Special Operations - In for the Long Haul in Afghanistan

U.S. officials say the White House is considering handing the entire Afghanistan campaign back to special operations teams as conventional U.S. forces draw down after a decade of war, according to multiple officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential deliberations.  McRaven would say only that the Pentagon is considering handing more of the day-to-day running of the war to a senior special operations officer.

Senior administration officials have described turning the mission over to special operations troops as a possible way to provide security with a smaller U.S. footprint, because of special operations' ability to work in smaller numbers and with local forces on such missions as night raids or village patrols. Administration officials believe that smaller presence will be less offensive to the Afghans.

Read the rest of the news article in "Special ops teams first in, last out in Afghan war", CBS News, February 10, 2012.

Technology and Afghanistan

There are many aspects of Afghan society that are extremely backward.  However the promise of technology cannot be ignored and there is great hope that technology will be one of the drivers of prosperity and peace in the future.  The huge surge in cell phone ownership in Afghanistan is one example of this rapid growth in technology and the changes that technology can bring to a society and to a conflict.  Read about efforts to increase technological capacity in Afghanistan in "Silicon Afghanistan: Kabul Innovation Lab Launches", Forbes.com, January 23, 2012.

Afghanistan's Opium Brides

It is a hard life for women in Afghanistan.  It can be even harder if you are a young girl forced into a marriage at an early age.  Read about how Afghanistan's young girls are given away to settle debts in "Afghanistan's Opium Child Brides", The Atlantic, February 9, 2012.

Afghanistan Rated as 4th Most Corrupt Country in World

Afghanistan has been rated the 4th most corrupt country in the world by The Daily Beast.  Transparency International rates it the second most corrupt country.  Read "20 Most Corrupt Countries, From Cambodia to Afghanistan", The Daily Beast, February 10.

$2.7 Million per Mile of Gravel Road in Afghanistan

Road projects in Afghanistan have " . . . been plaqued by the spread of the insurgency, poor oversight, cost overruns and corruption . . ." according to recent reports.  In one instance an Afghan developer was paid $270 million to work on a project but has only completed 100 miles of gravel road.

Read more in "Afghan road construction projects wander off course", Stars and Stripes, February 10, 2012.

APPF - Another Afghan Fiasco?

President Karzai has been advocating for the abolition of private security firms in Afghanistan for a number of years.  He has now charged the Afghan Public Protection Force or APPF with absorbing the various security firms by March 21, 2012. Organizations (USAID, NGOs, ISAF, etc.) that depend on the protection of the APPF supervised security companies are not impressed thus far. They don't think the program is ready and see signs of cost overruns and corruption already.

Read more in "Afghan private security handover looking messy", Boston.com, February 10, 2012.

Who Wins and Who Loses with the Proposed Defense Budget

The unveiling of the proposed Pentagon defense budget with its deep cuts has everyone wondering who wins and who loses. According to an online article by Foreign Policy wrote by Robert Haddick the winners are long-range bombers, aircraft carriers, submarines (and cruise missiles), special operations forces, drones, and cyber operations. The losers are ground forces, pay and benefits, old ships and planes, Joint Strike Fighter, and bases. Read his article "This Week at War: Winners and Losers of the Defense Budget" (January 27, 2012).

See "Defense Budget Priorities and Choices" by the Department of Defense, January 2012.
http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Budget_Priorities.pdf

See "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense", by the Department of Defense, January 2012
http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Strategic_Guidance.pdf

Marines Conduct "Advise and Assist" Role in Four-Man Elements with ANSF

The Marines have embraced the "Advise and Assist" role in Afghanistan - at least in Now Zad, Helmand Province.  The Marines are no longer taking a small element of the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) on their platoon-sized patrols to "Put an Afghan Face" on their missions.  It is now reversed.  Marines provide a four-man element to accompany a predominantly Afghan patrol on the ANSF mission. While many would say that the Marines are assuming some risk sending out four-man patrols with the ANSF; others would say that this is surely transition and the way we should have been operating several years back. I wonder if the Army "Advise and Assist" units scheduled to rotate in over the next year are ready to conduct four-man patrols with the Afghans.  Read more in "Marines in Helmand partner, mentor in Now Zad", DVIDS, February 9, 2012.

IEDs in Afghanistan a New Record in 2011

The number of IEDs cleared or detonated in Afghanistan during 2011 increased to a new high.  The IED instances hit a record high of 16,554 - an increase of 9% from the previous year.  IEDs are the number one weapon for the Afghan insurgents.  Pakistan is cited as the source for 80% of the fertilizer-based homemade based bombs.  Read more in "IED attacks in Afghanistan set record", USA Today, January 26, 2012.

Agricultural Development for Afghanistan Pre-deployment Training (ADAPT)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is funding a training program for military agricultural specialists who will soon deploy to Afghanistan. The program is called the Agricultural Development for Afghanistan Pre-deployment Training (ADAPT). The home base for the program is Fresno State University in the fertile Central Valley of California.  The program is designed to alleviate the food insecurity situation in Afghanistan and help the nation become more stable.  Read more in "US soldiers train for agricultural mission in Afghanistan", Fox News, February 8, 2012.

Learn more about Agricultural Development for Afghanistan Pre-Deployment Training.

An Australian Commentator Ties the Early U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan to the Next Presidential Elections

On one hand the U.S. says we are staying in Afghanistan until the end of 2014 but on the other we state we will be withdrawing our combat forces by mid-2013.  This leaves our allies fighting alongside us in Afghanistan puzzled.  Some critics state that Obama is setting the stage for the upcoming elections.  Read what one Australian correspondent makes of this in "Afghans the loser in US election", The Sydney Morning Herald, February 7, 2012.

Nawa-I-Barakzayi District, Helmand Province in Afghanistan Sees Turnaround

Solar energy project for Nawa district
bazaar.  (DoD Photo by Cpl. Jeff Drew)

According to recent reports by ISAF the Nawa District (sometimes called Nawa-l-Barakzayi District) in Helmand Province has seen a huge turn towards security and governance in the past two years.  This can be credited to individuals and organizations on the Afghan side and coalition who have put a lot of hard work into the improvements.  Relentless effort by the British forces, then the Marines, a hard-working district governor, establishment of the Afghan Local Police, increased education, and development projects such as construction of roads and solar power have all played a part in Nawa's new security and prosperity. 

"Extensive improvements in Nawa district and exceptional Afghan leadership has transformed the once improvised explosive device-laden area into a peaceful paragon of progress during the last year. Residents walk casually along roads and waterways, confident in local Afghan security forces to keep them safe. The growth of illegal drugs has been nearly eradicated as citizens have begun to see the benefits of growing legal crops. Interest in education is on the rise, ensuring a brighter future for the people of Nawa. The people are happy, healthy and hopeful."

Read more in "Nawa: the essence of progress", DVIDS, February 9, 2012.  Read more about Nawa-I-Barakzayi District here at WikipediA which has an enormous amount of information about this district. The UNHCR Sub-Office in Kandahar provides a Nawa-e-Barakzai District Profile on the aims.org website.  A map of Nawa-i-Barakzayi District is also available on the aims.org website.

Time to Look at the Bigger Picture - A South Asian Strategy

A Research Fellow for the South Asia and the Near East at the Center for Strategic Research, Thomas F. Lynch, has wrote an online article for the AFPAK Channel (Foreign Policy) about the war in Afghanistan and South Asia in general.  He suggests that, with the strategic defeat of bin Laden's al-Qaeda, it is time to shift focus and look at the larger picture - the strategic politics of South Asia - specifically the Pakistan India conflict.  He states that Pakistan's big fear is that a resurgent pro-India Afghanistan regime with a strong ANSF will trap Pakistan between two adversaries.  He believes that a resolution of the Pakistan India conflict will result in a weaker Taliban (less Pakistan support and lack of sanctuaries).  Read his article entitled "The 80 percent solution", The AFPAK Channel on Foreign Policy, February 8, 2012.  His paper (30-pages long) on this same topic and also called "The 80 Percent Solution" is available here on the New America Foundation website (dated February 2012).

Afghan Forces in the Lead - But Not Without Substantial Assistance from ISAF

While the exit strategy for the United States and its coalition partners is to get the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to take the lead in the fight makes sense on paper and during briefings - getting this to actually happen may be a hard task.

But the second-highest-ranking officer in Afghanistan said Wednesday that so far, almost no Afghan units are capable of operating without American or NATO assistance. When asked during a briefing at the Pentagon about how many Afghan Security units can operate independently, Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, the deputy commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, replied "probably one percent ... to be honest with you ... It's a very low number."

Read more on the interview with Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti in "Afghan forces in lead, but not in control", CNN Security Clearance Blog, February 7, 2102.

ISAF Weighs in on LTC Davis Article and His Assessment of Progress (Lack of) in Afghanistan

During a Pentagon briefing on February 8, 2012 LTG Scarparrotti of ISAF explained his (DoD and ISAF's view) of the recent news article printed in the Armed Forces Journal by LTC Daniel Davis entitled "Truth, lies and Afghanistan".  The article by Davis painted a poor picture of the progress of the war in Afghanistan.  Read more on LTG Scarparrotti's response in "Pentagon Counters Dim Assessment of Afghan War", At War, The New York Times, February 8, 2012.

Peace Talks with the Taliban - Wishful Thinking?

It appears that the attempts to find a negotiated political solution with the Taliban is gaining steam.  Certainly, Washington seems sincere in this endeavor.  We should wonder about the Taliban's sincerity.  One analyst explores this topic in "Washington's wishful thinking about Taliban talks", The Guardian, February 1, 2012.

Afghanistan Ministry Websites

For a list of Afghan ministries and the link to each ministry's website click on the link below:

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

Civilian Deaths Caused by War Rise in Afghanistan

"A United Nations report blaming a record loss of Afghan civilian lives last year on insurgents and the Taliban was dismissed as "untrue" by a Taliban spokesman Saturday. Meanwhile, a commander of the International Security Assistance Force was encouraged by the report's findings that coalition forces were not to blame for the increased casualties, but agreed that civilian deaths must drop. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said 3,021 civilians were killed last year, up from 2,790 the prior year."

Read the rest of the article in "Conflict-related civilian deaths rise in Afghanistan", CNN, February 4, 2012. The commander of ISAF issued a statement saying he was encouraged by reports that ISAF-caused civlian casualties had gone down.  See "U.N. Report on Civilian Casulaties Encourages ISAF Commander", American Forces Press Service, February 6, 2012.  The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has issued a press release - "Civlian Casualties Rise for Fifth Consecutive Year in Afghan Conflict", February 4, 2012.

Accurate Airdrops in Afghanistan Resupply Remote Locations - JPADS

A record number of supplies were dropped by parachute in 2011 to remote locations in Afghanistan by the United States.  Advanced technology has provided the ability to resupply our troops with great precision. The new technology is called Joint Precision Air Drop System or JPADS.  The troops stationed at these small combat outposts can worry less about running out of water, food, ammunition, radio batteries, and medical supplies and concentrate on their mission.  The airdrops also provide for a safer method of resupply; reducing the amount of time that combat support troops spend on roads targeted with IEDs. This advance in resupply technology is especially important for special operations forces conducting Village Stability Operations in remote, austere locations that experience rough weather, roads in poor condition, difficult terrain, and the ever present IED threat.  Read more in "Pinpoint airdrops key to success in Afghanistan", USA Today, February 1, 2002.

Video of Joint Precision Air Drop System or JPADS resupply
to a remote location in Afghanistan.  (Video by Tech. Sgt. J. Wilcox)

Picture above depicts the GPS guided Screamer 2K bundle, Joint Precision Air Drop System after having been dropped from the back of a C-130 Hercules aircraft over Afghanistan.  (U.S. Air Force photo, Senior Airman Brian Ferguson)

Special Operations Role to be Expanded in Afghanistan

Fox News is reporting that the role of Special Operations will be expanding as the conventional forces withdraw from Afghanistan.  Adm. Bill McRaven was quoted saying that the SOF forces will be the last to leave Afghanistan. The head of USSOCOM also indicated that the special operations forces will become more efficient and synchronized - blending operations such as Village Stability Operations with kinetic strikes against high-value targets.  Read more in "Special operations' Afghan role could be expanded", Fox News, February 7, 2012.

Afghanistan Field Guide - Essential Travel Tips

Are you a soldier, consultant, diplomat, journalist, or aid working who is about to travel to Afghanistan?  If this is your first time then you should consult the "Afghanistan Field Guide".

 Crosslines Essential Field Guide to Afghanistan






Description from Amazon.com: 

"The Essential Field Guide to Afghanistan (EFG) is widely regarded as the best and most comprehensive handbook available. This is no ordinary travel guide but a handbook that is specifically tailored for international aid workers, military, journalists, diplomats, private sector, academic and others interested in or working in Afghanistan, the EFG is edited and produced by some of the world's top writers and experts on the country and region.

Overview essays and detailed Infobriefs focus on international recovery operations, security, culture, agriculture, environment, security, health, women, human rights, Taliban, key players and other related subjects. There are also security and survival tips, where to stay, a Dari and Pashto phrasebook, key contacts, information on Kabul and the regions, Peshawar and Islamabad. This handbook is an indispensable companion guide for anyone serious about Afghanistan but seeking quick and highly readable information."

Will Coalition Drawdown of Troops Destabilize Afghanistan's Economy?

Many are speculating on the effect that the withdrawal of ISAF troops in 2014 will have on the Afghanistan economy.  Thousands of U.S. troops will have departed by the fall of 2012 - so that should start the trend. Some analysts think that corruption will decline (less money to steal) while others think it will be business as usual for the corrupt Karzai regime.  Over 90 percent of the Afghan government's budget comes from the international community and the country depends on that money.  Read one columnists take on the economic future of Afghanistan in "What happens when troops - and money - leave Afghanistan?", The Christian Science Monitor, February 7, 2012.  (Photo credit 1st Class David Frech DoD)

Governance in Afghanistan

For a listing of organizations advancing the cause of governance in Afghanistan click on the link below:

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

Afghan History Books - Leaving out the Wars

A recent news article tells us how U.S. government funded history books provided to classrooms are leaving out the past 40 years of conflict.  Read more in "In Afghanistan, a new approach to teaching history: Leave out the wars", The Washington Post, February 4, 2012.

Community Based Security Solutions (CBSS) on Patrol in Laghman Province

An important aspect of transferring security functions from ISAF forces to the Afghans over the next few years will be partnering with Afghan ANA and ANP units and helping local village and community security forces defend their villages.  A recent patrol by the 179th Infantry, 45th Infantry Brigade is doing just that - by partnering with the Afghan National Army and members of the Community Based Security Solutions (CBSS) police organization while conducting operations supporting Operation Aluminum Python.

Learn more about Community Based Security Solutions or CBSS.

Members of 179th Infantry, Afghan National Army and Community Based Security Solutions police conduct a patrol in Laghman Province.  (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Bill Steele, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

 

Read the article that goes with the photo - "Operation Aluminum Python puts squeeze on insurgency", DVIDS, February 5, 2012.

Canada Looks Back on Ten Years in Afghanistan

Canada is assessing ten years in Afghanistan:

"Whether the 10 years of fighting and dying in Afghanistan was worth the Canadian blood spilled and bullion spent remains in doubt because Afghanistan’s future is so uncertain.

Yet now is a time for assessment, even if the moment is not being officially acknowledged: It was 10 years ago this week that Canadian troops landed in Kandahar, battle-ready and girded for combat, the first time since Korea the nation had sent ground troops to war."

Read the rest of the article in "A decade after going to war in Afghanistan, the wins are fading", The Globe and Mail, February 5, 2012.

A Case for Continuing America's Longest War

A college professor with significant fieldwork in Afghanistan has published an article that makes the case for keeping a force of approximately 30,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014. He claims that al Qaeda is still a viable and dangerous force and closely linked to the Taliban.  The danger of a total U.S. withdrawal is the Taliban will be able to keep their sanctuary areas in Pakistan, enlarge their control of Pashtun areas of Afghanistan, and harbor al Qaeda terrorists (and their training camps).  He also feels that if the Taliban regain control of part or all of Afghanistan it would reverse much of the hard work the coalition has done over the past ten years to help rebuild Afghanistan.  Read his online article entitled "Afghanistan: The Argument of Continuing America's Longest War", History News Network, February 2, 2012.

Brian Glyn Williams is an Associate Professor of Islamic History at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.  He is the author of Afghanistan Declassified: A Guide to America's Longest War.  The book is adapted from a field manual he wrote for the U.S. Army based on fieldwork he conducted in Afghanistan.  His book can be purchased online at Amazon.com at the link below:

Afghanistan Declassified: A Guide to America's Longest War

Afghan Security Force Members Turning on Westerners

In recent years there have been numerous instances of individual members of the Afghan security forces turning on members of coalition military members.  The most recent event was the killing of four French military members in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan in January 2012.  The New York Times has a recent news article that explores this phenomenon.  See "Afghanistan's Soldiers Step Up Killings of Allied Forces", The New York Times, January 20, 2012.

The Taliban on al Qaeda, 1996-97 - Threat Matrix

The Taliban on al Qaeda, 1996-97 - Threat Matrix

The Threat Matrix, a blog on The Long War website cites some early examples on how the Taliban can be trusted during negotiations.  Something to keep in mind as the United States engages the Taliban in peace talks in an effort to bring about a political solution to the Afghan War.

Canadians Reflect on the War in Afghanistan

Canadians were (and are) staunch allies in Afghanistan.  They have operated across the full-spectrum of activities with civic action, aid workers, running a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), being responsible for one of the provinces and committing conventional combat troops and their special mission units to the fight. The Canadians lost over 150 of its Soldiers and suffered many more wounded.  Read some reflections on the war by some Canadians in "Was it worth it? Canadians reflect on the war in Afghanistan", The Globe and Mail, February 6, 2012.

Afghan Peace Talks Cause Rift Between Karzai and U.S.

The maneuvering between the different parties (Taliban, Pakistan, Afghan government, and the U.S.) to future Afghan peace talks is providing cause for concern.  Afghan government and U.S. relations are somewhat strained since the U.S. and Taliban have started initial discussions about potential peace talks to be held in Qatar.  Karzai has responded by saying he will talk directly with the insurgents in either Saudi Arabia or Turkey. There are some folks that believe a political settlement is necessary with the Taliban if the Afghan government is to survive after 2014.  While the Taliban may be talking in private, publicly they are denying their readiness to sit at a peace table.  Read more in "Taliban deny they are ready for Afghan peace talks", USA Today, February 1, 2012.

Cultural Differences and Toilets in Afghanistan

An interesting article that anyone who has ever deployed to Afghanistan will appreciate.  See "Of Alexander, gods and bathrooms: Why the Afghans can't get their s*it together", The Best Defense Blog - Foreign Policy, January 19, 2012. This is a humorous but pertinent exploration of the cultural differences between American and Afghan Soldiers who work and live together in the same location.

Are We Writing Off Afghanistan?

A recent blogger has suspicions that the Obama administration is losing its commitment to win the war in Afghanistan.  Read more in "Writing off Afghanistan, too", by Kori Schake, The Shadow Government, Foreign Policy, February 2, 2012.

Army LTC Shares Dismal View of War with Congress

An Army LTC, having just returned this past fall from Afghanistan, has provided his views of how the war is going (not well) with Congress.  Read "In Afghan War, Officer Becomes a Whistle-blower", The New York Times, February 5, 2012.  LTC Daniel L. Davis has wrote an article about his experience and what he saw entitled "Truth, Lies and Afghanistan" published in the Armed Forces Journal, February 2012. His message is that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan is not as rosy as our senior military leaders would have us think - that they are not being entirely truthful with the war news. Once cleared by the military he intends to post a longer and more revealing article on his website - www.afghanreport.com.

Leaked NATO Report Provides Dismal Assessment of Afghan War

There has been a flurry of press activity concerning the leaked (and classified) NATO report providing an assessment of the Taliban.  The report says that NATO believes Pakistan is supporting the Taliban (you think?), that the Taliban are enjoying widespread support among the Afghan population, the Taliban are hopeful for the future role they will play after 2014, and that Afghan citizens prefer Taliban governance over the corrupt Afghan central government. The assessment is based on 27,000 interrogations of more than 4,000 captured Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.  Excerpts from the report are published by the BBC here and an analysis of the report is provided by Kate Clark posted on the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN).

Disaster in Afghanistan? An Early Withdrawal

Fred and Kim Kagan comment on the proposed early withdrawal announced by Leon Panetta in "Courting disaster in Afghanistan", American Enterprise Institute, February 1, 2012.

Solar Power Options for Rural Afghanistan

There are a number of non-government agencies, international organizations, and implementing partners engaged in activities to bring power to rural areas of Afghanistan. Solar energy is a viable option for Afghanistan. To learn more about the programs currently underway visit Solar Energy in Afghanistan.

War Plan Will Shift to Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan

A recent news article reports that the U.S. will shift the burden of the Afghan War to its Special Operations Forces or SOF.  Leon Panetta, the Secretary of Defense, recently surprised many with the statement that U.S. combat forces would start to transition from a combat role to an advisory and assist role in mid-2013 - at least one year earlier than scheduled. However, what was not said is that the nation's Special Operations Forces (SOF) would remain fully engaged in both a counterterrorism role and advisory role in Afghanistan. SOF has as a number of core missions and these include Direct Action (DA), Foreign Internal Defense (FID), Counterinsurgency (COIN), and Counterterrorism (CT).  Because SOF trains for these mission sets it is well-suited for the "stay-behind" missions of providing advise and assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and yet still have a capability to hit selected high-value targets or terrorist threats.

More interesting bits of information are revealed in the news article.  The shift to SOF would still require some conventional forces to remain in Afghanistan - to include some transportation, medical care, communications, and intelligence units. The plan also calls for the creation of a two-star command to oversee the entire Special Operations effort in Afghanistan.  Currently the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command Afghanistan (CFSOCC-A) is headed by a one-star; while ISAF SOF and specialized direct action units have their own commanders.  In addition, ISAF Joint Command (IJC) currently commanded by a conventional three-star would be passed to a Special Operations officer.

One particular sentence in the article caught my attention:

"Senior Pentagon officials involved in the planning acknowledge that a military effort with a smaller force and a more focused mission could be easier to explain to Americans who have tired of the large counterinsurgency campaigns of Iraq and, previously, Afghanistan".

There are some in military circles who believe that the large counterinsurgency effort (or population-centric COIN) was not true counterinsurgency in the classic sense.  Rather they point to earlier counterinsurgency campaigns that required a smaller footprint but utilized specially-trained military units to "advise and assist" indigenous or host-nation units in the counterinsurgency campaign.  Some have also called this "combat FID".  This is probably the type of counterinsurgency that we should have been doing all along.

Read the news article by Thom Shanker and Eric Schmitt in "U.S. Plans Shift to Elite Units as It Winds Down in Afghanistan", The New York Times, February 4, 2012.

Casualties in Afghan War Drop in 2011

American casualties in the Afghanistan War dropped in 2011 as compared to 2010.  In 2010 there were 499 total deaths - in 2011 there were 415 total deaths.  Since the invasion of Afghanistan the 2009-2011 time frame has been the most costly in terms of U.S. deaths in Afghanistan. The below data is taken from "Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians", By Susan G. Chesser, Congressional Research Service, January 18, 2012.  This CRS report can be found on the website of the Federation of American of Scientists (FAS) at this link.

Year                     Deaths
2001                        11
2002                        49
2003                        45
2004                        52
2005                        98
2006                        98
2007                      117
2008                      155
2009                      311
2010                      499
2011                      415

Rule of Law in Afghanistan - Not so Much

Rule of Law (commonly abbreviated to ROL by Afghan observers) is severely lacking in Afghanistan. In fact, the Taliban have a better reputation for dispensing justice than the Afghan government - the judgements of its mobile courts are harsh and quick - and sometimes fair.  The Afghan government will dispense justice - but it is seldom fair and usually takes place once a bribe is paid. The dismal state of the rule of law in Afghanistan is one factor that drives people to support the insurgents.  In effect, an ineffective and corrupt Afghan government found in Kabul - and also at the provincial and district level - is a big factor in the help the insurgents receive. Read more in an online news article entitled "Afghanistan's injustice system", AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, February 1, 2012.

Women in Afghanistan - Mistreated by the Taliban . . . and Others as Well

Everyone knows that living under Taliban rule is harsh if you are a woman in Afghanistan.  Education and employment is usually not possible. Access to health care is severely restricted.  Just getting out of the house can be a problem if you don't have a male family member escorting you!  However, women are mistreated by a greater segment of Afghan society than just the Taliban - in fact, mistreatment (viewed through the lens of our Western eyes) is quite common in Afghanistan and pre-dates the Taliban era.  Read more on this topic in "Mistreatment of Afghan women caused by far more than Taliban", The Christian Science Monitor, January 31, 2012.

An Inside Threat: Numerous Reports of Afghan Security Force Personnel Killing ISAF Military Members

There have been many reports of members of the Afghan security forces killing members of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).  This brings into the question the reliability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) as an ally in Afghanistan.  Most recently (January 2012) four members of the French military were killed in Kapisa Province by an "insider".  This "insider threat" has been a major concern for ISAF and pressure is being applied to the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense to follow proper vetting procedures.

The Karzai administration has issued a decree stating that foreign private security firms will no longer be able to operate in Afghanistan (at some point in the future, the date keeps slipping). The private security firms will be replaced by the Afghan Public Protection Force or APPF.  So, at some point in time, the APPF will provide security for NGOs, governmental organizations (like USAID), convoy movement of war supplies, and even ISAF military bases.  The "insider threat" is a huge concern for ISAF and the numerous NGOs and other organizations that operate in Afghanistan.

Recent testimony on this "insider threat" was provided to the House Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on February 1, 2012 by members of the U.S. military.  The statement to the committee is entitled "Use of Afghan Nationals to Provide Security to U.S. Forces". Within the testimony can be found the definition of an "insider threat", the four types of threats, and vetting process for the APPF.  Also found is information about the FOB Frontenac incident where a Tundra security guard (an Afghan local hire) killed two U.S. military members and wounded several others in March 19, 2011.

Report on Maiwand District, Kandahar, Afghanistan

In mid-2010 the fight for Kandahar Province began.  Significant progress has been made (at a tremendous cost) but more work has to be done.  As the security gains are consolidated, moves to increase governance and development are underway in an effort to tie the local communities to the district and provincial government.  Kandahar Province is made up of many districts - one of these districts is Maiwand District. The Institute for the Study of War has recently published a report by Paraag Shukla entitled Battlefield Update: Task Force Dreadnaught in Maiwand District, Kandahar. The document is available online here.

Taliban May Be Willing to Talk Peace

Recent news reports indicate that the Taliban may be willing to conduct peace talks.  There is movement to establish a "Taliban Office" in Qatar and the Obama administration and Afghanistan High Peace Council seem intent to hold the talks.  Read more news on the Afghan peace talks. 

U.S. Military to Switch from Combat to Advisory Role in Mid-2013 in Afghanistan

The Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, stated on Wednesday (February 1, 2012) that the U.S. forces will move from a combat role to an "advise and assist" role by mid-2013.  The ISAF nations have all agreed to a timed withdrawal by 2014 - although France may pull out one year early. Read more in "Panetta Says U.S. to End Afghan Combat Role as Soon as 2013", The New York Times, February 1, 2012.  Currently there are about U.S. 90,000 troops in Afghanistan with 22,000 scheduled to return to the United States in the Fall of 2012.

A big question is if the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will be able to bear the brunt of the fighting.  So announcing mid-2013 as a fixed-time for this move from combat to advisory role is risky (see Fred and Kimberly Kagan's thoughts on this here).  Big advances have been made in the south of Afghanistan although the job is not finished there.  The north and west is under control as well - for right now. But lots of fighting remains to be done in the east and the southeast of Afghanistan.  It is questionable if the ANSF can do the hard work in these provinces alone over the next two years.

The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) number about 320,000 as of February 2012 and will grow to 352,000 by the end of 2012.  It is unclear who will pay the bill to continue to support an Army of that size. The ANSF may have to downsize.  Downsizing the Afghan army has a couple of drawbacks - there are less security forces to keep the insurgency in check and you now have to "demobilize" an individual who has been trained to fight and now does not have a job or source of income.  However, we have to move towards transition.  This goes against the grain of many of our brigade commanders who want to do the job themselves rather than have the Afghans take the lead. See "Putting the Afghans in charge", by Roger Carstens, The AFPAK Channel - Foreign Policy, February 2, 2102 for more on how senior (O-6 level) commanders need to become the supporting unit instead of the supported unit.

The Afghan Local Police may be an option for downsizing the Afghan army.  Perhaps a plan could be devised to discharge Afghan soldiers from the Army but sign them up for the newly-formed Afghan Local Police or ALP. Prior to his discharge the soldier is enlisted into the ALP by the Ministry of Interior (MOI).  He undergoes police training (currently ALP members receive 3 weeks training) and then returns to his local village or community. The pay of an ALP member is significantly less and the logistical support required (food, housing, fuel, transportation, etc.) for the ALP member is very little - he lives at home and feeds himself.  His equipment consists of a uniform, AK-47, ammo pouches, radio, and some other inexpensive items.  Plus the ALP gets a trained and combat experienced infantryman who has been vetted with the national government.

If the U.S. combat forces are going to switch to an advisory role then now would be the time to train up the next few rotations on how to be advisors.  A certain amount of these advisors that would deploy in 2013 and 2014 should be allocated to an advisory role for the Afghan Local Police (ALP).  Currently a large proportion of the Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan are advising and training the Afghan Local Police under the Village Stability Operations (VSO) initiative.  Unfortunately there are only so many SOF teams and they are currently maxed out.  For the ALP to grow - especially if demobilized Afghan soldiers from a down-sized ANSF are integrated into it - more advisors will be needed. Advising a local police unit in remote and austere locations at the village level is very different than advising company or battalion sized units located on large compounds.

So what is a possible solution?  As we move towards the end of 2014 the Afghan security forces of 350,000 (which we can't afford) should enlist a significant amount of their force (100,000?) into the Afghan Local Police.  A portion of the U.S. units scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in 2013 and 2014 should start training now to be advisors to the Afghan Local Police here in the states (learn language, culture, police functions, etc); and the future ALP advisors training should have oversight from SOF teams that have conducted this ALP advisory and training mission on their rotations over the past few years.

The Road to Peace in Afghanistan

There is much talk about the best way to transition our way out of Afghanistan.  Many experts say we need to drastically increase our advisory and training efforts to get the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) ready to handle their own security.  Others want us to establish a couple of permanent bases from which our counterterrorist forces can hit terrorist and al-Qaeda targets (supported by intelligence, UAV, medical, and air assets).  There are many who say that we need to come to an agreement with the Taliban leadership. Some endorse all three courses of action.

One observer, Anatol Lieven, has provided us a lengthy and comprehensive article on the topic entitled "Afghanistan: The Best Way to Peace". He examines the parallels between the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan over twenty years ago and the withdrawal that will soon begin by the coalition forces that currently support the Karzai government.  It is a good read with an excellent perspective on the road to peace.

Read more news about peace talks and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Corruption in Afghanistan

Corruption is one of the most significant threats to Afghan society. Polls suggest that many in the Afghan population see corruption as the biggest single impediment to building popular support for the government. In addition, the Taliban gain a lot of support from the population because of the corrupt actions of the Afghan government. Bribes are necessary to get almost anything done from the top of the Karzai regime all the way to the lowest official at community, city, or district level. Most Westerners, military members, NGO workers, contractors, and others who are not Afghan do not get exposed to bribes very often. For the most part it is the Afghans who must deal with the problem.

On my way out of Afghanistan I had an experience that I found disturbing. My flight out on Safi Airlines was proceeding smoothly. I got through security, got my ticket, checked my luggage, and was on my way to the seating lounge before boarding the aircraft. However, there was the small matter of immigration control where a uniformed fellow checks for ticket, passport, and visa. All my paperwork was in order but he felt the need for some cash. The official made several attempts to get me to cough over some money with hints like a wink (did he find me cute?), rubbing his forefinger and thumb together (a sign for some money I suspect), and rearranging my ticket and passport on the desk in front of him several times while haaarrrummmphing (are all civil servants the same?).

To be fair I have been told by others to have a $20.00 bill in my pocket for just this circumstance. My friends said it will ease your way out of the country. All I had to do was reach in my pocket, pull the bill out, and slide it across the window counter. However, I started thinking of all the lives that have been lost and all the money squandered on this country and I just got pissed off. And I remembered friends lost in the fight recently and in years gone by. I returned the silent treatment I was receiving. Eventually I got my passport back - stamped and moved on to the last security checkpoint before the waiting lounge. The $20.00 would buy me lunch and a beer at The Irish Village at the Dubai airport.

Learn more about corruption in Afghanistan.

Return from Afghanistan

I have returned from my long trip to Afghanistan.  Once again, it was a learning experience.  The war in Afghanistan changes over time. What was seen and experienced in 2002 is vastly different than what happened in 2006 and what is happening now in 2012.  Once I get settled in I will resume my blogging. 

Temporary Break in Blogging

There will be a lapse in posting on the Afghan War News Blog.  I have started a contract position in Afghanistan and for security reasons my employer has asked me to refrain from blogging during my time here.  My stay in Afghanistan will end in the fall and I will resume blogging at that time.  For news about the war in Afghanistan click on the link below:

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/

Bomb Disposal Tactics in Afghanistan to Be Changed by British Forces

United Kingdom forces are changing their tactics when it comes to disposal of IEDs in Afghanistan.  Instead of disarming the IEDs and retrieving the components to study the bombs and extract DNA evidence for later prosecution of the IED network the bombs will now be destroyed in place.  The decision whether to disarm or destroy will be left up to the bomb disposal technician on the ground.  The Taliban have increased the number IEDs this past year and recent deaths of highly-skilled bomb disposal experts have caused the UK military to relook how IEDs are treated.  Read more in "Commanders to change bomb disposal tactics", The Telegraph, February 12, 2011.