Army to Deploy More M3 Carl Gustafs to Afghanistan

The Army will soon field more M3 Carl Gustaf weapons to Afghanistan.  Units that have received the Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) thus far are the 25th Infantry, 10th Mountain, and 82nd Airborne divisions.  Some view the "Goose" as an alternative to the AT4 or Javelin. Read more in "Army Units Want More M3 Carl Gustafs in Afghanistan", KitUp Military.com, February 28, 2012.  For more details about the Swedish Carl Gustav (or Carl Gustaf) weapon system visit the WikipediA page here.

Mineral Resources in Afghanistan Give Hope for Future but Corruption and Other Factors Diminish Possibilities

Afghanistan has lots of natural resources that can provide much needed money for the government and jobs for thousands of Afghan workers.  However much stands in the way of fully capitalizing on these resources and aiding in the development of Afghanistan.  See "How Afghanistan Can Escape the Resource Curse", Foreign Affairs, February 29, 2012.

Afghan Border Police (ABP) Suffer From Corrupt Medical Officers Within the Ministry of Interior (MoI)

The Afghan Border Police (ABP) have a tough job; but it is made even tougher with a lack of medical personnel and medical supplies. Although the Ministry of Interior (MoI) receives plenty of money to keep the ABP units in the field supplied with medicine and medical equipment - the units don't receive it. For the most part the fault lies with corrupt Ministry of Interior officials in Kabul that sell the medical supplies and equipment on the black market. As with almost everything in Afghanistan corruption has once again diminished the effectiveness of an Afghan organization. This has a disastrous effect on the morale and fighting effectiveness of the Afghan Border Police.  Read more in "Corruption, mismanagement handicap Afghan Police", Stars and Stripes, February 29, 2012.

Civil War in Afghanistan is More Likely

The fact that the U.S. (and its allies) are leaving Afghanistan by 2014 - if not sooner- is clear to the Afghans.  Many in the U.S. will highlight a "mission accomplished, I brought the troops home" moment (just in time for the Presidential elections).  Others are concerned about what happens when the stabilizing presence of ISAF goes away. ISAF has struggled to keep the Afghan government in line - trying its best to foster good governance, encourage development, diminish corruption, and build capability and capacity in the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). ISAF's combat troops have also done much of the fighting which has kept the Taliban at bay.

However, once the majority of ISAFs forces and the aid money dries up several things will likely happen.  The Taliban will move into areas vacated by ISAF forces and not held effectively by the ANSF - reestablishing their "shadow government".  The Afghan government will  become more corrupt, ineffective, irresponsible and inefficient without ISAF looking over its shoulder - losing more legitimacy and the support of the population. Once the money flow dries up many of the government leaders and officials (who have siphoned off money for their Dubai bank accounts) will quietly leave the country for their overseas villas. Warlords and power brokers on the national and regional level will try to reassert their authority - many times using private militias that are currently being built up.

Probably most important is the likelihood of ethnic division and an outbreak of civil war.  While Karzai seems intent (at least publicly) on holding peace talks with the Taliban (a Pastun-based insurgency) the major opposition political party - the National Front for Afghanistan (NFA) - is very opposed to negotiations.  The NFA is comprised mostly of Tajiks, Harara, and Uzbeks.  A combination of factors and events could easily push the country into civil war.

Read a detailed analysis of this in "The Coming Civil War in Afghanistan", Foreign Policy, February 3, 2012.

Many Afghans Leaving Afghanistan Before 2014

Many Afghans, those who can afford to, have left or plan to leave Afghanistan prior to the departure of ISAF troops in 2014.  Once ISAF leaves there are doubts about the Afghan governments ability to control the insurgency, questions about the current reconciliation talks with the Taliban, and worries about the economy when the aid money stops flowing. Some Afghans with international options will leave before the Taliban start to exert their influence over the country again.  Many who have tied their livelihoods to international aid organizations, NGOs, development firms, and the ISAF military structure are worried as well - both about the cutoff of their means to make a living and retributions for working with "the occupying powers".  There are many Afghans who are in an excellent position - as a result of the overwhelming corrupt nature of the Afghan government many of the high-level Afghan officials have already built their villas in Dubai and they are padding their overseas bank accounts with money siphoned off from the international donations.  Read more on the exodus from Afghanistan in "Racing for the exits", by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, February 28, 2012.

Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) Official Website

The Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF), under the direction of the Ministry of Interior, has launched its official website. The APPF website provides APPF customers with information on the process for contracting with the APPF and outlines the procedures necessary for Risk Management Companies (RMCs) or security companies to obtain risk management licenses. Also included on the website is background information about the APPF to include the Presidential Decree of August 2010 that established the APPF and some news updates on the progress that Afghanistan is making in its shift of security functions from private security companies (PMCs) to the Afghan Public Protection Force.

The Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) website can be viewed here www.appf.gov.af.  The website has lots of information and is worth looking at if you (as an NGO, implementing partner, or other entity) are in need of the APPF security services in Afghanistan.

View an ISAF press release about the launch of the APPF website here.

There is some news that just won't get posted on the official Afghanistan website; for instance critical news reports about the shortcomings of the APPF program, how the private security firms are having weapons confiscated, or how the APPF is already seeing signs of the ever-present corruption found everywhere else within the Afghanistan government. Click here for information and news articles about the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF).

Book: "Afghanistan Declassified" by Brian Williams

Brian Williams, an Associate Professor of Islamic History at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, has done extensive fieldwork in Afghanistan. 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 field work he conducted in Afghanistan.  Brian Williams has traveled to Afghanistan frequently over the past decade and is a historian of Central Asia. The book provides essential background to the war, tracing the rise, fall, and reemergence of the Taliban.  Sections of the book cover the Predator drone campaign in Pakistan, spread of suicide bombings, and comparisons of Soviet and U.S. experiences in Afghanistan.

His book can be purchased online at Amazon.com at the following link:

 Afghanistan Declassified: A Guide to America's Longest War.

Burning of Qurans by Bagram AFB Incites Protests and Violence Across Afghanistan

A number of protests and riots have occurred across Afghanistan following the burning of Qurans by NATO troops at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.  Several members of ISAF have been killed in attacks related to the Quran burnings. Read more in "Afghan president condemns fatal bombing at military airfield", CNN, February 27, 2012.

Haqqani Network Enjoys Pakistan Santuary According to Ambassador Crocker

The Haqqani Network is enjoying sanctuary in Pakistan according to the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan - Ryan C. Crocker.  Read more in "Secret U.S. cable warned about Pakistani havens", The Washington Post, February 24, 2012.

Edmonton Journal Reporters Look Back on Canada Participants of Afghan War

Four reporters for the Edmonton Journal catch up with four Canadian military members who served in Afghanistan and have now returned "home".  Read "Getting back in touch with the troops", Edmonton Journal, February 27, 2012.

Seven U.S. Soldiers Injured in Grenade Attack in Sahib district, Kunduz, Afghanistan

Seven U.S. Soldiers, trainers stationed in northeastern province of Kunduz, were injured in a grenade attack during an Afghan demonstration incited by the Koran burning event at Bagram Air Field.  Read more in "7 U.S. soldiers wounded by grenade during Afghanistan protest", Sun Herald, February 26, 2012.

Canada: Ten Years in Afghan War Has Effect on Military Members

In December 2011 Canada ended its "combat role" in Afghanistan after ten years.  It will continue in a smaller effort in the training and advisory role for the next few years.  Many observers are looking back over the last ten years to determine if the effort was worth the money and sacrifice.  In addition, many are looking at the effect the ten-year war had on its military members.  Read "After the 10-year mission: time of reckoning begins", The Montreal Gazette, February 27, 2012.

AfPak Hand One of Two Victims in Afghan Ministry of Interior in Koran Burning Backlash

2/26/2012 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- An officer assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command died Saturday of wounds suffered from a gunshot in Kabul, Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel John Darin Loftis, 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron, was deployed in support of OPERATION Enduring Freedom and working in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of the Interior with the AfPak Hands program as the chief plans advisor. The AfPak Hands program stood up in September 2009 to develop a cadre of specially trained U.S. servicemembers skilled in Afghan and Pakistani culture and language.

Lt Col John Darin Loftis was an AfPak Hand who was working in Afghanistan as a plans advisor.  Read more about Lt Col Loftis here in "AF Special Ops officer killed in Kabul shooting", February 26, 2012, U.S. Air Force.

Rule of Law in Afghanistan

The link below will provide you with information about organizations that are helping to bring about rule of law in Afghanistan.  Listed are implementing partners that are assisting these organizations.  In addition you will find publications and news articles about the rule of law in Afghanistan. 

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

State of the Taliban Report - Secret Military Document Online at The New York Times

The State of the Taliban document prepared by prison interrogators at Bagram, Afghanistan from info gleaned from interrogations of Taliban prisoners is now available at the The New York Times. The full text of the report is available for viewing.  See "Reading Into the 'State of the Taliban'", At War blog of The New York Times, February 23, 2012.

Nation Building in Afghanistan Not Working

A member of a forensic accounting team who spent the past year in Afghanistan providing analysis on where the money spent on Afghanistan has gone wrote an opinion piece for the Chicago Tribune.  Mark Doyle says that "Implementing a nation-building plan in a country that is unprepared, unwilling and unable to accept the fundamental components of a democratic state is an impossible mission.  It is not worth one more American life or taxpayer dollar".  His job in Afghanistan was to " . . . determine how much of the money committed to reconstruction projects was supporting counterinsurgency strategies".  He states that Afghanistan does not have the right conditions to make nation-building work and that the society and government is too corrupt.  Doyle's advise to us?  It is time to leave Afghanistan.  Read his article entitled "Why we need to get out of Afghanistan - now", Chicago Tribune Opinion, February 24, 2012.

Is Politics Driving the Early Exit from Afghanistan?

"KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban are not beaten, the peace process is bogged down in internal squabbles and Afghan security forces aren't ready to take control of the nation. Yet the U.S. and its partners are talking about speeding up — rather than slowing down — their exit from the war.
It's becoming dramatically clear that politics is driving NATO's war exit strategy as much or more than conditions on the battlefield.

Political calendars in the West were never supposed to influence the decision about when Afghan forces take the lead and allow international troops step back into support roles or leave altogether. The U.S., Afghan and other international leaders have said repeatedly that transition decisions would not be held hostage to international political agendas."

Read the rest of the story in "Analysis: Politics drives exit from Afghanistan", Associated Press, February 3, 2012.

Can the Afghan War Afford the Obama Funding Cuts?

Max Boot has published an article criticizing the demobilization of over 120,000 Afghan troops and police over the next few years.  He calls this plan a disaster; particularly if the troops are left without a paycheck and with few legitimate job options.  Read more in "More Afghan cuts, more war", Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2012.

Read my comments on one way to reduce the size of the Afghan army and still provide for security and offer job prospects for the 120,000 to be demobilized in the blog posts below:

http://www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/afghan-defense-minister-worried-about.html

http://www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/us-to-switch-to-advisory-role-in-mid.html

Declare Victory and Bring the Troops Home - Geraldo Rivera

Geraldo Rivera, a senior columnist for Fox News Latino, says "It is past time to declare victory and to bring the troops home".  

We have spent ten years at war in Afghanistan, two and a half times longer than we spent waging World War II. How many more years, how many more lives and how much more American tax money would be enough to stabilize and westernize that perpetually medieval country?

We killed the man who killed our friends and neighbors on that September morning a decade ago. It is past time to declare victory and to bring the troops home. And if you don’t believe me ask the warriors who actually do the fighting and the dying.

Read the rest of the news article "Geraldo Rivera: Adios Afghanistan", Fox News Latino, February 3, 2012.

Massouma Esmatey-Wardak - Afghan Woman Pioneer

The fight for women's rights in Afghanistan is a long slog. Despite the advances women in Afghanistan have made in the past ten years there is more work to be done.  These advances are also threatened by the possible concessions that the Karzai regime and international community may be contemplating at the negotiating table with the Taliban and other insurgent groups.  However, woman's issues did not just surface in 2001 with the fall of the Taliban; the women's movement has seen Afghan activists for quite a while. Read the story about an Afghan woman from an earlier time in "Determination defined: remembering an Afghan pioneer", The AFPAK Channel, February 22, 2012.

Finland Special Forces Unit Serving in Afghanistan

A recent news article provides some information about Finnish Special Forces serving in Afghanistan.  See "Finland has deployed special forces unit in Afghanistan", Helsingin Sanomat, February 23, 2012.

Is Reintegration of Afghan Insurgents Working?

The international community is sinking a lot of money into the reintegration of insurgents. The program offers the insurgent a way out of the fighting with a monthly stipend for three months, vocational training, and work opportunities - plus a way to walk away from the fight. Thus far, over 3,100 former insurgents have officially entered the program. This number is still significantly lower than what is needed for the reintegration process to have a real impact on the conflict - ISAF and Afghan officials were hoping to attract over 12,000 Taliban to the Afghan reintegration process.  Many observes have criticized the program citing statistics that most reintegrees come from the north where the fighting is less intense (vice the south and southeast) and that many of these 3,000 reintegrees are not Pastun fighters; instead they are cronies of local politicians looking for a handout.

See the "official" version of how reintegration is working in "Afghan insurgent Reintegration Effort Works, Official Says", American Forces Press Service, February 22, 2012.

A questioning voice can be heard here in "Military: Who Cares How Many Taliban Stop Fighting", Wired.com Danger Room, February 23, 2012.

Read more in "NATO: 99 percent of reformed insurgents staying out of the fight", Stars and Stripes, February 22, 2012 and "ISAF official: Reintegrating Afghan insurgents working", The Washington Times, February 22, 2012.

News Articles about Governance in Afghanistan

The link below will take you to a listing of news articles about governance in Afghanistan.

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

Withdrawal from Afghanistan and Presidential Politics

Michael A. Cohen of the Century Foundation has wrote an article exploring the presidential politics of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.  He explores the timeline for withdrawing and how the public views the circumstances of the departure from Afghanistan.  There are interesting comments on how the withdrawal affects Obama's quest for re-election.  See "Premature Evacuation?", Foreign Policy, February 2, 2012.

Afghanistan's Economy Beyond 2014 - A Big Question Mark

While many observers are worried about the security situation in Afghanistan after 2014 (date of withdrawal of the coalition forces) others are concerned about the economy of Afghanistan.  The Afghan economy is heavily dependent upon foreign aid - of the total 2010 government expenditure ($17 billion) only $1.9 billion came from Afghanistan's own sources of revenue.  The present economy depends almost entirely on the development funds provided by the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada and other nations.  The money spent supporting the security environment is immense.  After 2014 most of this money will fade away.  It is unknown how much the donor nations will continue to contribute after 2014.  Most nations are turned off by the immense corruption of the Karzai regime.

There are some possible solutions for the future. Technology will play a large part - the explosion of cell phone use is phenomenal. There are rich mineral deposits that can be mined.  There is is the New Silk Road strategy that may transform the economy.  However, for all these possible solutions, there must be a secure environment - and that is another big question mark.

Read more on this topic in "Can the Afghan economy be saved?", By Javid Ahmad and Louise Langeby, The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, February 3, 2012.

Laghman Provincial Response Company - Bringing Security to a Contested Province

A reporter provides us insight on a U.S. Special Forces team's job of training the Laghman Provincial Response Company.  Read "Can These Commandos Salvage the Afghan War?", Wired.com Danger Room, February 16, 2012.

Reintegration of Taliban in Zabul Province

Zabul Province has taken a small step forward in the reintegration of insurgents back into Afghan society. The leader of a small band of Taliban has crossed over to the Afghan government and is now helping the government to reintegrate other insurgents. The reintegration program, although well-funded with $140 million, has had dismal success in Zabul province.  Most reintegrees have come from northern Afghanistan - with Badghis province having the most insurgents join the program.  Read more here - "In the battle for Taliban minds, a new spokesman steps forward in Zabul province", Stars and Stripes, February 19, 2012.

Hizb-i-Islami Wants Seat at Negotiation Table

The Afghan insurgent group known as Hizb-i-Islami wants to ensure it has a seat at the negotiation table that will attempt to settle the Afghan War.  See "Afghan talks to fail without all groups - Hizb-i-Islami", Reuters, February 19, 2012. The group claims that if left out of the Afghan peace talks then they will likely continue to fight.

The Fight In Helmand Province, Afghanistan

A war correspondent spent several weeks with the Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  Read a news article he wrote for The New York Times (February 1, 2012) entitled "The Hard Way Out of Afghanistan".

Afghan Women Worry about Karzai Taliban Negotiations

Afghan women are apprehensive about the prospects of the Taliban becoming part of the government as a result of negotiations conducted by the Taliban, U.S., and Karzai.  Read more in "Afghan Women Fear Backsliding As President Karzai Negotiates with Taliban", The Daily Beast, February 19, 2012.

82nd Agribusiness Development Team to Deploy to Afghanistan

The Wisconsin Army National Guard 82nd Agribusiness Development Team will soon deploy to Afghanistan.  The members of the "Dairy State" were chosen because they have experience in agriculture-related fields to include crop management, veterinary science, hydrology, pest control, and food processing. Read more in "Guard unit to train Afghans about agriculture", Army Times, February 18, 2012.  Learn more about agriculture in Afghanistan.

APPF Recruiting Security Guards from Afghanistan's Private Security Firms

The leadership of the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) is recruiting Afghans who are currently employed with private security firms in Afghanistan.  In accordance with a decree by President Karzai all private security firms will cease operations soon. The functions and responsibilities of the private security firms will be assumed by the APPF.  Many critics have weighed in on this change and not many believe it is a great idea. The track record of the Afghan government to run almost any program is horrible; with waste, ineffectiveness and inefficiency prevalent.  Security for the NGOs, international organizations, and ISAF will now become more expensive.  There is no confidence in the APPF to provide security at the level that the private security firms did.  And there is the corruption factor - many see the APPF as another avenue for Karzai and his cronies to skim more money off the top.  Read a "sunny" assessment of the APPF program provided to us by NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan in "Afghan Public Protection Force Leadership Engaging with Private Security Guards", NTM-A, February 18, 2012.

Way Ahead in Afghanistan - War According to the New York Times

On the Opinion Pages of The New York Times is an editorial providing guidance on the way ahead in Afghanistan. The piece provides the Times input for encouraging governance, training and financing the Afghan security forces, negotiating with the Taliban, support to the Afghan economy, leaving behind a residual American force (special operators), and how to deal with Pakistan.  Read "Beginning of the End", The New York Times Sunday Review, February 18, 2012.

Canadian Training Mission in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — Cuts or changes to Ottawa's politically sensitive contribution to NATO's training mission in Afghanistan are probable after the alliance concludes a review next month of the number of advisers it needs and where it needs them. Adjustments to the training force's laydown, including the disposition and skill sets of some Canadian troops is "likely, but what the effect will be is undetermined as of yet," said Maj.-Gen. Mike Day, who commands the 920 Canadian trainers in Afghanistan and is double-hatted as the senior NATO officer responsible for training Afghan security forces.

Read the rest of the news article here "Afghan training force likely to shrink", The Montreal Gazette, February 17, 2012.

Charlatans abound in Afghanistan

Read an interesting article about Afghans who claim to be something more than they are in order to increase their prestige, acquire money, or to gather intelligence on behalf of the Taliban.  See "In Struggle With Taliban, on Guard for Charlatans", The New York Times, February 18, 2012.

Special Forces Mission to Increase in Afghanistan

As overall U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan lowers special operations forces will increase their activity.  This will be primarily in the training and advisory arena; for which Special Forces training makes them uniquely qualified for.  Read more in "Special Forces in Afghanistan: not just taking out terrorists anymore", The Christian Science Monitor, February 16, 2012.

Afghan Defense Minister Worried About Cut In Size of Afghan Security Forces

The Afghan Defense Minister, Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak, has expressed his concern about proposed plans to cut spending on Afghanistan's security forces and reducing the strength from 352,000 to 230,000.  Along with the withdrawal of ISAF combat formations over the next two years there will be a reduction in funds for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).  Read more in "Afghan general sounds alarm on US plan to cut local security forces", Fox News, February 18, 2012.  Gen Wardak's concerns are misplaced.  Instead of worrying about whether 230,000 personnel is enough to fight the insurgency perhaps he could do more to ensure that size force is managed and trained to do the job.  The first step would be to replace high-ranking officers who are holding positions based on political connections and loyalty to Karzai with trained officers who are willing to fight the insurgents.  A second step would be to curtail the wide-spread corruption within the ANSF - and learning to make do with the $4 billion year given to them by the international community.  Of course, there are more measures the general could take to correct the obvious inefficient and ineffective processes of the ANSF but . . . it would take a book to list them.

Issues to Solve During Afghanistan Transition

There are less than three years until the fight in Afghanistan has been fully transitioned to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) by the end of 2014.  There are many problems to be solved and issues to be faced during this transition.  Some of these include setting meaningful strategic goals for the war, developing an overall transition plan that will actually work, how to complete building up the ANSF in the face of upcoming cuts to the ANSF budget, what the end strength of the ANSF will be, what is the future of the Afghan Local Police (ALP), where will the peace negotiations with the Taliban leave us, how to reduce corruption within the Afghan government, how to resolve the difficulties with Pakistan (should we even try?), and how do we avoid a possible civil war between the Pashtuns and the ethnic groups of the old Northern Alliance (Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Hazaras)?  These questions and more are raised in an online piece entitled "The Real Issues in Afghanistan: Looking Beyond Undefined Policy Statements and Slogans", Defense Professionals, February 3, 2012.

Shifting to "Advise and Assist Role" in Afghanistan

Leon Panetta's recent announcement that the U.S. will move from a "combat' role to "advise and assist" role in Afghanistan in mid-2013 has caught some observers by surprise and spurred a flurry of commentary.  Read one online article entitled "US troops in Afghanistan: How big is shift from 'combat' to 'assistance'?", The Christian Science Monitor, February 2, 2012.

Taxis in Kabul - Life in the Fast Lane (or Slow Lane)

An enlightening article about catching a cab in Kabul, Afghanistan by a reporter who has spent some time there.  If you have spent any time driving through the city you will appreciate this piece for it's description of potholes, taxi driver, and lack of rules of the road!

Read "Fast and Furious cabs no match for Kabul's Mad Max roads", Stars and Stripes, October 4, 2011.

U.S. Intelligence Officials Not so Optimistic on Afghanistan

A recent news article indicates that U.S. intelligence officials are less optimistic than operational commanders about the how the war is going in Afghanistan.  Read "U.S. intelligence officials offer grim words on Afghanistan", Los Angeles Times, February 16, 2012.

Training for Security Force Assistance Teams for Afghanistan

The U.S. military will soon deploy to Afghanistan over 1,400 Soldiers who will be split into 18-person training teams.  These training teams will be much like the MiTT or training teams deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Their mission falls into the "advise and assist" world - attached to Afghan security forces to provide advise, access to enablers (air support, medevac), and provide battlefield situational awareness for ISAF. To prepare for the mission the Soldiers will complete a three-week training course at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La.  Hmmmmmm.  Is three weeks enough?  Read more in "Army Details Afghan Transition Deployment Plans", Military.com, February 17, 2012.

I wonder what the process is for selecting, training and organizing the advisors who will have an extremely important role in this advisory effort. The early Military Transition Teams (MiTTs) in Iraq and Embedded Transition Teams (ETTs) in Afghanistan were less than optimum as a result of poor selection and training of the advisors. Learn more about these advisory teams during the early years of the Iraq and Afghanistan War.

The U.S. military has a history of not selecting and training military advisors properly (outside of the Special Forces ranks).  This happened during the Vietnam War (although reportedly the Marines did better than the Army).  Many times advisors were assigned with little cultural training, very basic language skills (3 weeks language training), and with no regard to military occupational specialty.  Initially the language training for an advisor heading to Vietnam was three or four weeks of French, not Vietnamese.

During the Vietnam War some U.S. military advisors were sent to a training school at the U.S. Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, NC where they learned culture, language, how to call for artillery, air support, and medevac, and about the responsibilities, roles and duties of an advisor.  They would then be assigned to South Vietnamese Army units to aid in the counterinsurgency fight.  The Military Assistance Training Advisor course (MATA) course was established in 1962 and taught by Special Forces officers and NCOs. It was initially 4-weeks long and later increased to a longer course. In 1970 the Marines established a three-month long advisor course.

Some handbooks were published to assist the advisors to South Vietnam units. One was entitled the MATA Handbook or FM 3-73 - also called the Advisors Handbook for Stability Operations.  There was also a MATA Handbook for Vietnam, ST 31-179, January 1966.  (Found here on Small Wars Journal). The Army also published FM 31-73, Advisor Handbook for Stability Operations. The current handbook for advisors is entitled TC 31-73, Special Forces Advisor Guide, 2008.

There were some lessons learned about the Vietnam War advisory effort. These are captured in a paper entitled "Lessons Learned from Advising and Training the Republic of South Vietnam's Armed Forces", by MAJ Thomas Clinton, USMC, 2007. Accessed here on DTIC.mil.

Those lessons learned from the Vietnam War advisory effort are briefly related here.  The careful selection of individuals to be advisors is extremely important. Some officers and NCOs are just not cut out for the job.  In addition, the training of the advisors is critical and should include:

Intensive language and cultural training
Training and certification in tactical communications equipment
Training and certification in controlling close air support
Training and certification in indirect fire support
Training in coordinating medical evacuation support
Training in how to be an effective liaison officer

Talking with the Taliban - Tips on Negotiations

Michael Hayden, former director of the CIA, has wrote a piece for CNN about negotiating with the Taliban. Some of his suggestions are to not dehumanize the Taliban, recognize that the Taliban have legitimate political interests, and realize that as we withdraw from Afghanistan our pressure to bear on negotiations diminishes.  Read his article in "Talking with the Taliban, making peace with the guilty", CNN Opinion, February 16, 2012.  Read more news articles about negotiations with the Taliban.

A Strategy for Defeat in Afghanistan

Many Afghan war critics are looking at how the next few years will unfold.  One of them believes that " . . . amid fiscal belt tightening, growing war-weariness and election-year politics, the international community is pursuing the exact policy it should not".  Read more in "How best to ensure defeat in Afghanistan", Afghanistan Analysis, February 4, 2012.

Baad or Baadi in Afghanistan - A Young Girl's Plight

File this story under "life is harsh if you are a woman in Afghanistan".  In the rural Pashtun areas of Afghanistan - mostly the south and east - the practice of baad or baadi is still occurring.  Baad is a traditional Afghan form of justice.  Young girls are taken as a form of payment for misdeeds committed or debt owed by a family.  The girls are entered into a force marriage or slavery.  Read more in "For Punishment of Elder's Misdeeds, Afghan Girl Pays the Price", The New York Times, February 16, 2012.

Reintegration of Taliban Fighters in Paktika Province Not Working

Reintegration is an attempt by the Afghan government to reach out to low- and mid-level Taliban fighters to get them to stop fighting and become part of Afghan society once again.  There have been various iterations of reintegration programs - none of them very successful.  Paktika Province is one of those areas where reintegration is not going well.  Read "Afghan Reintegration Drama", The Diplomat, February 7, 2012.  Learn more about reintegration in Afghanistan and read the latest Afghan reintegration news.

Financing Afghan Security Forces After 2014

Defense ministers of the NATO alliance met recently (February 2012) to discuss funding of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) beyond 2014.  There are plans to establish a multibillion dollar fund to help pay for the $6 billion annual Afghan defense bill - with the realization that donor nations will provide the bulk of the money.  In May 2012, the alliance will meet again to decide what a sustainable force size should be for the ANSF.  Although the ANSF will number more than 350,000 by 2014 it is doubtful that a force of that size will be funded by the international community.  The French Defense Minister, Gerard Longuet, has been quoted saying "A reasonable number would be 230,000".  This 230,000 personnel level of the ANSF would be charged with containing (if not defeating) an insurgency of 20,000 fighters.  Read more in "NATO ministers mull financing for Afghan security forces post-2014", The Washington Post, February 3, 2012.

Indiana Army National Guard Learns Blacksmithing for Deployment to Afghanistan

A group of Soldiers from the Indiana Army National Guard are attending a one-week long course for blacksmiths. The intent is to teach them skills that were used over a century ago by farmers to make agricultural tools. Once in Afghanistan they can help Afghan farmers set up village blacksmith shops that can make agricultural tools.  There is lots of scrap metal in Afghanistan as a result of thirty years of war.  Some of this scrap metal can be turned into tools that are useful for agriculture such as hammers, shovels, picks, chains, prongs, and plows.  The one-week long blacksmith course is being taught at the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Indiana. The park is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute.  See www.connerprairie.org.  See the news article at "Soldiers Study at Conner Prairie For Afghanistan Assignment", Indiana News TV6 ABC, February 15, 2012.

Solar Energy Needs in Afghanistan - Heavy Demand by Military

With modern technology comes better equipment for Soldiers in the field. Unfortunately, all this new, modern equipment requires power. For a field Soldier that usually means a battery or generator. A battery is heavy to carry and doesn't last long, the generator isn't field transportable and needs fuel.  The military has been pushing solar energy initiatives for the last several years.  Read more in "Soldier Energy Needs Outpacing Technology, Policy", National Defense Magazine, March 2012.

Night Raids - Are the Afghans Ready to Take Over?

A constant source of friction between President Karzai and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are the frequent night raids that ISAF conducts.  Karzai continues to assert that the night raids are causing a drop of support for the central government and the coalition troops.  ISAF maintains that the night raids are necessary for the successful conduct of the operations and safety of the populace.  The vast majority of the night raids have been joint operations for some time.  One of the primary reasons for the joint operations is to train up the Afghan counterparts. Based on some accounts this training appears to be on track.  See "Afghan army's night raiders ready to take control", Reuters, January 25, 2012.