Gates Had Reservations of Marine Fight in RC SW

According to his book "Duty" former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had doubts about the deployment of Marines to Helmand province - an area of Afghanistan with a sparse population. A lot of fighting power was positioned there at great expense - over 20,000 Marines plus a number of other allies (British, Danish, etc.). The Marines were part of the 30,000 troop surge provided by Obama to help in the population-centric counterinsurgency fight. Gates wondered if the deployment of the Marines had more to do with getting the Marines into the fight in Afghanistan (after its withdrawal from western Iraq) but with its own autonomous area without coming under the command of Army generals. Could be something to that! See "Gates on Afghan surge, Marines", U-T San Diego, January 13, 2014.

Explosive Hazardous Reduction Course (EHRC)

Photo by Bill Mesta -CJSOT-A

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) cause over 50% of the casualties for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). To counter the IED threat members of the ANSF attend a course called the Explosive Hazardous Reduction Course (EHRC). The course provides Afghan forces with a working knowledge of how to neutralize an IED threat in areas where they work, live, and fight. The EHRC consists of classroom instruction and practical field exercises that strengthen skills in locating bombs on the battlefield and destroying or defusing different types of IEDs used in the region. Learn more about the EHRC in this news release entitled "Afghan National Security Forces complete training on destroying IEDs", DVIDS, January 13, 2014.

E-mail Signup for Afghan War News Daily Bulletin

Afghan War News offers an option to receive blog posts via e-mail once a day. The newsletter goes out to your e-mail address between 0500-0700 EST. You get one e-mail whether there is one post or several. At the bottom of the e-mail message is an option to opt out. On the right side of the Afghan War News blog you will see "Follow by E-mail". In the text box input your e-mail address and hit submit. You will then see a dialogue box where you confirm your intent. An e-mail is then sent to your e-mail address asking you once again to confirm your subscription. Afghan War News E-mail Newsletter

SFA Adviser Selection Criteria Survey

Afghan War News is conducting some research on Security Force Assistance Adviser Selection Criteria. To that end we are sponsoring an online survey and request that personnel who have served as an adviser in the past (or are now presently advising) in Afghanistan take the survey. You can view more information about the survey, its purpose, and instructions at the link below. The survey is anonymous, does not collect personnel identification, and takes about 2 minutes to answer the ten easy questions.

www.afghanwarnews.info/sfa/adviser-selection-criteria-survey.htm

Kajaki Dam Project Continues to Have Problems

Photo by Karla Marshal, 2012

The Kajaki Dam in Helmand province, Afghanistan continues to be a symbol of the United States government's failed attempts to complete major projects involving millions of dollars and to provide proper oversight on the money that flows into Afghan hands to fund these projects. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is currently looking hard at the Kajaki Dam project. This dam has continued to be a problem area do to lack of security, delayed construction, and improper management. The current issue is that another $75 million is being pumped into this project to install an additional turbine at the site but the U.S. will have a lack of access to the site and very little vetting power over the project as the money has been handed over to the Afghans with very little strings attached. The Kajaki Dam was originally built in the 1950s by the United States. The third turbine was initially budgeted for $18 million and to be installed in 2005 but never completed. Now USAID has decided to spend an additional $75 million on the project and turn over completion of the project to the Afghans. Read more in "US watchdog issues alert over Afghan dam project oversight", Stars and Stripes, January 8, 2014. You can read the SIGAR letter to the USAID Mission Director in Afghanistan here.

Outposts Resupplied by Air - Not Ground

Many U.S. outposts are being resupplied by air drop. Although more expensive (money) this mode of resupply is much safer. The air drops reduce the need of ground convoys that are vulnerable to roadside bombs. Contract air is used for the "Low Cost / Low Altitude Aerial Drop" operations. The method of resupply by air has increased in popularity in Afghanistan and will likely continue in 2014 as bases close and those that remain become farther and farther apart. Read more in "Afghanistan Special Delivery", Time.com, January 12, 2014.

Tom Ricks: Review of "Duty"

Tom Ricks highlights some of the more savory and important parts of the book entitled "Duty" by Robert Gates (former Secretary of Defense). Read his review here.

Endgame for Marines in Afghanistan

A recent news article explores the Marines mission (past, present, and future) in Regional Command Southwest. The article discusses the tough fighting that has taken place over the years, the recent agreement between an ANA brigade commander in Sangin district with the Taliban, and how the Afghans will need to step up to succeed. The Marine strength in RC Southwest is currently about 7,000 (January 2014) but will drop to approximately 4,000 in the spring. At the peak of the war there were 20,000 Marines in the two provinces (Helmand and Nimruz) in 2011 - along with other Coalition partners (Danish and Brits). Read the article - "Afghan war reaches endgame", U-T San Diego, January 11, 2014.

Afghan Police Not Paid Since November 2013

It appears the over 150,000 police in Afghanistan have not been paid since November 2013 - with some not receiving money since October. The cause of the non-payment (according to Ministry of Interior spokesmen) is that the proper forms were not filed by the Ministry of Interior and passed to the Ministry of Finance. This is indicative of weak government institutions that do not have the ability to run large operations and perform important functions. For this reason, the ISAF commander, General Dunford, wants to retain a small number of advisors and mentors in Afghanistan in 2014 and beyond to work with the Afghan ministries in a functionally-based Security Force Assistance role. Read more in "Afghan Police, Often Derided, Face Another Drawback: Missing Pay", New York Times, January 12, 2014.

Who Is Minding the Store? Afghan Police Not Paid for Months

A staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor took note of the New York Times article on the non-payment of some 150,000 Afghan police for a couple of months. While we all know that the Afghan ministries are inept and corrupt one has to wonder who is supposed to be watching the Afghans to make sure our money is going where it is supposed to. Perhaps we need some accountants over there to chase the money. According to the Times article the first that ISAF knew about the non-payment of almost all of the police across the country (some not paid since October) was when a reporter asked ISAF about the problem. Hmmm, let's hope that is not a true statement. See "How inept is Afghanistan's government?", Christian Science Monitor, January 13, 2014.

E-mail Sign Up for Afghan War News Newsletter

Afghan War News offers an option to receive blog posts via e-mail once a day. The newsletter goes out to your e-mail address between 0500-0700 EST. You get one e-mail whether there is one post or several. At the bottom of the e-mail message is an option to opt out. On the right side of the Afghan War News blog you will see "Follow by E-mail". In the text box input your e-mail address and hit submit. You will then see a dialogue box where you confirm your intent. An e-mail is then sent to your e-mail address asking you once again to confirm your subscription. Afghan War News E-mail Newsletter

OCC-Rs Improving in Medical Coordination

The Operational Coordination Centers at the regional level (OCC-Rs) are slowly improving in their capabilities to coordinate and track medical evacuations of injured or wounded members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). This ability has been slow in coming but it would appear that the presence of a never-ending succession of medical advisors at the OCC-Rs is slowly having an effect. While the Afghan Air Force still has problems in conducting CASEVACs in any meaningful way (in terms of capacity) the ground evacuation capability of the ANSF is getting better. The picture at right (photo by CPL Mariah Best) shows Captain Nolan Ellis, medical advisor for the 201st Security Force Assistance Team, discussing the seven-line medical evacuation process with an ANA officer in the OCC-R South. Read more in "Medical operations in Afghanistan: Continued success as ANSF takes the lead", DVIDS, January 12, 2014.

I MEF (Fwd) Deploys to Afghanistan

Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) will be departing Camp Pendleton, California in January 2014 for a deployment to Afghanistan. They will serve in southern Afghanistan - a traditional area of operations for Marines. This unit will form the nucleus of Regional Command Southwest. The hqs element will be responsible for the closing and transferring of bases in RC SW and the movement of personnel home to the states. The retrograde from Afghanistan in RC SW should be complete by the end of 2014. Learn more in "I MEF (Fwd) deploys as last unit to command Marines in Afghanistan", Marine Times Battle Rattle, January 7, 2014.

Advisors Teach ANSF on 60-mm Mortar

Advisers from the 4th Cavalry Regiment at Combat Outpost Khilaguy in Afghanistan are teaching Afghan National Army members on firing the 60-mm mortar system.  The training includes classroom instruction and hands-on training exercises. Read more on the M224 60-mm mortar training in "Enabling the Afghan National Army", DVIDS, January 10, 2014.

German Defense Ministry Mum on Security Incidents

Following the lead of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) the German Defense Ministry is putting a lid on information pertaining to security incidents in northern Afghanistan citing the lack of accurate reporting from Afghan National Security Forces. However there are some skeptics that think this is more of a "report only good news" whenever possible and "avoid bad news". In addition, there is the 'information operations' aspect to only reporting good news. As part of the withdrawal process ISAF and its Coalition partners want to advance the narrative that troops are being pulled out of Afghanistan because the lead for security has been successfully transferred to the ANSF and the ANSF is doing well enough at this point in time. Bleak assessments of the security situation don't support the ISAF narrative. Read more in "German Defense Ministry closes files on Afghan security incidents", DW DE, January 8, 2014.

Army Corps of Engineers Continue 250 Projects in Afghanistan

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) continues to oversee the building of over 250 construction projects in Afghanistan. Despite the steady withdrawal of U.S. and other Coalition forces (projected to be at 34,000 in February 14) the corps continues to build projects for the Afghan military and police. View a video showing the construction of a facility that will house the Afghan National Army Recruiting Command (ANAREC) at some point in the future at the link below.
http://www.dvidshub.net/video/319399/infrastructure-critical-afghan-progress

CAAT Security Force Assistance Bibliography

The latest version (7 Dec 13) of the COMISAF (CAAT) Security Force Assistance (SFA) Bibliography is now available. The CAAT SFA Bibliography is a comprehensive listing of websites and publications that focus on the Security Force Assistance mission now taking place in Afghanistan. The 137 page document has a wealth of information on a variety of topics related to advising in Afghanistan. Some of these topics include Mission Essential Tasks, books, AARs, manuals and regulations relating to SFA, reading lists, overview of "functionally-based Security Force Assistance", C2, leadership, combined arms integration, integrated layered security, training, sustainment, ANA, ANP, pre-deployment training, insider threat, culture, use of interpreters, building rapport, and many others. You can access the PDF document at the following link - CAAT SFA Bibliography.

Election Security Not a Problem Says Afghan Spokesman

Afghan security officials believe that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will be able to provide security for the great majority of the election polling stations in the upcoming Afghan presidential elections. The Ministry of Interior spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said that a security assessment done for the election commission shows that 6,431 polling stations out of 6,845 can be guaranteed secure for the April election. There are 414 polling stations that still have security questions. Read the story in "Afghan officials say own troops to secure election", The Washington Post, January 11, 2014.

Medical Advisers with 3/10 Mountain Assist ANSF

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LIGHTNING, Afghanistan – At just two months into their deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Spartans, are hard at work, alongside their Afghan National Security Force counterparts as they continue to assume responsibility for the defense and security of their nation.

The Spartan brigade is currently tasked with advising and assisting the Afghan National Security Forces. To this end, the brigade has been providing the Afghans with mentorship and support in their effort to develop a capable and comprehensive medical corps. The goal is to establish a unit that can provide care for its personnel, from basic combat life saving skills, to advanced trauma care, consistently throughout Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/118994/spartans-foster-medical-partnership-with-afghan-counterparts#.UtHg_p5dV8E#ixzz2q8iw3jns

Accusations of Leaked NIE on Afghanistan

A former high-level intelligence official believes that the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) leaked in December 2013 was intentionally put out on the street by White House officials who want to paint a dismal picture of the situation in Afghanistan. The motive behind the leak is to prepare the U.S. public for an eventual "zero option" for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan; meaning that all troops will be removed by December 2014. It is believed that staffers working for Obama want to see the U.S. completely out of Afghanistan as soon as possible and the NIE provided an intelligence report that says the situation is very bad. Is this Iraq all over again? Read the story entitled "Cranked Up Intelligence", Newsweek, January 10, 2014.

What Does 2014 Look Like for Afghanistan?

M. Farshid Hakinyar, the Founding Director of the Afghanistan Organization for Strategic Studies in Kabul has wrote a piece that looks at the transition of security of Afghanistan from ISAF led security to ANSF led security and provides insight on the Bilateral Security Agreement and upcoming April elections. He also examines issues related to governance; citing corruption and the drug trade as serious issues. He highlights problems that occurred in 2013 but also provides examples of progress that has been made in the past year. Read more in "Afghanistan 2013: Security Transition - Analysis", Eurasia Review, January 11, 2014.

Internet Provides a Veil for Women in Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan have made impressive gains since the Taliban have been toppled. These gains could quickly erode over time if the Taliban take power or if a more conservative Parliament comes to power changing the laws that provided women protection. One aspect of society should continue to provide opportunity and protection - and that is the Internet. Read more in "Can Afghan women seek sanctuary in the Internet's virtual veil?",  Stars and Stripes, January 12, 2014.

Alpha Omega Services Completes Contract

Alpha Omega Services (AOS) is nearing completion of its contract to provide training, maintenance, and repair services for weapons systems to the Afghan National Army (ANA). In the North of Kabul (NoK) area Alpha Omega Services is turning over excess inventory to the 201st Corps so that they will have a stockpile of parts to fix their own weapons systems. The ANA, assisted by advisors from the 4th Brigade 10th Mountain Division, will be maintaining and repairing their own weapons. In the photo at left MAJ Kyle Brown, logistics advisor for the 201st Corps, inspects a broken weapons part inside the ANA's weapons repair shop at FOB Gamberi in Laghman province. Learn more in "The Missing Part", DVIDS, January 8, 2014. (Photo by SGT Eric Provost, TF Patriot PAO).

BSA Needs Signing in 'Weeks' not 'Months'

The White House continues to stress the importance of the quick signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA). However, there is no indication that Karzai will sign it. Karzai has stated that he will leave the signing of the BSA to his successor to be decided in the upcoming Afghan presidential elections in April. It would appear that Karzai seems content in the knowledge that the U.S. really won't walk away from Afghanistan prior to April 2014. He also probably has determined that the U.S. and the other ISAF Coalition partners can do 'parallel planning' for both a residual force under the Resolute Support mission and the prospect of a complete withdrawal prior to January 2015. What has become painfully obvious is the lack of leverage that the international community has on Karzai and his cronies! Read more in "White House: Afghan troop deal must be signed in weeks and not months", The Hill Blog, January 6, 2014.

Afghans to Release Taliban Prisoners Despite US Objections

The Afghans will soon release about 88 prisoners held in a detention camp now run by the Afghans. The detention camp at Bagram Air Field was run by the United States but turned over to the Afghans in March 2013. The Afghans are reneging on a promise to the United States not to release any of the hard-core Taliban prisoners who have been detained for attacks against coalition forces. Read more in "US lists crimes of alleged insurgents slated for release in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, January 7, 2014.

ISAF Security Force Assistance Guide 2.0

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) published the ISAF Security Force Assistance Guide 2.0 (or SFA Guide) in early January 2014. This comprehensive guide book provides information on Security Force Assistance, functionally-based SFA framework, advisor selection and training, the operational environment, ISAF structure and organization, Afghan Security Institutions, ISAF SFA METL, Afghan National Security Forces (charts, organization structure, mission, etc.) and other valuable information for advisors, trainers, and mentors. Included in the guidebook is a bibliography, acronym list, organization charts, and process maps. Learn more about the SFA Guide 2.0 here.

World Wide Augmentation System (WIAS)

Most service members deploy to Afghanistan as part of a unit. However, some deploy as augmentees to units or staffs under the Worldwide Individual Augmentation System (WIAS). WIAS is the primary method for requesting military and civilian augmentation for contingency operations. Units and staffs can request personnel to fill vacancies or to obtain personnel who have certain qualifications that the unit or staff does not have. An example of how an individual position is filled can be seen in the case of an individual augmentee to Task Force Paladin in Afghanistan in "Working as a WIAS", DVIDS, January 5, 2014.

State Department Bungles Visas for Afghan Interpreters

The U.S. State Department has not covered itself with glory on the issue surrounding the lack of visas processed for Afghan interpreters under the Special Immigrant Visa program. If you read the State Department website you would think everything is under control and proceeding nicely.

"Across the U.S. government, every effort is being made to ensure qualified applicants are processed in a timely fashion before the Afghan program's scheduled end date." 

That is just a bucket full of HORSE MANURE!

Read a recent news column on how well (or badly) the State Department is doing with the processing of visas for Afghan interpreters and translators in "Support Afghans who helped U.S. soldiers", USA Today, January 3, 2014. The quote above comes from a statement on the State Department website found at the following link. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3738.html. Perhaps the bureaucrats working on the approval committee for visas at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul should visit the website and read the above statement.

Recommended Books for Afghan Deployments

A recent post on the "War On The Rocks" blog provides recommendations for books to read prior to an Afghan deployment. The blog post is entitled "Rebooting Country Studies" (published December 31, 2013) and discusses in general the types of books required by individuals studying a world region or country (possibly in preparation for a deployment). Within the context of the article are some books that are recommended if one is inclined to learn a little about how Afghanistan works. The books are by (you have to go to the middle of the article to read this) Taminm Ansary and include West of Kabul, East of New York and Games Without Rules: the Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan

Afghanistan Seeks Military Equipment Upgrades

Afghanistan is seeking additional military hardware and equipment for its army. A recent visit to India by President Karzai highlighted the need for additional equipment and more training for the Afghan National Army (ANA). Some specific needs articulated by the Afghans include additional artillery such as the 122-mm D-30 Howitzer, helicopters and ISR platforms for the Afghan Air Force, and tanks. The United States is providing funding and equipment for the ANA but the "want" list of the Afghans does not always match up with the "give" list of the United States.One problem with the providing of advanced equipment is that the Afghan National Security Forces have a low literacy rate and high turnover making it difficult for the ANSF to train and retain qualified operators and maintainers.

Special Forces Officer Assignments

Two Special Forces officers have received new assignments. MG Chris Haas and COL Kurt Sonntag have been picked for new positions - the announcement coming from the Chief of Staff of the Army (see link to news story below). MG Hass will be the Director of Force Management and Development at the U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. His previous assignments include commander of SOCAFRICA, CFSOCC-Afghanistan, and US Army Special Forces Command. COL Sonntag has been a long-time member of the Special Forces community and has been selected for the rank of brigadier general to be Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=16468

The U.S. Should Process Visas for Afghan Interpreters

The United States Department of State is taking the low road in the implementation of granting visas to Afghan interpreters who served side-by-side (or Shona-ba-Shona) with their U.S. counterparts for a number of years. With the war winding down (at least for the U.S.) the need for employing the interpreters diminishes. In addition, many of these interpreters are at risk of retaliation from the insurgents because they assisted the United States. Congress approved a visa program for the interpreters but the State Department has dragged their feet. Evidently the problem resides within the U.S. Embassy in Kabul where a small committee of bureaucrats who spend much of their time sipping "tea" at the "duck and cover" are taking their sweet time processing visas. Many times they just stamped "rejected" on the application with no explanation of why the visa was rejected. This is definitely not the way we should treat loyal allies. Secretary Kerry needs to get involved and fix this mess. Read more in "Afghan translators deserve special visas - and fast", The Washington Post, January 2, 2014.

Drug Trade Could Cause Splinter of Afghanistan

The export of opium from Afghanistan to Central Asia, Europe and other locations has reached an all-time high in 2013. There is no reason to think that this rise in the Afghan drug trade will subside in 2014. Almost all areas of the Afghan society is involved in the illicit trade of drugs to include the police, government officials, and the Taliban. There is concern that as foreign aid dwindles that even more segments of Afghan society will turn to the drug trade for financial gain and that this uptick in the drug trade will create more competition and cause the formation of a fragmented criminal state. Learn more about the Afghan drug trade in "Drug trade could splinter Afghanistan into fragmented criminal state - UN", The Guardian, January 5, 2014.

India Interested in Afghan Hajigak Iron Ore Mines

India may soon sign a contract with the Afghan government for the development of the Hajigak iron ore mines. The deal was offered to a consortium led by the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) a few years back. Read more in "Afghanistan keen to ink mining contract with India", SME Times, December 24, 2013.

Afghan Hand Advises Director of Kandahar International Airport

Photo by 1SG Mary Williams

Over the past three years the Afghan Hands program has provided culturally skilled advisors to a variety of organizations within the Afghan military. However, this program works beyond just the Afghan National Security Forces. For example, one Afghan Hand provides training, advice, and assistance to the director of the Kandahar International Airport. Read the story of how this advisor does his job and helps the airport in Kandahar improve its capability and performance. See "Afghan Hand formed partnership works for Kandahar airport", DVIDS, December 24, 2013.

Afghans to Release Detainees Over US Objections

Afghanistan has given approval for the release of 80 or more detainees that were formerly held in the U.S. detention center in Bagram. The detainees are now under the control of the Afghans and may be released due to "lack of evidence". The underlying issue is the lack of an Afghan willingness to adopt an option for non-criminal military detention; relying instead on prosecution under criminal law. The Afghans, of course, are doing exactly what we have been advising them to do over the past several years - to conduct warrant-based arrests and prosecutions of insurgents in the criminal court system utilizing a "Rule of Law" approach to defeating an insurgency. Of course, it should be mentioned that the Afghan justice system is incredibly corrupt, not very well established, and terribly inefficient. And then . . . there is also the Afghan police which is problematic at best. So on one hand the U.S. wants to instill within the Afghans a "Rule of Law" approach to fighting the insurgency and insurgents (treating them as criminals) but on the other hand we want to keep some detainees in confinement and subject to "a law of war detention" environment. Read a more detailed account of this situation in "Afghanistan on Verge of Releasing 88 Former US-Held Detainees, Over US Objections", Lawfare Blog, January 2, 2014.

Regional Artillery Training Center Opens in Zabul

The 205th Corps in RC South recently opened its Regional Artillery Training Center in Zabul province. The training site is located at Camp Eagle and will offer training in all areas of field artillery. The main gun of the Afghan National Army is the 122mm D-30 Howitzer. Read more in "First artillery training center unveiled in Afghanistan", DVIDS, January 3, 2014.

Afghan Election Recommendations for the U.S.

2014 will be a very important year for the Afghans. In the security arena the Afghan National Security Forces will be on their own. Many of the ISAF combat enablers (fires, MEDEVAC, logistics, intelligence assets, and others) provided to the ANSF during 2012 and 2013 will have been downsized due to the withdrawal of the Coalition combat troops. The economy will suffer a downward trend as foreign aid diminishes and the financial support provided to the Afghan government for its ministries and military is reduced. Confidence in the Afghan economy will suffer and many investors may sit on the sidelines to see what 2015 brings. The lack of a signature for the Bilateral Security Agreement poses additional problems; but hopefully someone can knock some sense into Karzai and he will sign.

However, probably one of the most important events to take place that will affect all the factors mentioned above is the upcoming Afghan elections scheduled for this April 2014. The international community has to on one hand - support the election process and provide some oversight to ensure legitimacy - but on the other hand stay away from the process enough so that it is not seen as meddling.

The Director of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Andrew Wilder, has provided five recommendations that the U.S. should follow in regards to the Afghan elections. These recommendations include making the Afghan elections a top priority, an appointment of a U.S. official with ambassadorial rank to oversee focus on the elections, avoid endorsing or supporting any specific candidate, actively support the media and civic education efforts, and work with Afghanistan's regional partners to improve the election environment.

Read more in "Looking Ahead: Why 2014 Will Be A Huge Year for Afghanistan", KGOU (NPR), January 2, 2014.

IO - Discredited Tool or User Failure?

A paper has been recently published by the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) entitled "U.S. Governmental Information Operations and Strategic Communications: A Discredited Tool or User Failure? Implications for Future Conflict", by Steve Tatham, December 2013. The manuscript was funded by the U.S. Army War College External Research Associates Program. The author uses the experience of information operations (IO) in Afghanistan "to identify the shortcomings of U.S. strategic communications - particularly the tendency to rely on contractors using methods drawn from advertising and marketing". The document can be read online or download (Adobe Acrobat PDF) from the SSI website at this link.

Afghan Border Police Need More Medical Training and Supplies

The Afghan Border Police or ABP work in the most remote parts of Afghanistan. When an ABP member is wounded or injured he is miles and hours (sometimes days) away from the nearest medical facility. With the number of MEDEVACs performed by Coalition rotary wing aircraft for the ANSF in a steep decline a great percentage of the wounded die. SFAATs advising the ANSF in the North of Kabul (NoK) area of Afghanistan along the Afghan-Pakistan border are providing medical training to the ABP so they can administer first aid prior to evacuation to a medical facility. Learn more in "Turning border police into lifesavers in Afghanistan's remotest places", Stars and Stripes, January 1, 2014.

Opium Poppy Cultivation Surges in Afghanistan

Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has grown for the third straight year and Afghanistan is now the number one producer of opium crops in the world. Learn more in "Afghanistan's opium crop sets new records", Stars and Stripes, December 30, 2013.

Afghan Special Forces Training with Indian Army

57 members of the Afghan Special Forces trained with elite members of the Indian Army in India during the month of December 2013. The training events include counter-terrorism, use of specialized equipment, heliborne operations, combat shooting, and other activities. For more on this see "Indian, Afghan spl forces in first jt counter-terror exercises", Business Standard, December 19, 2013.

Rail Lines to Boost China Trade Along New Silk Road

The soon to be built railroads along the steppes of Asia will be the economic life line for China to Europe and beyond. While the United States is moving its attention away from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East and focusing on the Pacific; China is looking in many directions. One of these directions is to China's west in the vicinity of Central Asia. The railroads being built in Afghanistan and in other parts of Central Asia will provide access to markets for China. This will be the new silk road for China. Read more on this topic in "New Rail Links to Boost China's Western Access", The Diplomat, December 27, 2013.

Afghan Government Revenues Fall Short

The effect of Afghanistan's economy slowing down has caused the domestic government revenues to fall short by 20%. Read more in "Afghan government revenues 20 percent short of target", Reuters, January 5, 2014.

SFAAT Advising in Parwan Province, Afghanistan

A Security Force Advise and Assist Team or SFAAT is now advising provincial officials and members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Charikar - the capital city of Parwan province, Afghanistan. The SFAAT is from 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. In addition, to Parwan, the SFAT also advises in Kapisa province just to the east. Learn more about the SFAAT mission in "2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment adds new location to advising mission", DVIDS, December 30, 2013.

Karzai Responds to Pessimistic Intel Report

President Karzai has responded to a pessimistic National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) that states Afghanistan will not do well past 2014 if the Bilateral Security Agreement is not signed.  Read more in "Afghanistan rejects grim U.S. intelligence forecast as baseless", Reuters, December 30, 2013.

Pashtun Tribal Dynamics by Tribal Analysis Center (Oct 09)

The Tribal Analysis Center published in October 2009 a document entitled "Pashtun Tribal Dynamics". If you work in an area of Afghanistan in a Pashtun dominated area this reference could be very informative and help you understand the many characteristics of the Afghan tribes and specifically the Pashtun tribes, clans, and villages. The document is an Adobe Acrobat PDF and can be accessed at the link below.

www.tribalanalysiscenter.com/PDF-TAC/Pashtun%20Tribal%20Dynamics.pdf

Corruption - A Plague on Afghanistan

Corruption permeates Afghan society and government from the lowest level official at the district level all the way up to the ministers at cabinet level and beyond to the President of Afghanistan (Karzai). It is yearly ranked among the three most corrupt nations in the world to include North Korea and Somalia - that is not great company to be in. Many of the dollars from well-meaning donor nations have ended up in the bank accounts of high-level officials. Attempts at anti-corruption measures by the Afghan government are laughable; as are any attempts by ISAF to control the corruption of their Afghan counterparts. Read more in "Corruption Plagues Afghanistan Ahead of U.S. Withdrawal", U.S. News and World Report, December 27, 2013.

Prospects for an Afghan 2014

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has published an "Expert Roundup" entitled the "Prospects for Afghanistan in 2014" dated December 18, 2013. The "experts" are well-renowned in their field and all have considerable experience with Afghanistan. They include Graeme Smit (International Crisis Group), Seth Jones (RAND Corporation), Nader Nadery (Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit), Clare Lockhart (Institute for State Effectiveness),  and Daniel Markey (Council on Foreign Relations). These five experts weigh in on a variety of topics to include the drop-off in aid, Afghan elections in 2014, inability of the ANSF to secure the country, a looming economic downturn, and the continued meddling of Pakistan with its support of Afghan insurgent groups. You can read the article at the below link:
www.cfr.org/afghanistan/prospects-afghanistan-2014/p32094

Afghan TV Resembles U.S. TV in Election Campaign

A recent news article compares the Afghan TV coverage of the upcoming 2014 Afghan elections with that of U.S. TV coverage of U.S. presidential campaigns. There are a lot of similarities. Read more in "Why Afghanistan's election campaign may look familiar to American TV viewers", NBC World News, December 28, 2013.