Mining Minerals in Afghanistan - Still on Hold

Afghanistan appears to be sitting on significant mineral deposits; however the current political and security situation prevents large international firms from getting to these minerals. Read more in "Dreams of a Mining Future on Hold in Afghanistan", NPR, March 29, 2012.

British Not Optimistic about Afghan Effort to End Corruption

The British Foreign Officer Minister, Alistair Burt, expressed doubts on the willingness of senior Afghan government officials to do anything about ridding the Afghan government of corruption. Read more in "British official expresses doubts about Afghan efforts to tackle corruption", The Washington Post, March 29, 2012.

Do Afghans Have PTSD? Does that Make Counterinsurgency Problematic?

A researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies is advancing the argument that populations of weak states are so psychologically traumatized by war and violence that they can not be helped by counterinsurgency campaigns and stability operations. Read more in "One Theory for Why Counterinsurgency Campaigns Might Be Hopeless", National Defense NDIA, March 16, 2012.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) an Important Part in Counterinsurgency Strategy

The Afghan Local Police or ALP are playing a quiet but huge role in the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan. The ALP is a part of the Village Stability Program or VSO that provides security, governance, and development to local communities and attempts to tie these villages to the district center throughout rural Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghan Local Police key to success against Taliban", The Washington Times, March 29, 2012.

Ghost Teachers of Ghor Province - Corruption in Afghan Education at Provincial and National Level

We all know that Afghan government officials are corrupt. But every once in a while a story comes along that just boggles the mind. Red "Afghanistan: The Ghost Teachers of Ghor", Ground Report, March 29, 2012.

Hezb-i-Islami Suspends Afghan Peace Talks

The Afghan insurgent group named Hezb-i-Islami has formally suspended its involvement in the Afghan peace talk process. This recent action underscores the fragility of the peace talks on the Afghan War. Hezb-i-Islami (or the Islamic Party) is headed by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar - a once powerful warlord, mujaheddin from the Soviet occupation era, and former Afghan prime minister. Read more in "Second Afghan Insurgent Group Suspends Peace Talks", The New York Times, March 29, 2012.

Canada Issues Final Afghan Report

The Canadian government issued a final report on Canada's participation in the Afghan War. The report documents the successes and failures of the Canadian role in Afghanistan. Some of the successes include an increase in education, agriculture and medical access. Some projects that were not too successful included polio eradication and elimination of Afghan government corruption. Read more about the report in "Final Afghan report quietly released", Canada.com, March 29, 2012.

Progress in Afghanistan?

Among all the doom and gloom commentary about Afghanistan you can sometimes stumble across an online news article that says we are making headway in the Afghan War. The editorial at the following link says we are making progress in transitioning the lead for security in some areas of Afghanistan, seeing a reduction of poppy cultivation as a result of anti-drug operations, and making strides in setting up a functioning government. Read "Progress in Afghanistan", Voice of America, March 29, 2012. Of course, VOA is somewhat associated with the U.S. government, isn't it?

Texas National Guard Agribusiness Development Team to Deploy to Afghanistan

A small group of Soldiers from the Texas National Guard will soon deploy to Afghanistan as part of a Agribusiness Development Team (ADT). The team is headed to Ghazni province later this year. They will be working on agricultural projects that will benefit the Afghan people. Read more in "Agricultural development team trains for deployment", DVIDS, March 28, 2012.

Banking by Cell Phone Cuts Back on Corruption of Afghan Government Officials

Corruption is the biggest problem that people face in Afghanistan - and is looked at as more serious than violence or poverty. One aspect of life that is a force in eliminating corruption is the spread of cell phone use and mobile banking.

When police officers in Afghanistan's mountainous Wardak province began receiving their $200-per-month salaries via their mobile phones in 2009, many wondered why they had gotten a raise. They hadn't. It turns out their superiors had been skimming from their salaries, which were previously paid in cash.

Some government officials, police, and Army soldiers are now getting paid by cell phone - eliminating that boss or superior officer who took his percentage. The pay by mobile phone is meeting resistance by some government officials - most likely the ones who will lose the most when they find they are not getting their "fair share" skimmed off the top of the payroll. Read more in "Cashing Out of Corruption", Technology Review, March 19, 2012.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) Expands in Paktika Province

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan Local Police recruits were recognized as a legitimate security force during a graduation ceremony in Yayha Khel district, March 24. The ceremony included 174 ALP graduates from western Paktika’s Zarghun Shahr and Yayha Khel districts. It was the largest ALP graduation in the area since the program started. ALP from nearby districts showed their support for their fellow Afghan National Security Forces by providing security for the event. District Sub Governor Mahmoud and District Chief of Police Naim Jahn attended the ceremony, and validated their continued support for the ALP program. Coalition special operations forces also attended the ceremony to show their commitment to Afghanistan’s security concerns at all levels. The new ALP graduates will provide increased security for Yayha Khel residents and allow the populace greater freedom of movement throughout western Paktika. “This was the largest ALP graduation since the program was started in the area,” said Lt. Col. William Linn, Special Operations Task Force-East Commander.” It was really great to see the local district governance show up and show their support for their sons, stepping up to protect their villages.”

Source of story. The text above came from "Afghan Local Police presence expands in eastern province", DVIDS, March 24, 2012. Learn more about the Afghan Local Police and read past news articles about the ALP.

Air Force Advisers Mentor Afghans on Keeping Kandahar Airfield Safe and Secure

A story on how 65 U.S. Air Force advisers are mentoring an Afghan security force of over 1,000 charged with keeping the Kandahar Airfield safe and secure. Read "Air Force advisers say Afghans making progress in base defense", Stars and Stripes, March 29, 2012.

I Had to Run Away - Human Rights Watch Report on Women in Afghanistan Accused of Moral Crimes

Human Rights Watch has released a report based on interviews conducted in prisons and juvenile detention facilities in Afghanistan with women and girls accused of "moral crimes". More than half the women in Afghan prisons are accused of these charges which usually involve flight from an unlawful marriage or domestic violence. Some are accused of sex outside of marriage after being raped or forced into prostitution. Things have improved for Afghan women overall since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 (in education, access to health care, and employment). However, there still is significant concern about the fate of women as the international community draws down its committment to Afghanistan - especially in the area of imprisonment for "moral crimes". You can read more about the March 2012 Human Rights Watch report on the imprisonment of women and girls for moral crimes in Afghanistan in I Had To Run Away. Read a news article about the report in "Afghan women are being jailed for moral crimes, says report", The Guardian, March 28, 2012.

Afghans Not Quite Ready to Secure Kandahar

A recent news article points out reasons why the Afghans may not be ready to secure Kandahar Province once the U.S. "surge" troops depart in by September 2012. Read "Wake-up call: Struggles in Kandahar show Afghan troops not ready to lead", Stars and Stripes, March 28, 2012.

New Force Protection Measures for U.S. Personnel in Afghanistan to Guard Against "Insider Threat"

General Allen issued a new ISAF directive that provides guidance on measures to take to ensure that ISAF personnel do not fall victim to attacks by personnel of the Afghan security forces. Read more in "New security for US troops in Afghanistan to guard against Afghan insider threats", Fox News.com, March 29, 2012.

Afghan Security Guards (APPF) To Cost More

According to a recent news report the switch of security functions from private security firms to the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) will increase security costs of development projects by 50% while reducing the level of protection. The news article cites the acting Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) - Steven J. Trent - for the source of information. Read more in "U.S. to pay more for Afghan security guards, auditor says", The Washington Post, March 28, 2012.

Two Experts Weigh In on Counterinsurgency Effort in Afghanistan

Jacki Lyden of National Public Radio recently interviewed two "experts" on counterinsurgency. Read their comments here in "Where Is Counterinsurgency In Afghanistan Now?", NPR, March 17, 2012. John Nagl is teaching at the U.S. Naval Academy and is the author of Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam.  Sarah Sewall is an expert on civilian-military relations, is a visiting fellow at the Naval War College, and a contributor to the The U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual

Afghanistan-Iran-Tajikistan Railway Link

The governments of Afghanistan, Iran, and Tajikistan have reached an understanding on the building of a railway that would connect Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Read more in "Tajikistan plans railway link with Iran", The Telegraph, March 27, 2012. Learn more about railroad development in Afghanistan.

Green-on-Blue Violence in Afghanistan

The occurrences of green-on-blue violence in Afghanistan has captured the attention of the media, public and Congress (and that of U.S. service members). General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently had comments on green-on-blue violence. He indicated that the Afghans will need to do more to prevent these events. Some measures to take place in the future is a stronger more capable counterintelligence effort, better vetting of recruits, and more partnering efforts at lower echelons or at the small unit level. Read his comments in "Dempsey: Afghans Must Prevent 'Green-on-Blue' Violence", American Forces Press Service, March 27, 2012.

Brookings Institution and General Allen Comments

General Allen, the commander of ISAF, recently spent some time with the Brookings Institution during his recent visit to Washington, DC. (He was addressing Congress for a couple of days on the state of the Afghan War). Some important comments that General Allen made during the Brookings Institution event include:

By September 2012 the U.S. troop level will return to pre-surge levels or around 68,000 personnel.

The main counterinsurgency effort will shift from the southern provinces to the eastern provinces.

The main threat in the east appears to be the Haqqani Network.

The 2012 Afghan-ISAF campaign for Regional Command East (RC East) will increase Afghan troop strength in provinces along the border, bolster the Afghan Local Police or ALP, Village Stability Operations (VSO) and special operations in the region. There will also be a greater density of U.S. forces partnering with their Afghan counterparts.

BG McMaster From CJITF Shafafiyat to Fort Benning

Brig. Gen. Herbert R. McMaster Jr is being re-assigned to be the commanding general, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Fort Benning, Ga. He most recently served as the Commander for the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force - Shafafiyat, International Security Assistance Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Being head of Shafafiyat had to have been one of the most frustrating jobs ever in his career. Really? How do you fight corruption in Afghanistan when the country is headed by one of the most corrupt individuals in the country? Yes, that would be Karzai.

Myths About the Afghan War and the Way Forward (by David Rohde)

A columnist for Reuters, David Rohde, provides us his analysis of the way ahead in Afghanistan. First he debunks five myths about the Afghan War:

- the strategic unimportance of Afghanistan
- all Afghans want us to leave
- with an American withdrawal peace will come
- the Taliban won't compromise
- a faster withdrawal is better for Obama in an election year. 

He then tells us what we should do:

- Hold steady on the strategic plan
- Deploy Afghans, not Americans
- Transfer Taliban commanders held in Guantanamo Bay
- Pressure the Pakistan military

Read his article in "5 Myths about the Afghan War", The Atlantic, March 16, 2012.

Gen. Allen and Afghanistan : Brookings Event

During his trip to Washington, DC General John Allen, the ISAF Commander, made the rounds before Congress and several news organizations. One of his stops was to Brookings for an hour-long discussion on Afghanistan. You can listen to the program here at "The U.S. Mission in Afghanistan", Brookings.edu, March 26, 2012.

Paper - Effectiveness of Village Stability Operations (VSO) and Afghan Local Police (ALP)

The Small Wars Journal has posted a detailed paper about the Village Stability Operations (VSO) and Afghan Local Police (ALP) programs that were initiated and are now supported by the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan (CFSOCC-A). The paper explores the history and background of VSO and ALP. Read an abstract of the paper below:

This paper seeks to analyze and assess, to the extent possible, the efficacy of the Village Stability Operations (VSO) and Afghan Local Police (ALP) missions currently being carried out by U.S. Special Operations Forces (USSOF) in Afghanistan. By examining security indicators for provinces where VSO/ALP operations are being conducted, scholarly research and assessments, and Congressional records, this paper finds that VSO/ALP is having a positive impact on security and governance at the local level in Afghanistan. In addition, this paper addresses areas of concern regarding VSO/ALP and makes some recommendations for improving the size and scope of these initiatives.

The link to the paper can be found at "The Only Game in Town: Assessing the Effectiveness of Village Stability Operations and the Afghan Local Police", by Seth A. Shreckengast, Small Wars Journal, March 27, 2012.

IMU Leader Killed in Afghanistan - Makhdum Nusrat

An operation in Shirin Tagab district, Faryab province resulted in the killing of Makhdum Nusrat, the senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Afghanistan. Several other IMU insurgents were also killed. Makhdum was the highest-ranking IMU insurgent operating in the country. He led attacks against Afghan and coalition troops throughout the northern provinces for the last eight months and was plotting the assassination of an Afghan Parliament member in Kabul.

Read an ISAF press release about the operation in "Senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader killed during operation", DVIDS, March 27, 2012. Learn more about the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan here.

Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) Improving According to General Allen

During a press conference on March 26, 2012 Gen. John Allen briefed reporters on the situation in Afghanistan. Read a news account of the briefing in "Afghan Security Forces Improving Quickly, Allen Says", American Forces Press Service, March 26, 2012.

Billions of Cash Smuggled out of Afghanistan

The international community is pumping billions of dollars into Afghanistan each year to shore up the economy, fund development work, establish governance, and build the capability and capacity of the military. However the Afghans seem to be sending the money out of the country just as much. Corruption is widespread in the Afghan government and many international donor dollars do not find their way to the intended purpose. Read more in "Billions in cash smuggled out of Afghanistan every year", CNN.com, March 27, 2012.

Taliban Divided over Strategy?

A recent news article questions whether the Taliban are united or divided as to future strategy - especially in the area of negotiating in peace talks with the United States. See "In Afghanistan, Taliban seems divided at a key juncture", Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2012.

3G Network Launched in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has reportedly seen the launch of its first 3G network according to local news source Outlook Afghanistan. UAE-based Etisalat Afghanistan today announced the launch of its 3G network in a ceremony attended by the head of the nation’s telecoms watchdog, the Afghanistan Telecoms Regulatory Authority (ATRA) and the minister for communications and information technology. Etisalat is yet to reveal the coverage of the network, or specific plans or packages for 3G services.

Read the rest of the news article here - "Etisalat launches 3G network in Afghanistan", TeleGeography, March 19, 2012. Learn more about telecommunications in Afghanistan.

SOF Troops Hold Village Stabilty Operations (VSO) Conference to Prepare for Afghan Mission

Representatives from different special operations forces recently gathered at a week-long conference in Orlando, Florida to learn more about Village Stability Operations or VSO. The SOF representatives will return to their units and pass on their new knowledge on VSO to other unit members in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan. Read more in "Special ops forces trying to stabilize rural Afghan villages", Tampa Bay Online, March 26, 2012.

Afghan Women Improve Their Lot with Dairy Goat Project - News from ICARDA

A recent news release provides information about a dairy goat project that has provided substantial benefits to women in agricultural areas of Afghanistan. The women-orientated project has increased incomes, improved nutrition, and created new platforms for community development. Read more in "Dairy goat project improves women's welfare in Afghanistan", International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), March 2012.

Negotiating a Political Settlement in Afghanistan - Report by International Crisis Group (ICG)

The International Crisis Group (ICG) based in Brussels has released a report that is very critical of the current negotiations being held (or not being held) with the Afghan insurgents. The ICG believes that peace talks are extremely important if there is to be "any chance of delivering sustainable peace in Afghanistan". The recent report is entitled "Talking about Talks: Toward a Political Settlement in Afghanistan", Asia Report No 221, 26 Mar 2012.

Read the ICG press release about the report here "Toward a Political Settlement in Afghanistan", ICG, 26 March 2012. The actual report can be read or downloaded here in Adobe Acrobat PDF format - "Talking about Talks: Toward a Political Settlement in Afghanistan". Learn more about the Afghan peace talks and read recent news articles on the Afghan reconciliation process.

Security Force Assistance Team Training at Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, LA

As part of the transition of ISAF troops reducing combat operations and assuming the 'advise and assist' mission units preparing to deploy to Afghanistan are undergoing training at Fort Polk, LA. The Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) has adapted its training environment for those units that are forming up the Security Force Assistance Teams (SFAT) that will deploy alongside Afghan ANA units over the next couple of years. Read more on the training in "Security Force Assistance Team nets 'high value' training", DIVIDS, March 25, 2012.

Bagram Detention Facility: Some Details about the MOU

The United States and the Afghan government reached a last minute deal on the proposed turnover of the Bagram detention facility where over 3,000 detainees are currently held under the control of the U.S. President Karzai has been strongly insisting that the facility be turned over to Afghan control. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently signed transitions this control to the Afghans over a six-month long period. Read a note of concern on the proposed turnover by Kate Clark of the Afghanistan Analysts Network entitled "The Bagram Memorandum: Handing over the other Guantanamo", AAN, March 21, 2012.

The Fight for Eastern Afghanistan - Paper by Institute for the Study of War (Isaac Hock)

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has published a paper entitled "Fact Sheet: The Fight for Eastern Afghanistan". The author is Isaac Hock, a Research Analyst at the ISW. A summary of the fact sheet is below:

Security gains made by the addition of U.S. “surge” forces in southern Afghanistan have denied the Taliban its historical safe havens in Kandahar and Helmand. The campaign in Afghanistan must now focus on the East, which received few surge troops. The provinces surrounding Kabul are strategically important for controlling the capital and connecting the city with the rest of Afghanistan.

173rd ABCT Completes Counterinsurgency Training in Preparation for Afghanistan

The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team has recently completed three-weeks of counterinsurgency training in Hohenfels, Germany. The BCT is preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan. Read more in "173rd ABCT wrap counter insurgency training ahead of deployment", Stars and Stripes, March 24, 2012.

Afghan Force Package for 2013

In a recent interview (Friday, March 23, 2012) with Public Broadcast System's Charlie Rose program - General Allen, the ISAF Commander, provided insight for how troop levels in 2013 and 2014 will be determined. He said that a number of factors and considerations will provide input into his recommendation to President Obama.

Some of these factors include the state of the insurgency, the operational environment, level of partner nation troop levels in 2013 (could be around 40,000), the status of the partnership with the Afghan government,

Read more about Gen Allen's statements during the interview about Afghan force levels in 2013 in "Allen to Examine Afghanistan Force Package", American Forces Press Service, March 24, 2012.

View the hour-long interview on the PBS Charlie Rose website. Other topics in the interview include observations on Karzai, corruption, Koran burnings, Panjwai massacre, and night raids.

General John R. Allen bio on ISAF website.

Fake Afghan Village at JRTC (Fort Polk, LA) Helps Train Troops for Deployment

One of the training venues that U.S. troops use to prepare for deployment to Afghanistan is a fake Afghan village with Afghan role players located at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The village provides realistic training to troops who will have to interact with Afghans in a counterinsurgency role. Read more in "The Army Built A Fake Afghan Village In Louisiana So Soldiers Can Practice", Business Insider, March 24, 2012.

Alcohol on the Battlefield

The recent tragedy of the Panjwai massacre and the alleged shooters use of alcohol on the night before has people looking at the "no-alcohol" policy in Afghanistan. Some say that keeping Soldiers at a zero-level use of alcohol promotes binge drinking at a later time - usually just after redeployment. Many enjoy alcohol as a stress reliever and believe that rationed alcohol (as many ISAF partner nations adhere to) would relieve the stress that many Soldiers endure during a deployment. Read the comments of one military member in "When Booze Comes Off the Battlefield", At War Blog on The New York Times, March 23, 2012.

Thunder Lab - Pilot Training in Afghanistan Overcoming Illiteracy and Corruption

KABUL — After more than 30 years of war, the few qualified pilots in Afghanistan are largely graying veterans of the old Soviet-backed military who haven’t flown a MiG in decades. Now, the U.S. Air Force is playing catch-up, with programs to develop young Afghan pilots, as well as rank-and-file airmen, called soldiers by Afghans. Long before pilots can get in the cockpit, mechanics under the hood or enlisted soldiers to checkpoints, there are two basic problems to address: literacy and, in the case of the pilots, the ability to speak English, which is the international language of aviation.

Read the rest of the article in "Coalition troops hope to improve Afghan pilots' literacy and, eventually, aviation skills", Stars and Stripes, March 19, 2012.

Is General Allen In Tune with US Mood on Afghanistan?

Juan Williams, a Fox News commentator, has published an opinion piece about General John Allen's recent testimony before Congress. Williams says that Gen Allen is not reading US public opinion accurately and does not realize that the US population is overwhelmingly in favor of getting out of Afghanistan sooner rather than later. Read his article in "Could we leave Afghanistan early?", Fox News.com, March 23, 2012.

Paper - Sustainable Governance in Afghanistan

The Civil-Military Fusion Centre has published a paper entitled "Towards Sustainable Governance: Funding & Capacity". The paper, dated February 2012, is authored by Stefanie Nijssen - a governance and rule of law desk officer. The paper discusses in detail governance in Afghanistan in the future under fiscal constraints as aid to that country decreases. The paper is available for reading or downloading through a link provided by ReliefWeb - http://reliefweb.int/node/485078. The introductory paragraph of the paper, seen below, provides a description of the paper contents.

The United States Institute of Peace’s (USIP) handbook on “Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction” states that effective governance requires domestic capacity. This capacity comprises skills and capabilities as well as adequate financial resources. However, according to Deutsche Welle, the Afghan government may face significant challenges in financing its operations and its security services in the coming years if, as the World Bank predicts, aid to the country decreases significantly. This report examines various ways in which the Afghan government and the international community have responded to the dual challenges of fiscal sustainability and skills building.

Criminal Charges Preferred Against SSG Robert Bales (Panjwai Massacre, Afghanistan)

The Soldier alleged to have committed the killing of 17 civilians in Panjwai district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan has had criminal charges preferred against him by the military under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). SSG Robert Bales is currently being held in pretrial confinement at the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The next step in the military justice process is for the special court-martial convening authority at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to decide whether to direct an investigation of the charges under the UCMJ's Article 32. Read more in "U.S. Forces Afghanistan Prefers Criminal Charges Against Bales", American Forces Press Service, March 23, 2012.

Pakistan and US Discussing the Opening of Supply Routes Through Pakistan

Pakistan and the United States may soon reopen talks about reopening supply routes through Pakistan. The routes have been closed for a few months as a result of an airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the Afghan-Pak border in November 2011. Currently all supplies are transiting the northern route through the Central Asian countries to the north of Afghanistan. Read more in "US-Pakistan to discuss supply routes soon", Miami Herald, March 23, 2012.

UN Security Council Extends Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

The United Nations Security Council extended in an unanimous vote Resolution 2041 (2012).  The vote extends the assistance mission in Afghanistan until 23 March 2013. As a result of the resolution the Security Council decided that the Mission would continue to lead and coordinate international civilian efforts in the country in accordance with the results of international conferences. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) "would continue to lead the international effort to strengthen the role of Afghan institutions in democratic governance, the rule of law, control of drugs, human rights, humanitarian assistance and related areas". Read the full text of the resolution here in a news release dated 22 March 2012.

Commentary: Success in Afghanistan

Senators McCain, Lieberman, and Graham have penned an opinion piece that points out the U.S. national security interests at stake in Afghanistan and defines the path to success in the Afghan War. They state that "significant progress" has been made in Afghanistan, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have increased in capacity and capability, and that the U.S. should not abandon Afghanistan as we have in the past. Read the article in "Sustaining success in Afghanistan", The Washington Post, March 21, 2012.

TAPI Natural Gas Pipeline Not in Afghanistan's Future Soon

A recent article states that the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline is not going to be built soon. This endeavor would entail a pipeline built and carrying natural gas from Turkmenistan, across Afghanistan and Pakistan, and into India for processing and shipment to customers. For Afghanistan, the pipeline would mean increased revenue for its national budget. However, the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan has put this very important project on hold. Read more in "Collateral Damage From Afghan Turmoil - - the TAPI Pipeline", Huffington Post, March 21, 2012.

Obama's War of Necessity - Not so Necessary

President Obama, in years past, has described Afghanistan as a 'war of necessity' - which, he was quick to point out, the Iraq War was not. The words 'war of necessity' are being used less now that we have a time-table for withdrawal (2014), a questionable outcome, and pressure is mounting within the United States for an accelerated departure. Obama is banking on negotiations with the Taliban (which the Taliban have temporarily withdrawn from) and the strengthening of the Afghan National Security Forces. Unfortunately, he has two very difficult problems - an ineffective and corrupt Afghan government without the support of the population and an insurgency with sanctuaries in Pakistan and support from the Pakistani military and intelligence services. Read more on this topic in "Obama's Retreat from his 'War of Necessity'", By Marvin Kalb, Brookings, March 19, 2012.

Gen Allen and Congress: Corruption and Insurgent Safe Havens in Pakistan

General Allen has been testifying before Congress the last few days. During his testimony he stated that two of the biggest problems in ending the Afghan War successfully are corruption in the Afghan government and the insurgents access to sanctuary in Pakistan. Read more in "Allen: Corruption, safe havens block Afghan success", The Washington Times, March 22, 2012.

Legal Path Ahead for SSG Bales (Panjwai Massacre)

The legal journey for SSG Bales, the accused killer in the Panjwai massacre, will be a long journey under the military judicial system. Read more in "Accused Sergeant Heads Down a Long Legal Road", NPR, March 21, 2012.