanistan", The Best Defense Blog, Foreign Policy, February 8, 2011.

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/08/cst_afghanistan

See the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) website for more information about the CSTs and see the requirements for training, recruiting, and program specifications.

http://www.soc.mil/fet/fet.html

Abdul Raziq - Warlord of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan

Abdul Raziq has been described in various ways.  Some refer to him as a warlord and others think of him as a patriotic Afghan fighter.  The truth is somewhere in the middle no doubt.  He is the most powerful man in Spin Boldak and a firm ally of the NATO forces trying to root out the Taliban.  Read more on this colorful character.

"NATO bullish, Canadians wary of Afghan warlord Raziq", CTV News, December 27, 2010.

"The master of spin Boldak", Harper's Magazine, December 2009.

Book: My Life With the Taliban - Autobiography by Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef

A new book just released is an autobiography by a former high-level Taliban leader called Abdul Salam Zaeef.  Zaeef held various important positions in the Taliban organization and was once the Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan.  The book was originally wrote in Pashto by Zaeef and has been translated and edited by Alex Strick van Linschoten - a researcher who lives in Kandahar, Afghanistan.  The author describes his life including his early years, the time fighting the jihad against the Russians, his time with the Taliban and connections with the Pakistan intelligence services.

To learn more about the book or buy it online from Amazon.com click on the link below:

My Life with the Taliban

$41 Million Spent by Canada on Security Contractors and Warlords

Canadian officials are digging into the records to research how much money went to security contractors (and warlords) in Afghanistan.  Read more in "Defence department hunts for record of payments to Kandahar warlord", The Star, February 7, 2011.

Plan for Literacy Success for Afghan Security Forces

"NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan military leaders and officials from the Afghanistan Ministry of Education and U.S. Agency for International Development reviewed their efforts to progressively raise literacy and educational levels among Afghan security forces – and Afghan society – at a Literacy Summit here Feb. 7. The Summit encouraged closer collaboration and cooperation among NTM-A literacy partners working to sustain a new system of life-long education for the Afghan National Security Forces that is expected to transform Afghan society as a whole." 

Read the rest of the article in "NTM-A and partners plan for literacy success at Kabul Summit", NTM-A, February 8, 2011.

Karzia Critical of US Dispensed Aid in Afghanistan

President Karzai of Afghanistan has publicly stated that military and other international organizations that dispense aid in Afghanistan are undermining his government.  The US and ISAF have a number of programs in place that provide aid at the local level and help to establish local governance and village security.  The programs are administered by a variety of means - usually through USAID, the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), CERP funding projects, or other programs.  The funding stream is passed from the US government down to the local level bypassing the corrupt Afghan central government that would take its usual 30 to 50 % off the top to buy villas in Dubai, fancy automobiles, and plush houses in Kabul for its high-level officials and family members.  Read more in "Karzai critical of aid bypassing Afghan government", The Washington Post, February 6, 2011.

Report Says Taliban May be Open to Negotiations and Break with al Qaeda

A recent news article states that the Taliban may be willing to break with al Qaeda and conduct negotiations for a peace settlement. Read more in the links below:

"Afghan Taliban would be open to talks: report", Yahoo News, February 7, 2011

"N.Y.U. Report Casts Doubt on Taliban's Ties with Al Qaeda", The New York Times, February 6, 2011

The report, sponsored by New York Univeristy's Center on International Cooperation, can be found on the website of the Human Security Report Project.  See "Separating the Taliban from al-Qaeda: The Core of Success in Afghanistan", February 1, 2011.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Baghlan Province - Special Forces Working with Locals to Establish Security

In Shahbuddin, Afghanistan (Baghlan Province) a U.S. Special Forces team is working with villagers to establish a small local fighting force that will stand up to the Taliban.  This force is called the Afghan Local Police (ALP).  The ALP is a new program approved by Karzai last summer and instituted this past fall by Special Forces as a counter to the shadow Taliban government, the lack of connectivity of rural areas to the district and provincial centers of the central government, and the absence presence and influence of Afghan security forces in these rural areas.  There are about 3,000 Afghans under arms in at least 14 sites across the country.  It is hoped that many more sites are established by spring before the fighting season begins once again. 

There are critics of the ALP program - within the U.S. military, the international community, the Afghan central government and at the provincial and district level.  Some members of the ALP are former Taliban fighters who promised to switch sides.  Some are protrayed by critics as no more than local bandits or the militias of local warlords.  One criticism is that if an ALP element is composed of members of one tribe or community then that tribe or community is strengthened and its influence grows - at the expense of other tribes or communities.

To read more about the ALP in Baghlan Province read "U.S. initiative to arm Afghan villagers carries some risks", The Washington Post, February 6, 2011.  To learn more about the Afghan Local Police (ALP) and village security efforts see Village Security and Stability in Afghanistan.

The Taliban Shadow Government in Ghazni, Afghanistan

A lengthy news article provides a glimpse of how the Taliban set up and run its shadow government in Afghanistan's rural areas where the central government of Karzai does not exert influence.  Read "In Eastern Afghanistan, at War With the Taliban's Shadowy Rule", The New York Times, February 6, 2011.

Security Companies Hired by Canadian Military for Afghanistan Under Question

"OTTAWA — Canada spent more than $41 million on hired guns in Afghanistan over four years, much of it going to security companies slammed by the U.S. Senate for having warlords on the payroll. Both the Defence and Foreign Affairs departments have employed 11 security contractors in Kabul and Kandahar since 2006, but have kept quiet about the details. Now documents tabled in Parliament at the request of the New Democrats provide the first comprehensive picture of the use of private contractors, which have been accused of adding to the chaos in Afghanistan."

Read the rest of the article in "Canada's hired guns in Afghanistan slammed in U.S. report", CTV Ottawa, February 6, 2011.

Kabul Bank - A Story of Afghan Corruption at the Highest Level

The level of corruption in Afghanistan is astounding.  A recent article explores the corruption of the Kabul Bank - a financial institution that controls much of the money sent to Afghanistan in the form of aid.  Money was diverted to Karzai's election campaign, bribes to government and Parliament members, and to support the lavish life style of senior Afghan officials in Dubai.  There is reportedly over 900 million dollars missing in loans to fictitious corporations.

Read a discouraging article about corruption in the Kabul Bank and the Afghan government in "The Afghan Bank Heist", The New Yorker, February 14, 2011.

Assessment of the Security of Kandahar

A recent news article has provided an assessment of the apparent state of security in Kandahar and around the city. Read more in "Kandahar: Safer for good or just safer for now?", Stars and Stripes, February 3, 2011.

Survey Finds Afghans Are Positive about Police

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has found that most Afghans have positive feelings about the Afghan police.  This is according to the Police Perception Survey of 2010.  The results of the survey are surprising given the dismal reputation of the Afghan National Police (ANP).  Then again, the Ministry of Interior (whom the ANP come under) was partially responsible for th survey.  So  . . . read more in "Majority of Afghans positive about local police, survey shows", United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, February 3, 2011.

Descripton of IED Attacks in Afghanistan

A recent news article from an Australian newspaper describes the IED threat to troops conducting operations in Afghanistan.  Read more in "IED poses greatest threat in Afghanistan", The Sydney Morning Herald, February 3, 2011.

Seabees Helping CJSOTF-A with Construction in Oruzgan Province

Seabees from a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion are building work and living areas in Oruzgan Province for members of an infantry battalion attached to the CJSOTF-A.  Read more in "NMCB 3's Det. 4 Builds Shelters for US Forces to Brave the Afghan Cold", DVIDS, January 31, 2011.

2/9 Marines Depart Marjah, Afghanistan

"MARJAH, Afghanistan - Nearly one year ago, Marjah was the scene of some of the deadliest fighting since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom. Now, after the persistence of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, the area is lauded as proof that counterinsurgency operations can work."  Read the rest of the news article in "2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment leaves Northern Marjah a safer place", DVIDS, January 30, 2011.

Learn more about the battle for Marjah at the link below:
http://www.securityinfonet.com/afghanistan/battle-for-marja.htm

British IED Disposal Soldiers in Afghanistan

Disposing of IEDs in Afghanistan is a dangerous job and it takes special men to do it.  The British have specialized teams that receive extensive training in this area.  Read about them in "Afghanistan: the Bomb Hunters", The Telegraph, February 2, 2011.

Taliban Weapons in Ghazni Province

A blogger provides insight on the types of weapons that the Taliban are using in Ghazni Province.  Read his interesting article on the small arms used by the insurgents in "Taliban Gun Lockers: The Rifles of Rural Ghazni Province", At War Blog, The New York Times, January 31, 2011.

Afghans Worry About Afghan Local Police (ALP) Program

Many Afghans are concerned about the building up of local Afghan police forces in rural areas.  They are concerned that they will not be accountable to local or district authorities and in many cases will turn into bands of armed bandits.  Read about the reluctance of village elders in RC-East from the Bangi area in the following news report.  "Afghans Wary of Building Up Local Policing Forces", National Public Radio (NPR), January 13, 2011.  View the following web page for more information about the Afghan Local Police (ALP).

Map of Language Distribution in Afghanistan

A map depicting the distribution of languages in Afghanistan is available online at suite101.com.  The major languages depicted include Dari (Persian), Pashto, Uzbeki, Turkmeni, Nuristani, Balochi, and Pashai.  See the map here.  To view other maps of Afghanistan visit "Afghanistan Maps", afghanwarnews.info.

Kandahar PRT Located at Camp Nathan Smith Transitions from Canada to U.S.

As the Canadians transition from a combat role to a training role in Afghanistan various moves will be made over the next year.  One is the transitioning of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) from Canada to the U.S. military.  The PRT, located at Camp Nathan Smith, was turned over to the Americans this past month.  The KPRT is a mix of Soldiers and civilians from Canada (now the U.S.) and has been led by the Canadians since 2005.  Most PRTs number about 50-100 personnel.  Read more about the KPRT in the article below.
See "Canada turns Kandahar reconstruction team over to the U.S.", The Vancouver Sun, January 12, 2011.

COIN Strategy Not Working in Afghanistan

According to many critics (newspaper columnists, retired officers, and think tank writers) our current counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan is simply not working.  This is a result of many reasons - depending on who is talking about it (or writing about it) at the time.  One correspondent has provided us with a lengthy online article (via AOL Original News) in "Counterinsurgency Strategy Not Working in Afghanistan, Critics Say", Politics Daily, January 12, 2011.

Smuggling Afghans into Australia Is Big Business

A thriving crime organization exists in Australia that specializes in smuggling people from Afghanistan into Australia. Read more in "People smugglers operate as open secret", Sydney Morning Herald, January 29, 2011.

ANA Commandos and Special Forces Conduct Operation in Tangi Valley of Afghanistan

"CAMP MOREHEAD, Afghanistan— A force of more than 100 Afghan National Army Special Forces, Commandos, U.S. Army Special Forces, and soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division recently completed a two-day joint operation in the Tangi Valley of Eastern Afghanistan.

The goals were to uproot and remove an insurgent force consisting of improvised explosive device builders, a logistics cell that supported anti-coalition activities, and a large fighting force, all of which had been present in the valley for some time."

Read the rest of the article in "ANA Commandos, US Forces, partner to complete mission", DVIDS, January 26, 2011.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) Established in Zabul Province, Afghanistan by Special Forces Team

A shura was held in Shah Joy, Zabul Province, Afghanistan where it was announced that an element of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) would be established.  The ALP would be assisted by a U.S. Army Special Forces detachment.  Read more in "ALP program starting in Shah Joy", AFCENT, January 28, 2011.

One Day in the Life of a Female Interpreter in Afghanistan

Read an interesting account of a female interpreter working for a Marine Female Engagement Team (FET) in Afghanistan.  See "American interpreter takes a stand in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, January 28, 2011.

GAO Report on Afghan Army - January 27, 2011

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on the Afghan Army.  It is entitled "Afghanistan Security: Afghan Army Growing, but Additional Trainers Needed; Long-Term Costs Not Determined", GAO-11-66, January 27, 2011.

See a news article about the report at "Lack of trainers puts U.S. Afghan exit strategy at risk, report says", CNN.com, January 27, 2011.  A summary of the report can be read at the GAO website that also provides a link where one can view the report or download it (PDF, 54 pages).

Gurkhas Honored for Tour of Duty in Afghanistan

The Gurkhas were honored for their recent tour of duty in Afghanistan.  See "Prince Charles honours Gurkhas' work in Afghanistan", BBC News, January 28, 2011.

Bad Relations between Karzai and New Parliament in Afghanistan

The new Afghan parliament is finally in session - four months after it was elected.  Karzai's power will be weakened by a parliament with less Pashtun representation and more outspoken members who do not politically align themselves with Karzai.  Read more in "An orchard of ills", The Economist, January 27, 2011.

Report Says Tide is Turning in Southern Afghanistan

An editor at Reuters writes on the war in southern Afghanistan and discusses a recent war report published by the the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War.  The report is somewhat optimistic in its outlook and the editor takes a stab at evaluating the report. See "Is the tide turning in southern Afghanistan?", Afghan Journal, Reuters.

Special Operations Night Raids in Afghanistan - Are they Counterproductive?

The use of night raids by Special Operations Forces (SOF) have become very controversial.  President Karzai has repeatedly asked for them to be halted but the optemo has only increased over the past year.  The military says the night raids are having a dramatic impact on the mid-level leadership of the Taliban.  The critics say too many innocents have died and that it is one of the single most damaging event for losing "the hearts and minds" of the population.  Read one critics view in "Because the Night Belongs to Raiders: Special ops in Nangrahar", Afghanistan Analysts Network, January 11, 2010.

Head of Agency Watching Afghan Reconstruction Resigns

The head of the agency that oversees the investigation of corruption in Afghanistan has resigned.  Members of Congress have been displeased with his organizations performance.  Read more in "Arnold Fields, watchdog over Afghan reconstruction, resigns amid congressional pressure", The Washington Post, January 10, 2011.

New Afghan Parliament at odds with Karzai

The new Afghan parliament will be seated this week; over the objections of Karzai.  Read more in "Afghanistan's Karzai Nailed by Political 1-2 Punch", CBS News, January 25, 2011.

More News about Private Spies in Afghanistan

The ongoing saga about a private spy network of ex-CIA agents and former Special Forces operatives working in Afghanistan continues.  See "Spying for Profit", Allgov.com, January 25, 2011.

Petraeus Sees Tough Year Ahead

General Petraeus released a statement saying that the past year yielded progress in Afghanistan but that the coming year will be a tough one.  Read more in "Petraeus Sees Progress in Afghanistan, Next Year 'Tough'", Voice of America, January 25, 2011.

Military to Withdraw Support Troops, Keep Combat Forces in Afghanistan

It would appear that one method of withdrawing forces and lowering the number of troops in Afghanistan will be to take out support troops but leaving combat units intact.  Read more in "U.S. Seeks to Keep Afghan Troop Strength" in The Wall Street Journal (January 8, 2011).

Canadian Troops to Begin Withdrawal From Afghanistan in June 2011

Canada will begin withdrawing its combat troops from outposts from across southern Afghanistan in June.  Read more in "Canadian troops to begin withdrawing from Afghan combat in June", The Gazette, January 23, 2011.

IEDs a Growing Problem in Afghanistan

IEDs in Afghanistan continue to be a growing problem resulting in numerous injuries and deaths.  This, despite an enormous effort to defeat the IED networks and protect troops with expensive anti-mine vehicles.

"Insurgents in Afghanistan have answered the Obama administration's troop surge with a surge of their own, planting thousands of roadside bombs that caused more U.S. troop casualties last year than the prior eight years of the war.

Since President Obama took office in January 2009 and vowed to end Taliban gains in Afghanistan, casualties from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have nearly quadrupled.

In 2010, the bombs wounded 3,366 U.S. troops, which is nearly 60% of the total IED-wounded since the war's start in late 2001, according to Pentagon figures.

In nine years of war, 617 American troops have been killed by IEDs and the majority of those deaths came in the past two years. The 268 troops killed by IEDs in 2010 account for more than 40% of all deaths caused by bombs during the war."

Read more in "Afghan insurgents match surge with more IEDs" by USA Today.

Special Forces and JSOC on a Crusade Against Muslims? Not Likely

Seymour Hersh, an investigative journalist, author and contributor to The New Yorker, has accused General McCrystal and others of the Special Forces (and JSOC) community of secretly plotting crusades against Muslims.  He did this in a speech in Doha, Qatar on January 17, 2011.  (See the transcript provided by Foreign Policy).  Among his statements are nuggets such as accusing JSOC members of being members of the Knights of Malta and Opus Dei.  He says the war in Afghanistan is part of a huge secret worldwide crusade by these secret Christian organizations.  Several journalists have refuted his statements.  See "Seymour Hersh, the Knights of Malta, and me", Foreign Policy, January 21, 2011 and "Hersh rebuked on crusaders", The Washington Post, January 21, 2011.

US Special Forces Village Units to Expand in Afghanistan

"The U.S. military is drawing up plans to sharply expand a network of village security forces across Afghanistan, a program U.S. officials say could be a cost-effective way to make up for shortages in the regular army and police in rural areas. But the U.S. needs a green light from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has long been wary because such local forces could potentially threaten his government's authority unless they are kept in close check." 

Read the rest of the story in "U.S. Builds Afghan Village Force", Wall Street Journal, January 22, 2011.

Karzia Agrees to Allow New Afghan Legislature to Convene

"A showdown between President Hamid Karzai and his country's newly elected parliament was averted late Saturday when the Afghan leader agreed to convene the inaugural legislative session this week rather than push for a one-month postponement.

Lawmakers were intent on defying Karzai's order to delay the first session, initially scheduled for Sunday, and had said they would meet at a mosque or in the street if security forces blocked them from the parliament building.  The standoff pushed the Afghan leader and his government to the brink of a full-blown political crisis."

Read the rest of the article in "President Hamid Karzai agrees to let new Afghanistan parliament meet, averting crisis", Los Angeles Times, January 23, 2011.

170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Deploy to Northern Afghanistan

The 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team currently stationed in Germany will soon deploy to northern Afghanistan.  It will replace the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division that will return to Fort Drum, New York.  Part of the brigade will deploy to RC-South and one of its battalions will be engaged in training units of the Afghan National Security Forces.  Read more in "Baumholder-based brigade to patrol northern Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, January 10, 2011.

Providing Electricity to Afghanistan - An Overwhelming Project

In an effort to increase development, spark the economy, provide for a better standard of living, and increase support for the central government the U.S. has embarked on many infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.  One of the more important development projects is providing electricity.  The providing of electricity in Afghanistan the past few years has seen some success but not at the desired levels.  Read more on this topic in "Firm with checkered record hired for Afghan work", The Washington Examiner, January 10, 2010.

Working With Village Elders in Afghanistan - Or how to Test Your Patience!

American combat leaders are tasked with building rapport with the village elders at the community level in an attempt to gather intelligence about Taliban activities, increase the level of support for the Afghan central government in Kabul (Karzai's corrupt cronies), and to provide for increased security within the community against the Taliban.  This is a difficult task at best given the many variables our young combat leaders must deal with.  Factored into this task is the language barrier, a lack of understanding of the Afghan culture, the Taliban's successful efforts to intimidate the local village elders (with death threats), and the fact that the U.S. will not be there in force in a few years while the Taliban will be there forever.  Read a news report that provides more info on this in "Reliance on Afghan elders tests troops", Stars and Stripes, January 10, 2011.

Different Viewpoints on the Afghan Local Police (ALP)

A few days back I provided a link to a post on "The Best Defense" blog found on the Foreign Policy website done by Thomas E. Ricks.  The blog post was about an artillery battalion commander who was involved in setting up an Afghan Local Police (ALP) unit in his sector of operations.  The action of the battalion commander was heavily criticized by another blogger with extensive knowledge of Afghanistan.  The Battalion Cdr has wrote a response.  It is interesting to see the different views of the endeavor to set up local defense units - referred to as ALP.

Glowing Statements about Progress of ANP from Kabul Do Not Reflect Reality in the Field

A columnist reporting from Afghanistan files a pessimistic report of the progress of the war.  He states that while optimistic reports emanate from ISAF headquarters in Kabul - closer to the fight the view is much different.  His observations of the performance of the Afghan National Police (ANP) provides an example of the challenges ahead.  See "Ugly Victory in Afghanistan", Buffalo News.com, January 16, 2011.

Local Defense Groups in Afghanistan Continue to Form

"The Afghan government has organized more than 2,000 villagers into armed local defense forces so they can keep out insurgents and support coalition and Afghan forces. The self-defense groups are part of an expanding U.S.-backed program that bears a resemblance to a similar tactic in Iraq, the program has helped protect villages from insurgent attacks and the plan could expand to up to 10,000 people, Interior Ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said. If the plan proves successful it could grow even larger, he said."

Read the rest of the story in "Afghanistan turns to local defense groups", USA Today, January 19, 2011.