Human Rights Report 2104 - Afghan Women

A recent report by Human Rights Watch (2014) states that there is great concern that women's rights in Afghanistan will back-slip due to the withdrawal of ISAF troops post-2014. The report cites that there was declining respect for human rights in the country over the past year (2013). It cites attacks on women's rights, growing internal displacement and migration, and weakened efficacy of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). According to the report, opponents of women's rights have seized the opportunity to begin rolling back the progress made since the end of the Taliban rule. This has happened due to the waning international interest in Afghanistan. Read Human Rights Watch Report on Afghan Women.

2-15 Field Artillery Wins Award for Afghan Deployment

A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division won the Henry A. Knox award. The U.S. Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma recognizes the best active-duty artillery battery in the Army with the award. During their nine-month deployment to Paktika province, Afghanistan in 2013 the Soldiers performed with distinction as a Security Force Assistance Advisory Team (SFAAT) and provided artillery fires in support of maneuver operations. The SFAAT Red 1 Team provided advisory assistance to Afghan National Army artillery units in the employment of the Afghan 122-mm D-30 Howitzers.

Congress Cuts Military and Development Aid for Afghanistan

Congress has cut military and development aid for Afghanistan. The reduction in money is something that happened quietly without a lot of discussion in Congress and no opposition from the Obama administration. Our general officers are strangely quiet as well (do they know it is a losing battle or have they too given up on the Afghans?). Development aid was cut in half and the military saw some significant cuts as well. This could be war fatigue, disappointment in the rampart corruption in the Afghan government, or displeasure with Karzai's antics in regard to his not signing the Bilateral Security Agreement. Read more in "Congress cuts U.S. military and development aid for Afghanistan", The Washington Post, January 24, 2014.

Schoolhouse Construction in Afghanistan - Lacking Oversight

Schoolhouse in MeS - photo SIGAR Jan 14

A schoolhouse being built in Afghanistan has turned into a glaring example of how an aid project can go wrong in Afghanistan. The school has turned into a money pit - the project lasting five years and a number of contractors. The school still is yet completed with USAID in search of yet another contractor to finish the job and correct the deficiencies. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) recently published a report on this project. Unfortunately, the example in this report is not the exception but probably the rule. USAID has had some big problems in oversight of its projects. Corruption in Afghanistan is rampart and we have not seen the return we should have on the many billions of dollars pumped into Afghanistan - whether military aid or reconstruction dollars. Read a recent news article on the school in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan entitled "5 years and 3 contractors later, Afghanistan school still deemed unsafe", Fox News, January 22, 2014. Read the SIGAR report.

SIGAR: ANSF Literacy Program Needs Oversight

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has published a report (January 2014) entitled Afghan National Security Forces: Despite Reported Successes, Concerns Remain about Literacy Program Results, Contract Oversight, Transition, and Sustainment, SIGAR 14-30 Audit Report. SIGAR has found a number of implementation and oversight issues with the ANSF literacy program. You can read the report at the following link. www.sigar.mil/pdf/audits/SIGAR_14-30-AR.pdf

ISAF Improves Oversight of Literacy Contracts and Training Programs for ANSF

The International Security Assistance Force announced it has implemented new literacy and language training contracts for the Afghan National Security Forces to improve delivery and oversight of the services purchases. The new contracts were awarded as ISAF has identified shortfalls in the terms and conditions of the initial service contract. Under the new contracts, metrics for service delivery and performance are more stringent. The scope and duration of the contracts are narrower which will lead to efficiencies in delivery and performance.

Read more in "Coalition improves oversight of literacy contracts and training programs", DVIDS, January 27, 2014.

Literacy Program - Not Quite Shock and Awe

Read one bloggers comments about the failed Afghan literacy program and how it is reflective of the many other programs where money has gone down the drain. See "Shock & Awe: Afghan literacy program fails" by Afghan Good Enough.

http://afghanright.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/shock-awe-afghan-literacy-program-fails/

US Denounces Release of Detainees by Afghans

The U.S. military is not happy with Karzai on a number of issues. One of these is Karzai's insistence on releasing insurgents that were under U.S. control and then transferred to the Afghans. Many of the detainees to be released are considered by the U.S. to be "legitimate threats to security". Read more in "US military denounces release of 'dangerous' Afghan prisoners", Stars and Stripes, January 27, 2014.

ANSF Hobbled by Illiteracy

According to a recent news article the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are 'hobbled' by illiteracy. More than half the numbers of the Afghan military and police don't know how to read or write and those that do are at the 3rd grade level. Despite millions of dollars provided by the United States to improve literacy (currently there is a $200 million contract to three different firms to implement the program) the ANSF still has a low literacy rate. This partly stemming from the huge churn of personnel. The many recruits that do join the ANSF don't stay very long; so they arrive illiterate and some receive training - and promptly depart for better jobs in the civilian sector. Read more in "Afghan Forces Hobbled by illiteracy, U.S. Inspector Says", Bloomberg News, January 28, 2014.

Karzai Continues to Demonize the U.S. Forces

The Karzai verbal onslaught against the U.S. military in Afghanistan continues. He now says that we are aided in or conducted insurgent-style attacks to undermine his government. Folks are trying to figure out what is driving his insanity - appeasement to the Taliban, improving his legacy of standing up to a superpower, hedging his bets and casting blame on the U.S. for failure after December 2014? No one really has a handle on his motivation. (Perhaps just too much drug use? A secret plant of the Taliban?). Read more in "Karzai suspects U.S. is behind insurgent-style attacks, Afghan officials say", The Washington Post, January 28, 2014.

Expat Recalls La Taverna Restaurant in Kabul

A former member of the expat community in Kabul recalls with fond memories the recently bombed restaurant in Kabul - La Taverna du Liban. Her recollection is of a safe place with good food that allowed expats to get away from the war. Read "Afghan bombing stirs memories", Sedalia Democrat, January 24, 2014.

Article - 21 Most Corrupt Nations in World: Guess Where Afghanistan Is on the List?

On the top of the list! Of course. Our friend President Karzai is the most corrupt world leader at present time and the corruption extends from the presidents office, through the ministries, all the way down to the district level. See who else is on the corruption list in "Investors Beware: The 21 Most Corrupt Nations", Forbes.com, January 22, 2014.

Flat Tires in Kabul - Good Police Work?

There has been a rash of flat tires in Kabul. Turns out it is the Afghan police enforcing a parking ban against parking on the street. Read more in "Punctured Tires in Kabul are the Work of Police, not Punks", NPR Parallels, January 20, 2014.

Briefing on Functionally-based Security Force Assistance

A video entitled Functionally-based Security Force Assistance (SFA) by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The briefing is on the ISAF shift in mission focus from combat-oriented, unit-based Security Force Assistance to functionally-based, multi-echelon Security Force Assistance. The video can be viewed at the below link:

https://youtu.be/DfwHQiKyxVs

More Suicide Bombing Attacks Expected

ISAF reports that more insurgent suicide bombing attacks are expected against soft targets. The insurgents hope that media attention generated by high-profile, spectacular attacks in Afghanistan will generate uncertainty about the future and an atmosphere of fear. There is the expectation that attacks like the recent January 2014 attack at a Kabul restaurant will continue to take place. Read more in "U.S. Commander: 'High-Profile, Spectacular' Attacks in Afghanistan Likely to Increase", U.S. News and World Report, January 23, 2014.

STARRS - Flex Cuffs for "Lone Survivor" Scenarios

A former Navy Captain and SEAL who was the command surgeon for the U.S. Special Operations Command has invented a time-delayed flex cuff device (called STARRS) that might have averted the "Lone Survivor" scenario. On the mission the four SEALs were spotted by three goat herders (one a teenage boy). The moral and tactical dilemma facing the four SEALs was whether to execute the goat herders, restrain them, or let them go. The SEALs let the goat herders go and the goat herders reported their presence to others. It didn't take long, two hours, for the Taliban to show up in superior numbers. Of the four SEALs, only one survived and in a subsequent rescue attempt even more SEALs died. The "Time Cuff" could have been helpful if available to the SEALs. Read more in "Lone Survivor debacle could be avoided with a gadget", USA Today, January 21, 2014. Visit a website with more information on the "Special Timer-Activated Restraint & Release System (STARRS) at the following link - www.sofwat.com/portfolio/starrs-tactical-cuffs/.

SFA Logistics Advisor

1LT  Robert Krueger is a logistical advisor to his Afghan counterparts in Parwan province, Afghanistan. Based on Bagram Air Field he advises and assists the ANSF on their logistical and supply system. The LT is part of a Security Force Assistance Advisory Team capable of rapidly moving to a location and providing assistance to the ANSF throughout Afghanistan's Regional Command East. Part of his duties involve coaching the ANSF prior to major operations and receiving accurate reporting following an important event. Read more in "2-4 Infantry, advising and assisting in Parwan", DVIDS, January 26, 2014. (Photo by 1LT Joseph Robinson, TF Patriot, Jan 18, 2014).

State Dept Justice Programs in Afghanistan Need Oversight

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has published a report entitled Support for Afghanistan's Justice Sector: State Department Programs Need Better Management and Stronger Oversight, SIGAR 14-26 Audit Report, January 2014. According to SIGAR " . . . the Department of State has spent at least $223 million on justice sector development programs in Afghanistan to train Afghan justice sector personnel such as judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys". The report finds some flaws in the management of the programs and in the oversight to ensure that the implementing partners are satisfying the contractual requirements and meeting the intent of the projects. You can read or download the report at the following link. www.sigar.mil/pdf/audits/SIGAR_14-26-AR.pdf

Hairitan, Afghanistan: A Glimmer of Hope in Northern Afghanistan

Advisors conducting the Security Force Assistance mission in the border town of Hairitan, Afghanistan are impressed with the progress being made by the local community. The advisors see economic development and cooperation among the local leaders and various elements of the Afghan security forces. A key tenet of the Security Force Assistance or SFA mission is stepping back from doing things for the Afghans to assisting them in solving their own problems with the assets and resources available to them. Learn more about the success of Hairitan and of how the SFA advisors are assisting. See "West Point grad eyes success in Afghanistan", DVIDS, January 22, 2014. (Photo at left is of Army CPT Thomas Pierczynski, photo by LT Bryan Mitchell - DVIDS).

Some Afghan Tours to be Three Years - Families can Accompany Spouse

In a little-known but significant change to deployment policies the military has revealed there will be three-year tours to Afghanistan starting in mid-2014. The number of personnel required to perform the long deployments will likely be small as the level of troops in Afghanistan is slowly going down. By February 2014 troop levels should be at 32,000 but in October 2014 it is estimated that there will be only 10,000 troops. Assignments will not be begin until after the Bilateral Security Agreement is signed and the NATO SOFA is formalized. Defense spokesmen state that only selected personnel in unique positions will be on the extended tours. The personnel likely to perform the three-year tours include ministry-level advisers, members of the Afghan Hands program, Air Force advisers to the Afghan Air Force, defense attache personnel, and Foreign Area Officers (FAOs). The impact to family life will be minimal as the military members will have the option of an accompanied tour. Read more in "Afghanistan Assignments Now Three-Year Accompanied Tours", Shadow Spear, January 2014.

Kam Air - ISAF and DoS Folds Again

In a case of "you can't make this up" we now learn that Kam Air, the Afghan Airlines that has without doubt smuggled large quantities of opium for Karzai and his friends, is now cleared to take part in U.S. contracts. Unbelievable! ISAF and the State Department have rolled over for Karzai once again. When will we learn?

The owner of Kam Air, Zamari Kamgar, is a staunch ally of Karzai. In early 2013 the U.S., after a thorough investigation, decided that Kam Air would be barred from U.S. contracts because of its extensive drug movement activities. However, the U.S. balked and acceded to Karzai's demands that it hold off until the Afghans completed their investigation. Well, the (Afghan) jury is in and the Afghans say Kam Air is innocent (of course). The U.S. Embassy didn't lose much time in sending out a letter stating that Kam Air was free to take part in U.S. contracts. Quite an astounding turn of events but not surprising given the Embassy and ISAF track record of not standing up to the corrupt Karzai regime.

Read more in  "Dubious Afghan airline Kam Air circles back into US orbit", Security Watch Backchannels, Christian Science Monitor, January 23, 2014.

Afghan Warlord Ismail Khan Escapes Assassination

An assassination attempt by a suicide bomber against the warlord Ismail Khan failed. This is not the first time that the 'elder statesman' from western Afghanistan has escaped death by suicide bomber. Ismail Khan is a former minister for water and energy and is currently running in the 2014 Afghan elections as one of two vice presidents with presidential candidate Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf (also a former warlord). Rad more in "Afghan ex-minister escapes assassination attempt", Bloomberg Businessweek News, January 24, 2104.

Only 57% of CERP Funds Spent in Past Six Years

Members of Congress and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) are puzzled why the Department of Defense keeps asking for more money to spend in Afghanistan on reconstruction and development when their track record for spending Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds is less than stellar. According to records only 57% of the CERP funding has been spent over the past six years. There are some camps that believe CERP is an outdated process and that money should be funneled through the Afghan ministries or go to big projects. However, there are others that say CERP is the way to go as it is for small projects with an immediate impact that can be completed in a timely fashion with less opportunity for corruption. Read more in "Watchdog: US reconstruction funds go unspent in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, January 23, 2014. Read the letter from SIGAR to COMISAF regarding a request for information about the Commander's Emergency Response Program in Afghanistan. The letter mentions that only $43.5 million of $200 million appropriated for CERP were obligated by DoD before the funds expired.

NY Times Interpreter Killed in Afghanistan

Noor Admad Noori, an Afghan interpreter for The New York Times, was found beaten and stabbed to death outside of Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Many interpreters are trying to receive visas from the United States Department of State to avoid the violence and because they feel they are targeted by the Taliban because of there work for the military or foreigners. See "Former Interpreter for The Times is Killed in Afghanistan", The New York Times, January 24, 2014.

U.S. Targeted by Taliban and GIRoA IO Campaign

The United States is currently engaged with two adversaries in the information operations (IO) arena. One, of course, is the engagement with the Taliban in the media market place. The Taliban seem to get their message out quick and to great effect utilizing spokesmen, email, tweets, and websites. The Taliban also distribute their "night letters" throughout the rural countryside with the obvious coercive and intimidation capability amplifying the night letter themes. While ISAF - by way of DVIDS, PAOs, and other means - is quick to get its message out it has a defensive and reactive quality. Its' use of Afghan TV and radio outlets may be effective (until Karzai has ads pulled) but the reach beyond the Kabul area is not widespread.

ISAF also seems to be waging battle in the IO arena with the Kabul government (GIRoA). While the Afghans IO might be tainted with inaccuracies and untruths it is still a powerful voice. Lately one has to wonder whose side GIRoA is on? Are they siding with ISAF or with the Taliban? Read "False Claims in Afghan Accusations on U.S. Raid Add to Doubts on Karzai", The New York Times, January 25, 2014.

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ANSF Winning Most Firefights Against Taliban

LTG Mark Milley, the commander of ISAF Joint Command (IJC), says that the Taliban is losing most of the firefights with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). "The Taliban rarely masses its forces in direct confrontation with Afghan forces . . . " (of course not, guerrillas don't do that). The general reports that the ANSF engaged in about 3,000 to 4,000 firefights over the past year but lost only 100-150 of those engagements. Read more in "Afghan forces winning most firefights against Taliban", USA Today, January 23, 2014.

Isn't That Afghan War Over?

An interesting commentary about the publics perception of the Afghan War. Except for the members of the military and the family members with loved ones serving in Afghanistan the war is mostly over. The Obama administration would like you to think that and probably relishes the news focus on Syria, Iran, the Russian Olympics, Super Bowl, and whatever the currently in vogue Hollywood actress is doing now. However, the war isn't over for the 34,000 plus Americans and other NATO partners who are still in harms way. Read more in "American Troops in Afghanistan - Isn't That War Over?", 2paragraphs, January 23, 2014.

Karzai Insists U.S. Talk Peace With Taliban

President Karzai never seems to stop surprising us.We should be used to it by now. Karzai now says that the U.S. must start peace talks with the Taliban first before he will sign the Bilateral Security Agreement. Karzai said that not including the Taliban as part of the Afghan government will ensure that it will be weak in the future.(Not sure it can get any worse than it is now). I would think by now that we know we won't get Karzai to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement. Any deadlines that we established has come and gone. Now our State Department is saying it needs to be signed "in weeks not months". I guess that means it needs to be signed in 16 weeks - after the Afghan presidential election held in April. Or maybe in 26 weeks after the run-off for the Presidential election. Hmmmmm. Read more in "Hamid Karzai toughens stance on Afghanistan security deal with US", The Guardian, January 25, 2014.

10K or Nothing: Proposed Troop Levels

Recent news reports reveal that General Dunford, the commander of ISAF, has recommended that the troop levels to remain in Afghanistan post December 2014 be at 10,000. He believes that is the appropriate number to adequately support and protect the Security Force Assistance mission and the counter-terrorism mission going beyond 2014. Any number less than 10,000 really would not be effective and then the option would be to pull out altogether. Read more in "US military wants 10,000 troops or none in post-2104 Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, January 22, 2014.

Played by Karzai - and the BSA

It appears that several deadlines have expired (three as I count them) for the Afghans to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).  At first it was early fall 2013, then just after the Loya Jirga held in November 2013, then December 31st, and now the deadline is . . . well . . . after the April elections when there is a new president. Should the elections take place, and there is no presidential run-off, and the new president thinks the BSA is a good idea then we will have an agreement for U.S. troops (about 10,000 thousand) to stay in Afghanistan beyond December 2014. To the outside observer it would seem that ISAF and the Department of State have been schooled by Karzai. We want the agreement more than he does. However, it appears that it is not absolutely essential that an agreement be in place before April. And somehow Karzai had that all figured out while we didn't. Read more here - "In lieu of Afghan security pact, NATO must remain flexible, defense chiefs say", Stars and Stripes, January 23, 2014.

SFAATs Train 205th Corps on Class IX Management

Photo of RC-South advisers checking "warlord" shipment
of class IX supplies for 205th Corps (photo CPL Mariah Best)

Security Force Assistance advisers working in Regional Command South are assisting and training their Afghan counterparts on how to manage and distribute class IX supplies from the 205th Corps down to the four brigades of the corps. The upcoming Afghan elections to be held in April 2014 are an important event. The Taliban have vowed to disrupt the electoral process with the intent of discrediting the election and the legitimacy of the newly elected president. The Afghan National Army, along with other elements of the Afghan National Security Force, will need to keep the Taliban at bay. To do this their equipment and vehicles need to be operating at a high state of readiness - and this is dependent on repair parts and supplies.

Unfortunately the class IX system for the Afghan National Army is broke. The push system provides parts from the national warehouse down to the corps and then the corps push these supplies down to the brigades. What is pushed is not what is usually needed. The established system for ordering parts that are required is not utilized effectively (despite many years of advisers trying to fix that). The end result is a glut of unneeded parts and supplies and a lack of critical items.

With the recent logistics training by the SFAATs in RC-South it is hoped that the class IX supply issue is alleviated. Read more in "ANSF and ISAF work logistics for upcoming elections", DVIDS, January 24, 2014. www.dvidshub.net/news/119602/ansf-and-isaf-work-logistics-upcoming-elections

Can the ANSF Hold Back the Taliban during Elections?

A big question on everyone's mind is whether or not the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) can provide security for the 6,000 plus voting polls located across the country. A recent report by the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense states that the ANSF will be able to secure 95% of the polling stations. Other outside observers are not so optimistic. A key component of the security system working is the integration of the Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan National Police (ANP), National Directorate of Security (NDS), and other security organizations working together to secure the election. One integral part of the coordination will take place at the Operational Coordination Centers (OCCs) located at the regional and provincial levels. Read more about election security in "As Taliban steps up attacks, can Afghanistan hold peaceful national polls?", Christian Science Monitor Security Watch, January 21, 2014.

A-10 Being Phased Out? Let's Hope Not!

The Air Force (once again) would like to phase out their extremely effective close air support platform. The A-10 Warthog has been the favorite CAS platform for ground troops for many years. The A-10 has proven to be a workhorse in Afghanistan close air support missions. It carries a great payload, has a gun for "really close air support", can loiter in the vicinity for long periods of time, and the pilots are 'ground force friendly'. However, the Air Force would rather assign 300 F-35As to the CAS mission and scrap the A-10s. However the cost of those 300 F-35As (part of the 1,700 F-35As to be purchased) is about $37 billion; the cost of retaining the current A-10 fleet is $3.7 billion. Do the math. The Air Force is meeting some opposition on this issue. Perhaps it is time that the A-10 is given to the Army? Read more in "Is Precision the Future of CAS?", Defense News, January 21, 2014.

Post-2014 Economy and Afghan Women

Concerns are arising about the fate of Afghan women as the post-2014 era comes closer. In December 2014 the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will pull out either completely or leaving behind a very small force. With the withdrawal of ISAF goes the leverage and influence that the NATO partners have over the Afghan government and the Afghan society. Women have benefited tremendously after the Taliban regime was swept away. ISAF and the international community have poured millions of dollars to improve the plight of Afghan women in context of education, medical, education and other aspects of life in Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghan women and the post-2014 economy", DEVEX, January 21, 2014.

Recommendations for a Successful Afghan Election

The Brookings Institute has posted a "Memorandum to the President" entitled Afghanistan's Presidential Election Goes Awry. The memo calls on President Obama to adopt a multifaceted effort to support the Afghan elections and persuade Afghanistan to permit a continued and stabilizing U.S. military presence after 2014. Read the memo, dated January 23, 2014.

Task Force Thunder Now at Bagram Air Field

Task Force Thunder, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), officially took over aviation operations in Regional Command East from Task Force Falcon, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division on January 18, 2014. Read more in "Task Force Thunder assumes authority", DVIDS, January 20, 2014.

"A Closer Look: The Turning Point"

LTG Mark Milley, command of the ISAF Joint Command (IJC), is interviewed by Gail McCabe about Afghanistan. In this 16 minute-long video posted on YouTube on January 23, 2014 the general talks about a wide spectrum of topics about the Afghan War. Milley says that the ANSF achieved tactical overwatch against the Taliban this past (2013) fighting season but have much work to do at the ministry level in C2, training, combined arms integration, and logistics. He compares 2002 Afghanistan with 2014 Afghanistan and says there has been vast improvement in government institutions, medicine, education, and women's rights. He sees the greatest threats to Afghanistan in two forms. The first is the psychological uncertainly (in the absence of a Bilateral Security Agreement, NATO SOFA, and the Afghan elections) and the armed threat by the Enemies of Afghanistan (I guess we don't call them insurgents anymore!). He states that the ISAF mission has transitioned from combat operations to the use of advisors in Security Force Assistance or SFA. The interview is a a good overall picture of the current situation (with a tinge of optimism).
To view "A Closer Look: The Turning Point" click on the link below:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_cUSG4aFX8

Snippets of Afghan War News

The American Forces Press Service sent out several news releases of interest. "NATO Personnel Making it Matter in Afghanistan" (Jan 23) has comments by COMISAF about the NATO partner nation contribution. In "Afghan Forces Winning Tough Fight Against Taliban" (Jan 23) COMIJC states that the ANSF are prevailing against the Taliban and other fighters with minimal assistance from ISAF; although the Afghan casualties have increased 50-70 percent over the past few years. In "Resolute Support Planning Continues, Options still Open" (Jan 23) General Dempsey discusses the delay of signing the Bilateral Security Agreement and the uncertainty that is growing.

ISAF General Officer Assignments

ISAF General Officer Assignments and Moves. The Army Chief of Staff has announced that the following general officer assignments will be made for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Leaving Afghanistan: MG James Richardson departs USFOR-A to command U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. BG Christopher Ballard, DCoSINT ISAF departs to an Intel assignment in Korea. BG James Blackburn departs ISAF Joint Command (IJC) for 3rd ID.
Arriving Afghanistan: MG Jeff Smith departs Fort Knox to be deputy chief of staff for operations ISAF. BG Mark Schwartz departs USASOC Fort Bragg to be deputy commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan (SOJTF-A).

Press release here: www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=16500

Do U.S. Troops Really Need to Stay in Afghanistan?

A recent post on the "Defense One" blog asks the question "Do U.S. Troops Really Need to stay in Afghanistan?" The question is asked (I think) in response to recent interviews by ISAF saying that the Afghan National Security Forces have held their own against the Taliban with minimal assistance from ISAF. Read more in "Do U.S. Troops Really Need to Stay in Afghanistan", Defense One, January 23, 2014.

Afghan Refugee Crisis, UNHCR, and the UAE

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is working to alleviate the Afghan refugee problem. The displacement of Afghan refugees is described by the United Nations as the world's largest and longest-standing refugee situation. Since 2002, nearly four million refugees have returned to Afghanistan (many from Pakistan). The United Arab Emirates has been a leading force in the refugee resettlement process. Read more in "UN meeting in Dubai to discuss Afghan refugee crisis", The National (UAE), January 22, 2004.

Troop Levels: White House and Pentagon Differ on Numbers

The Pentagon (and presumably General Dunford) is pushing for the 10,000 troop level for a post-2014 mission in Afghanistan. The Resolute Support mission would only happen if Karzai (or his successor) signs the Bilateral Security Agreement. There are those in the White House (principally Vice President Joe Biden) that say a reduced number is needed. There are two missions that will be conducted in a post-2014 environment. One is the Security Force Assistance (SFA) mission that will advise the Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan Air Force (AAF), and the ministries. The other will be the counter-terrorist mission that highly-trained special operations forces will conduct against al-Qaeda and certain High Value Targets (HVTs) within the insurgency. The Pentagon says that 10K is the needed troop level number to do both the SFA and counter-terrorism missions and to provide the tactical infrastructure, intelligence assets, MEDEVAC support, force protection, and base operations support. Read more in "Pentagon, White House Are at Odds Over Afghanistan", NPR, January 22, 2014.

Selection and Training of Advisors

The conflict in Afghanistan has evolved from population-centric counterinsurgency and partnering with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to Security Force Assistance (SFA). The conduct of SFA means that advisers are mentoring, training, assisting, and advising their Afghan counterparts. The success of the SFA mission depends on the quality and training of the adviser. Read more about this in "Giving Advising its Due", Small Wars Journal, January 22, 2014.

Human Aspects in Afghanistan Handbook

The NATO HUMINT Centre of Excellence has published a valuable reference on the human terrain of Afghanistan. Human Aspects in Afghanistan Handbook published in 2013 by NATO provides information on history, population, social aspects, governance, political aspects, economic aspects, criminality and security threats, communications and media, ANSF, cultural aspects, dos and don'ts, food, clothing, and ethnic groups. This very detailed handbook is 326 pages long (5 MBs). There are ample graphs, maps, charts, and pictures to help the reader comprehend the topics. The Adobe Acrobat PDF is available at the link below.

www.natohcoe.org/user_files/s2pic/Human_Aspects_in_Afghanistan_Handbook.pdf

INSO View of Security in Afghanistan Post-2014

The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) offers support, analysis and advice for humanitarians working in Afghanistan. The INSO has been operating in Afghanistan since 2002 (formerly known as ANSO). It relies on funding from donors to operate. Some of these donors include ECHO, SDC, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over 300 NGOs operating in Afghanistan have membership in INSO. The INSO view of security in Afghanistan is not optimistic. Read what it says on its website about Afghanistan.

"As the NATO combat mission nears its end, the leadership, manpower and organisation of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) remains capable of conducting aggressive combat operations across the country. Despite their growth, government armed forces have so far been unable to fill the security gap left by the departing NATO soldiers and are increasingly targeted in Taliban operations along with Government civilians. Peace talks have stalled in the absence of any credible incentives or commitments on either side. After 2014, it seems likely that Afghanistan will once again enter a period of protracted conflict in which the dominant paradigm of 'NATO vs Taliban' will be replaced by multiple overlapping conflicts between and within Afghan groups".

Source of quote above found at below link:
www.ngosafety.org/#!programs/cee5

"Death Road" of Afghanistan

The road from Maidan Shahr (the provincial capital of Wardak) to the Hazarajat (the informal name of the Afghan region of Afghanistan where the Hazaras have traditionally lived) is referred to as the Death Road. The road is only an 18-mile stretch running east-west however the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have never gotten control of it. Although the ANSF have a number of checkpoints along the road they are relatively ineffective in reducing Taliban attacks on unarmed civilians who travel on the road (checkpoints don't really work that well). Read more in "Death Road blocks Afghan minority from homeland", FOX News, January 22, 2014.

Kabul Nightlife - A (sometimes dangerous) World of Its Own

The average U.S. Soldier or Marine deployed to Afghanistan at the small Combat Outposts (COPs) and larger Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) would be very surprised at how some of the expats (foreigners) work and live in Kabul - the capital of Afghanistan. Living on a large military FOB is not a pleasant experience. The large bases are dreary - built of concrete walls, wooden B-huts that cram occupants into (not-so-private) small living spaces, and usually crowded offices and work areas. The large FOBs are always noisy with fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft coming and going at all hours of the day. The scenery is rather unexciting unless you are fortunate enough to be on a base near some of the spectacular mountains found in Afghanistan. Living on a Combat Outpost (COP) is even more austere - the food generally is not that good and there are usually inadequate shower and toilet facilities. Mail comes late and there is not a paved road in sight - only crushed gravel (small rocks really) to walk around on.

Contrast the life of the Soldier on a FOB or COP and you would be quite surprised. There is a different life in Kabul - a relatively safe place despite the periodic made-for-media attacks that the insurgents mount from time to time. Recently the life style of expats (associated with international or non-governmental organizations) who live and work in Kabul came to light with the tragic bombing of the Taverna du Liban restaurant in Kabul. For more on this read "The Slaughter of Foreigners in a Restaurant in Kabul Exposes Dangers of Nightlife in a Warzone", The World Post (Huffington Post), January 21, 2014.

ANA Hospital Completes MASCAL Training

(Photo by MAJ Carlos Cuebs)

Members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghanistan National Military Hospital in Kabul recently completed a Mass Casualty (MASCAL) training event. The training was conducted by Soldiers of the US Armed Forces Command - Afghanistan (USFOR-A) located at the New Kabul Compound (NKC). The objective of the MASCAL training was to teach the students how to transfer injured personnel from the point of injury to the casualty collection points (CCPs) for treatment and/or move incoming patients from helicopters to the hospital or treatment area. The ANA is the recipient of medical training provided by medical advisors and trainers conducting the Security Force Assistance mission. Learn more about the MASCAL training event in "Afghanistan National Army personnel train on patient evacuation", DVIDS, January 21, 2104.

Contract Intel Workers Provide an Assist in Afghanistan

Link Analysis Diagram

An interesting news article on the contribution that contract intelligence workers provide in Afghanistan. Many of the Army intelligence officers and NCOs (and other intel government officials) who deploy to Afghanistan on seven-month rotations once, twice or maybe three times in their careers are simply outclassed by the many retired-military contract intelligence operatives and analysts who spend years working in Afghanistan. Read more in "Hold Your Applause, It wasn't the CIA Alone Who Found Osama Bin Laden", Business Insider, January 21, 2014.

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