Coalition Forces Attack Across Afghan-Pak Border

Coalition forces have reportedly attacked militant positions located just across the Pakistan border.  Pakistan is claiming that three of its border soldiers were killed in the attack. Read more in "NATO helicopter strike on Pakistan shows new strategy of hot pursuit", The Christian Science Monitor, September 30, 2010.

Woodward: Obama Has Already Exited Afghanistan

"President Barack Obama's focus on an exit strategy for the Afghanistan war is an indication he is" out of Afghanistan psychologically "according to author Bob Woodward, whose recently released book "Obama's Wars" offers an inside look at the often contentious decision-making process behind the president's wartime strategy."

Read the rest of the article in "Woodward: Obama Out of Afghan "Psychologically", CBS News, September 29, 2010.

Red Team Efforts to Find Solution to Corruption in Afghanistan

Corruption remains one of the biggest factors in the Afghan population support to the Taliban.  U.S. forces are trying to come to grips with the corruption problem which is found at all levels - all the way up to the Karzai family.  Read about a new effort to try and find a solution in "US strategists seek Afghan fixes outside the box", Stars and Stripes, September 25, 2010.

Reporter Provides Insight on Petraeus and Afghan War

A reporter spent some time with General Petraeus while visiting Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan. Click on the link to read Petraeus comments on how the war is going.

"Petraeus fights time, enemy in Afghanistan", September 29, 2010, AP.

The Black Tulip - A Review of a Movie set in Afghanistan

There are not that many movies made in Afghanistan.  "The Black Tulip" was recently premiered in Kabul, Afghanistan with mixed reactions from the Afghan attendees.  Read more in "Snickers Greet Premiere of Afghan Film", The New York Times, September 23, 2010.

Louis Berger Group - Afghanistan War Zone Contractor Under Investigation

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have provided huge profits to those firms willing to operate in a war zone.  These firms are needed and provide services, support, and construction to U.S. forces fighting in the two countries.  However, it is well-known that the U.S. military has botched the contract awarding process and big and small firms alike have taken advantage of this.  Many times the U.S. can't do much about it - as in the case of the construction firm called the Louis Berger Group.  Read more in "Though under a cloud, U.S. contractor in Afghanistan reaps billions", The Miami Herald, September 20, 2010.

U.S. Army Plans to Register Many Afghans with Biometrics Equipment

The U.S. Army has ambitious plans to register millions of Afghans with biometrics equipment over the next year.  There are some hurdles that must be jumped and there are some problems relating to abuse of the database in the future.  Read more in "Army Reveals Afghan Biometric ID Plan; Millions Scanned, Carded by May", Wired.com Danger Room, September 24, 2010.

Operation Dragon Strike - Battle for Kandahar, Afghanistan

Operation Dragon Strike, a military operation that began a few days ago, is now underway in Kandahar Province.  It is taking place in the districts of Arghandab, Zhari, and Panjwye.  Dragon Strike is a big endeavor and is designed to push the Taliban from areas around Kandahar. 

Read more in "US, Afghan troops begin battle for Kandahar", The Boston Globe, September 27, 2010.

Counterinsurgency - Suddenly Out of Favor?

There is a push among leading officers of the Army to abandon counterinsurgency or COIN in favor of something called "full spectrum operations" or FSO.  Many generals did not embrace COIN as a major training requirement nor did they recognize that we had two counterinsurgency fights on our hands in Iraq and Afghanistan until it was way too late.  Now, with the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq (so they say) and a looming deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan (next summer) it appears these leading military visionaries are ready to dump COIN and move on to doing something worthwhile! Like getting ready for the next war.  What happened to the war we are fighting now?

Read more in "U.S military training adjusts its aim", LA Times, September 26, 2010.

Pentagon Destroys Thousands of Copies of Army Officer's Book "Operation Dark Heart"

The Pentagon has purchased and destroyed thousands of copies of a book that contained secrets it feels would harm national security.  The defense department purchased the books from the publisher.  The book, entitled "Operation Dark Heart" was cleared by the Army Reserve Command for publication but not by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) or the "big Army".  Read more in "Pentagon destroys thousands of copies of Army officer's memoir", CNN, September 25, 2010.

"Afghanistan is not Switzerland"

Whenever someone has to make excuses about how things in Afghanistan are not going so well - as in election fraud, government corruption, ineffective army, etc. - the stock answer used by some is "Afghanistan is not Switzerland".  Read an interesting article that explores this phrase.  See "All together now: Afghanistan is not Switzerland", The AFPAK Channel, September 17, 2010.

The Militia Problem in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has a long history of militias.  There has been a historical trend of a weak central government in Afghanistan.  This is true even today despite billions of dollars of financial aid from the international community for its police, army, government ministries, and reconstruction.  The weak government is not able to secure the outlying areas of Afghanistan with its corrupt national police and weak and untrained army.  Someone is bound to fill the vacuum.  In most areas this vacuum is filled by the Taliban.  However, in some areas militias have sprung up to fill the security gap.  Of course, the militias do not come without problems of their own.  Read an article on this topic:

"Could Local Militias Shape the Afghan Elections?", Time Magazine, September 18, 2010.

Corruption in Afghanistan | Let's Take a New Approach!

For several months the United States and its coalition partners had used a full-court press against the Karzai regime in an attempt to limit corruption.  In a counterinsurgency fight one of the goals is to establish the legitimacy of the central government. This is not likely given the high level of corruption from the very top of the government down to the local level.  Billions of dollars have flowed into Afghanistan but the common people have not seen much of it - and they are taking note of that fact.   Reports of millions of dollars leaving Kabul and Kandahar airports for destinations in the Middle East and Europe to pad Karzia family and friend's bank accounts are in abundance. The corrupt central government in Kabul and at the district level is cited by many as a recruiting tool of the Taliban.  Commissions and investigative organizations were set up with international assistance to provide expertise and equipment to conduct investigations of wrongdoing - but interference at the highest level (Karzai) has limited their effectiveness.  It would seem that Karzai has called the west's bluff.  Now a "softer approach" is being taken by the U.S. 

Perhaps it is time we took control of the disbursement of our money and funneled it to the provincial and district level ourselves.  This would certainly weaken the central government but who cares?  The central government under Karzai has proven itself ineffective, corrupt, and unpopular.  We should start working with officials at the provincial and district level and "buy" their cooperation.  I bet we see Karzai come around then!

Read more in the articles below:

"White House mulls: Just how much Afghan corruption is too much?", Afghanistan Crossroads, CNN World, September 16, 2010.

"Rotten at the Core", Slate Magazine, September 15, 2010.

"Karzai rift prompts U.S. to reevalute anti-corruption strategy in Afghanistan", The Washington Post, September 13, 2010.

Information Operations in Afghanistan

The Taliban is way out in front of the coalition forces in the use of information operations.  Considering our technological advantages in this area and the humongous amounts of money we are pouring into this country one wonders why this is so.  It does appear that the coalition forces are trying to do something about this.  Read a recent news article on this topic that describes some of the radio programming Radio Free Europe has done and the distribution of small radios that has taken place.  See "US-funded station distributes thousands of radios to counter Taliban propaganda", Fox News, September 17, 2010.

Security Tightens Before Afghan Elections

Security is tightening across Afghanistan as the country prepares for parlimentary elections.  Read more in "Security ramps up ahead of Afghan vote", MSNBC News, September 17, 2010.

Strategy for Securing Eastern Afghanistan

The strategy for securing the eastern portion of Afghanistan from the Taliban revolves around choking the "ratlines" of the Taliban and security district centers and the highway network.  That is the essence of the campaign plan of the Regional East Command.  Read the details in "East Afghan Plan: Choke the 'Rat Lines,' Secure the Roads", Wired.com Danger Room, August 23, 2010.

Afghanistan Election Report

The elections are underway in Afghanistan. The turnout seems low, there are acts of violence by the Taliban, accusations of fraud persist, and evidence mounts of fake voter cards.  Read reports below of the election:

"Afghanistan election day: spotty turnout, fake voter cards, and some feisty voters", The Christian Science Monitor, September 18, 2010.

"Vote-rigging in Afghan parliamentary elections delegitimizes Karzai regime", National Examiner, September 18, 2010.

"In Marja, Violence and Intimidation Depress Vote", At War - The New York Times, September 18, 2010.

Missile Strikes Taking Toll on Taliban

Missile strikes are reportedly taking their toll on the leadership of the Taliban.  Read more in "Militant: U.S. Missile Strikes 'Incredible and Accurate'", CBS News World Watch, September 14, 2010.

Parliamentary Elections in Afghanistan Approach - Problems to be Plentiful

"KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections on Saturday could determine whether a viable opposition remains in the legislature, but turnout — and the legitimacy of the second election in a year — hangs in the balance as voters fear waning security and brace for fraud."

Read the rest of the article in  "Security, Fraud Concerns Loom as Afghans Prepare to Vote", The New York Times, September 16, 2010.

JSOC Task Force Targets the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan

The secretive special operations task force - called JSOC - is reportedly targeting the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan. Read a recent news article on this topic - "JSOC task force battles Haqqani militants", Army Times, September 14, 2010.

Rules of Engagement in Afghanstan to Be Studied by Congress

"The House Armed Services Committee will soon examine the rules of engagement used by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Military Times has learned.  The classified, full-committee briefing will cover tactical directives that limit how and when NATO troops in Afghanistan can use force, according to a letter sent by Rep. Ike Skelton, D.-Mo., chairman of the committee, to three House members who worried the ROE currently in place may restrict troops from defending themselves."

Read the rest of the article in "Congress to scrutinize rules of engagement", Army Times, September 16, 2010.

Coalition Forces Advance on Zhari, Afghanistan

U.S. led coalition forces consisting of Afghan troops and the 101st Airborne Division, Rangers, and U.S. Special Forces are taking the fight against the Taliban into Zhari - located just west of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Read more about this in an article by The McClatchy Press Service posted on September 15, 2010 at
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/09/15/100641/us-led-forces-meet-little-resistance.html

Petraeus Interview on Afghanistan - "Watching Paint Dry"

General Petraeus was interviewed by ABC News about the Afghanistan War.  During the interview he said the counterinsurgency effort would last years.  Read more about the interview in "Gen. Petraeus Exclusive Interveiw: Progress in Afghanistan Like Watching Paint Dry", ABC World News, September 14, 2010.

Afghan Army Lacking Pashtun Recruits

A critical requirement for stability in a post-U.S. Afghanistan is the establishment of an indigenous security force that has the power and legitimacy to maintain peace – if it ever comes. In order to turn the tide in Afghansitan, U.S. and NATO strategists know they must enroll a large number of southern Pashtuns. Yet, the recent inability to do so may indicate that years of civil war will ensue, as the Pashtun-based Taliban insurgency in Southern Afghanistan continues to grow.

The Pashtuns are Afghanistan’s largest ethnic group, making up about 40% of the entire country, most of which inhabit the south in places like Kandahar, the birthplace and spiritual cradle of the Taliban, while the Afghan National Army (ANA) is made up mostly of Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras and other minority groups.

Read the rest of the story in "Afghan Army fails to recruit indispensable southern Pashtuns", The Examiner, September 13, 2010.

Interpreters Important to War Effort in Afghanistan

Interpreters are an important part of the coalition war effort in Afghanistan.  There never seems to be enough of them, they are expensive, and you many not get the exact language needed even though you hire an Afghan.  Read more in "What happens when a war interpreter doesn't know the language", The Christian Science Monitor, September 9, 2010.