Village Shura in Afghanistan

Villagers and representatives from the Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army Commandos, and the Afghan Local Police conduct a shura in Pul-e Khumri district, Baghlan province, Afghanistan in February 2012.  (Photo credit CJSOTF-A Media Operations Center - Spc. Robin Davis).

Telemark Bataljonen - Norway Battalion Deployed to Afghanistan

There are over 42 nations with troops deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).  One of the most dependable partners is Norway.  A recent blog post tells a little about Norway's Telemark Battalion now deployed in Afghanistan.  See "Telemark Bataljonen Til Valhall", SOFREP, February 14, 2012.

The Telemark Battalion is a mechanized infantry battalion with a history of many deployments to include Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan.

More info on the Norway Telemark Battalion can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemark_Battalion

http://www.tmbn-veteran.no/

Billions Cut from ANSF Budget - Afghanistan Takes a Money Hit with Defense Budget

The proposed defense budget will drastically reduce the amount of money spent on training and equipping the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) over the next few years.  Read more in "Scaling back on wars, spending elsewhere", Security Clearance Blog - CNN, February 13, 2012.

Publications about Governance in Afghanistan

The link below will take you to a website with publications about governance in Afghanistan.

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

An Assessment of the Afghan Military

Strategy Page offers a "good news, bad news" assessment of the Afghan Army.  Read "Why Afghan Officers Prefer Heroin" published February 14, 2012.

Agribusiness Development Team Coordinates with MAIL to distribute Fruit Trees in Laghman Province

An Agribusiness Development Team works with MAIL
to distribute fruit tree samplings to Afghan villagers.
(NGB photo by SPC Leslie Goble)

The Kansas National Guard Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) that operates in Laghman Province, Afghanistan recently assisted the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) in the purchase and distribution of 2,400 fruit tree saplings for Alingar District.  The trees, after some years to grow and mature, will yield pomegranate, almond, and persimmon. The NG ADTs are in Afghanistan to assist the agriculture sector of the economy to rebuild itself after 30 years of war and conflict.  Read more in "Afghanistan: Kansas National Guard ADT gives Arbor Day gifts to locals", National Guard News, February 8, 2012.

Assessment of the Future of Afghan War After U.S. Departs Afghanistan

Two military officers with recent experience in Afghanistan wrote an article about a visit to Zabul Province where they spent some time with an Afghan infantry battalion operating "independently".  They detail the struggle that the Afghan battalion faces as it confronts both the enemy and an ineffective Afghan logistics and supply system.  While the battalion does not measure up to a U.S. infantry battalion in firepower, training, experience, and planning ability; it is getting the job done.

The two officers recognize that the upcoming departure of the coalition forces and the shift to an advisory role for those coalition troops that stay after 2014 will put the Afghan Army in the forefront of the battle against the insurgents. Their article provides some insight on how Afghan battalions will fare when left on their own.  In addition, they discuss what type of individual is best suited for "advisory work" in Afghanistan after 2014.

Some info on the two writers; one officer is American and the other Afghan. The U.S. officer is a Special Forces Soldier who is in the AfPak Hands program and was working for the Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) in Afghanistan. The Afghan officer, a major in the Afghan Special Forces, is now attending U.S. military schools in the United States.

You can read their article here - "Two Officers Counter Bleak Assessment of Afghan War", by Fernando M. Lujan and Khosal Sadat, At War Blog, The New York Times, February 13, 2012.

A Critique of the National Solidarity Program (NSP) of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD)

The president of the Afghan Youth Initiative, Inc., Matiullah Amin, has wrote a critical piece about the National Solidarity Program (NSP) of the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Rural Development (MRRD).  The NSP has set up over 28,000 Community Development Councils (CDCs) that help establish a list of development priorities at the local level.

He states that program lacks focus on long-term development and relies on rural citizens lacking skills to carry out development projects - causing inefficiency in the program. Amin is also concerned about the vulnerability of these locally-run programs to embezzlement by program officials.  Amin says that time has come to overhaul NSP and he offers some specific recommendations in his article.

See "Leaving Afghan Development in the Wrong Hands", Foreign Affairs, February 13, 2012.

Read more news about development in Afghanistan.

Local Micro Enterprise Solutions for Afghan Women

Western humanitarian organizations (NGOs and governmental) have a difficult time getting the Afghan government to come around and support programs that provide aid to the women of Afghanistan.  One humanitarian worker - Lael Mohib - suggests a bottom-up, locally-focused approach to improving the lot of women in Afghanistan. She believes that home-based enterprises that are started with micro-finance grants is a more viable approach - from a practical and cultural standpoint. Read more in "Afghan solutions for Afghan women", The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, Friday 13, 2012.  Learn more about women in Afghanistan.

Coalition Troops Prepare for 2014 Departure - As do the Rich Afghans

The U.S. will withdraw thousands of its troops during 2012 in preparation for the final withdrawal of combat troops in mid-2013. The other coalition countries are doing the same - developing plans for their disengagement as well.  With the withdrawal of foreign troops comes the end of the money supply from donor nations - or at least a significant drop in money going into Afghanistan.  The rich Afghans are also planning their withdrawal - of their money, much of it acquired from corruption, from Afghanistan to their foreign nation of choice, the United Arab Emirates.  In the UAE they can enjoy a lavish life style and sink their money into property investments. Read two news articles on the topic:

"Afghanistan's rich and their cash prepare for exodus", The National, February 12, 2012.

"Afghan cash buyers target Palm Jumeirah", Arabian Business.com, February 14, 2012.

Afghan COIN Instructors Provide Training in Counterinsurgency to Other Afghan Units

An instructor with the 8th Commando
Kandak provides range commands
during training. (U.S. Navy Photo
by MCS 2nd Class Jacob Dillon)

In the process of transition to Afghans taking the lead in planning operations and doing the bulk of the fighting it is important to yield training duties to the Afghans as well. At the Counterinsurgency Training Center this path is now traveled.  A recent news release by the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) we see an example of this "training transition".  See "205th Afghan National Army Corps Receives COIN training from Afghan Instructors", NTM-A, February 12, 2012.

Afghan Army in the Lead in Northern Helmand

ISAF forces are now transitioning from doing the majority of the fighting to having the Afghan forces take the lead in operations.  Here is a report on how that transition is going in Northern Helmand province.

"Can the Afghan army take the lead in the battle?", BBC News Asia, February 13, 2012.

Worries about the CIA and SOF in Afghanistan Over the Long-Term

Not everyone thinks that keeping special operations forces and a strong CIA element in Afghanistan past 2014 is a good idea.  Kate Clark, a blogger for the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) and long-time Afghanistan resident, has wrote an article expressing her concerns.  She worries about the history of the CIA being a secret  organization and of US Special Forces not being entirely transparent about their operations (Hmmmmm  . . . .really?).  Read her blog post in "War Without Accountability: The CIA, Special Forces and plans for Afghanistan's future" posted on February 10, 2012.

Special Forces and Afghan PRC

With the departure of over 100,000 troops from Afghanistan taking place in 2014 special forces units from a variety of countries will take on the burden of advising and assisting the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).  A war journalist (David Axe) describes a recent mission of a Special Forces unit working with the Laghman Provincial Response Company (PRC). See "Afghan Cops and Special Forces", The Diplomat, February 12, 2012.

3rd Infantry Division Learns about Village Stability Operations (VSO)

The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division recently spent two weeks at Fort Irwin's National Training Center (NTC) learning about the Village Stability Operations (VSO) mission they will be conducting in Afghanistan.  Upon reaching Afghanistan the Soldiers will be split up into small units - squad or platoon sized elements - and attached to special operations forces detachments (Special Forces, SEALs, and MARSOC) conducting Village Stability Operations.  This has been successfully done with two other infantry battalions over the past year with great results - allowing SOF to expand their footprint in key areas of Afghanistan as they set up VSO sites and establish local units of Afghan Local Police or ALP. Read more in "Fort Irwin training creates new sort of soldier", The Sun, February 12, 2012.

Gambling on Special Forces in Afghanistan

Many have commented on the new shift in strategy in Afghanistan - pulling out conventional troops and relying more on special forces units that will hit high-value targets and build up local security forces.  Some see it as a chance to fail - read more in "US gambles on special forces in Afghanistan strategy", Google Hosted News, February 12, 2012.

New Zealand Police Officer Finds Corruption Endemic in Afghanistan

A New Zealand police officer, in Afghanistan on secondment with a European Union police training mission, provides some insight the corruption running rampart in Afghan society and its Afghan National Police (ANP).  Read "Where family ties matter more than the law", Nelson Mail, February 13, 2012.

President Karzai Meets Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee

The text below is from the Voice of America (February 12, 2014).

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has met with members of the Monitoring Evaluation Committee whose job it is to monitor corruption in carrying out projects funded by the international community.

The committee, which also is responsible for the development of clear and objective benchmarks in fighting corruption, briefed the president on its findings.
Mr. Karzai reminded the committee members “it is their responsibility to evaluate the international assistance in Afghanistan and bring transparency.”

He urged the members to continue working in close coordination with other relevant anti-corruption agencies, including the High Office of Oversight. That office coordinates and monitors the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy

Text from "Afghan President Meets Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee", Voice of America, February 12, 2012.

I wonder if the Monitoring Evaluation Committee informed President Karzai that he was the biggest part of the corruption problem?  Learn more about corruption in Afghanistan.

Will Afghan Peace Talks Divide the Taliban?

It appears that not all Taliban are happy with the prospects of peace talks with either the Americans or the Karzai regime. Some of the mid-level and lower-level fighters are trying to figure out the high-level Taliban leaders game-plan.  Read more in "How Afghan Peace Talks Are Splintering the Taliban", The Daily Beast, February 13, 2012.

Organizations Doing Development Work in Afghanistan

There are many organizations engaged in development work in Afghanistan.  Click on the link below to see a list:  http://www.afghanwarnews.info/development.htm

Thirty Years of Afghan Conflict - Anti-Government Mobilisation (AREU Paper Jan 2012)

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has published a paper that examines "  . . . the structural factors driving anti-government mobilisation in Afghanistan in each successive phase of the country's thirty years of conflicts".  The paper also looks at the Taliban as a political organization enabling and driving conflict. 

Thirty Years of Conflict: Drivers of Anti-Government Mobilisation in Afghanistan 1978-2011
Dr. Antonio Giustozzi
January 2012

Learn more about the roots of insurgency in Afghanistan.

Agriculture in Afghanistan - USDA Resource Page

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a resource page on agriculture in Afghanistan.  It provides an overview of agriculture in Afghanistan and other information such as job opportunities, Afghanistan agriculture fact sheet, links to other agriculture resources, Agribusiness Development Teams (ADT), Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), current news, and videos.  Click here to visit the USDA Agriculture page.

Learn more about agriculture in Afghanistan.

Corruption & Anti-Corruption Issues in Afghanistan - Report by the Civil-Military Fusion Center (Feb 2012)

The corruption in Afghanistan is horrendous.  President Karzai may be the most corrupt leader in the world.  Many organizations, like Transparency International, rate Afghanistan somewhere in the top five of the most corrupt nations in the world.  In 2011 Transparency International rated Afghanistan as one of the four most corrupt countries in the world, tied with Myanmar and beat only by North Korea and Somalia. Looks like "Karzai the Crook" is in good company!

The Civil-Military Fusion Center has released a new report about corruption in Afghanistan.  The report is posted on the ReliefWeb.int website and can be accessed at the link below:

Corruption & Anti-Corruption Issues in Afghanistan
Civil-Military Fusion Centre
February 2012

Reintegration of Taliban Fighters in Afghanistan - Is it Really Working?

While the Karzai regime and the United States pursue high-level peace talks with the Taliban leadership the Afghan government is also continuing efforts on reintegrating lower-level members of the insurgency.  However, the reintegration program is being questioned by some observers who point out some problem areas. In the province of Helmand where much of the fighting has been over the past three years there have been very few reintegrees.  Many reintegrees have come from the north but critics say many of these supposed returned fighters are merely looking for a monthly paycheck and vocational training provided by the program.  Some of these "returnees" are cronies of corrupt district and provincial Afghan officials who pass out old AKs to local men (who are not insurgents) and tell them to turn themselves in to the government. Read more in "The truth about Taliban reintegration", The Telegraph, February 11, 2012.

Contractors Paying a Heavy Price in Afghanistan

There are more civilian contractors working in Afghanistan than there are American Soldiers serving there.  More civilian contractors working for American companies than American Soldiers died in Afghanistan in 2011.  These contractor deaths do not get much press for a couple of reasons.  Many of the contractors are Third Country Nationals (TCNs).  Those firms that do lose contractors with U.S. citizenship do not have the same reporting requirements as when a military member dies.  Read more in "Risks of Afghan War Shift From Soldiers to Contractors",  The New York Times, February 11, 2012.

Afghan Women Concerned about Taliban Negotiations

Afghan women are alarmed about the possibility of a return by the Taliban as a result of either negotiations or victory after 2014.  The women of Afghanistan have enjoyed substantial gains in freedom of expression, ability to work, greater access to health care, educational opportunities, and even playing a role in the government under the constitution.  However, these gains could evaporate with a power-sharing deal with the Taliban at the negotiation table. Read more in a recent news article entitled "Afghan women fear Taliban return", AFP, February 12, 2012.  Learn more about women in Afghanistan.

Negotiating with the Taliban

There are many who say the only way to conclude the Afghan War (or at least our involvement with it) is by negotiating a settlement with the Taliban.  Some initial negotiations are underway at the moment.  Going into these negotiations, our administration is insisting on some up-front agreements such as Taliban statements indicating support for the peace process and renouncing support for terrorist organizations.  A former State Department official - Karl Inderfurth - has some experience negotiating with the Taliban.  Inderfurth offers some caution in an online article entitled "A Taliban Rope-a-Dope Strategy", The AFPAK Channel Blog, Foreign Policy, January 25, 2012.

District Development Plans - USAID in Afghanistan

In an attempt to prioritize and coordinate infrastructure repairs at the district level in Afghanistan the Afghan government prepares District Development Plans (DDP).  Unfortunately, the Afghan government does not have the money or the capacity to implement these plans.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), using implementing partners such as the Central Asia Development Group (CADG), collaborates with district and provincial leaders to identify and fill gaps in the DDP. Typical projects might include drainage ditches, road construction or improvement, or erosion protection.  Read more about how USAID's support of District Development Plans support governance and development in Afghanistan in "Bringing Government Plans to Life", USAID, February 9, 2012.

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)