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The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition,we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Daily Afghan War News

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Send an e-mail to staff@afghanwarnews.info or go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box in the top of the right hand column. It is easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

Drones - "The Unblinking Eye"

The use of drones to attack al Qaeda and senior Taliban leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan has been described by supporters as effective in killing off the high-value targets and disrupting insurgent operations. It is described by critics as ineffective and causing civilian casualties. Some research indicates that civilian casualties have decreased each year but there is also research that counters this argument. The two drones used by the Central Intelligence Agency are the Predator and the Reaper - both are armed reconnaissance drones that can loiter for hours (something that a jet or missile cannot do). Drones are better suited to identifying targets (in some cases). Steve Coll, a writer, is the dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and reports on issues of intelligence and national security in the United States and abroad. He has published a detailed report on the use of drones by the United States in Pakistan entitled "The Unblinking Stare: The Drone War in Pakistan", The New Yorker, November 24, 2014.

President Ghani's Twitter Account

Do you ever wonder about what the President of Afghanistan is thinking about? Well, one way to know is to follow Ashraf Ghani's Twitter account.  Some of his latest tweets are about corruption, his visit to China, importance of an improving Pakistan/Afghan relationship, congrats to the Afghan cricket team, the economy, the Istanbul Process, and the importance of women in Afghanistan. He also has a website (but it isn't in English). You can sign up for updates on Twitter to get his tweets!
https://twitter.com/ashrafghani/

Night Raids Back in the Mix

The ban on special operations forces conducting night raids has been lifted by President Ghani. The rules are less restrictive now. The term "night raids" carries baggage so ISAF is using the term "night operations". (Its' an IO thing). Under President Karzai Afghan special operations could conduct night raids but without US or ISAF air support; resulting in few night raids (lack of helicopter transport). Read more in "Afghanistan Quietly Lifts Ban on Nighttime Raids", The New York Times, November 23, 2014.

Video - "The Good War"

The war in Afghanistan, when compared to the Iraq War, was considered by many to be "The Good War". The Obama administration was keen to leave Iraq behind, re-engage in Afghanistan and pullout there as well. It isn't working out quite that way. Obama recently signed a secret memo authorizing increased support (increased beyond what was planned for the post-2014 era) in order not to "lose Afghanistan". Jack Fairweather, a former correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and The Washington Post has wrote a book entitled The Good War: Why We Couldn't Win the War or the Peace in Afghanistan. Fairweather is interviewed by Peter Bergen about his book and Afghanistan. See The Good War (1 hour), posted on YouTube by New America on November 21, 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NB4MQit6N0

ANSF and Transition - Entering the Spin Zone

Anthony H. Cordesman of the Center for Strategic & International Studies has conducted a study entitled "Afghan Forces on the Edge of Transition" (November 18, 2014) that summarizes the key policies and metrics on the transition of the Afghan National Security Forces since August 2014. The study ". . . provides considerable insight into the success of the Taliban to date, the seriousness of probable Afghan capability to contain and defeat the Taliban and other insurgents and the seriousness of the fighting". The study also shows that there is

". . . a critical lack of transparency, and what often seem to be serious gaps in the planning for the future. In many cases, there seems to be a growing emphasis on "spin" and public relations efforts to sell progress at the expense of realism and objectivity - often by simply ceasing to report metrics that have proved to be embarrassing in the past".

The study is divided into four different parts:

1. US Policy, and Cuts in US Forces and Spending.
2. Sharply Contradictory Data on Levels of Violence.
3. Measuring the Transition from ISAF to ANSF.
4. Progress in Afghan Force Development.

Aegis Awarded Contract for KAF Security

Aegis Defense Services, LLC, McLean Virginia, was awarded a $12 million contract to provide private security services at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The contract will run until September 2015. CENTCOM Joint Theater Support Contracting Command - Kandahar is the contracting activity. http://www.defense.gov/Contracts/Contract.aspx?ContractID=5423

Suicide Bomber Kills 50 in Paktika

A suicide bomber killed over 50 people and wounded many more during a volleyball tournament in Yahyakhail district, Paktika province. News article by The New York Times, November 23, 2014.

SOF - "The Easy Button"

In an age of austerity the Defense Department and Congress are looking for ways to save money and reduce expenditures on defense. The Air Force is betting on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; putting all its eggs into one basket - a one size fits all solution (say goodbye to the A-10). A major part of the defense establishment and the Obama administration have an affinity for special operations forces. Some see danger in that approach. Read "Special Operations for the 21st Century: Starting Over", Army Magazine, November 18, 2014 by Lt. Col. James Jay Carafano, U.S. Army retired.

Special Warfare Magazine (July - Sep 2014)

The latest Special Warfare Magazine is now available online. The July - September 2014 (Volume 27, Issue 3) pub covers topics such as:

ARSOF 2022, Part II
SOF, the Human Domain and the Conduct of Campaigns
SOF Operational Design
Silent Quest Exercise
SOF Collaboration wit the Interagency
ISTC: Building Persistent NATO SOF Interoperability

www.soc.mil/swcs/swmag/archive/SW2703/SW_2703.pdf

Paper - Future of Australia's SOF

A paper published early in 2014 (April) provides us with some background information on the Australian Special Operations Forces. Contents of the paper includes who they are and what they do, future tasks for Australia's special operations capability, allied special operations forces, capability development, and some recommendations. Read Strategy: A Versatile Force - The future of Australia's special operations capability, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), April 2014. Authors are Dr. Andrew Davies, Peter Jennings, and Dr. Benjamin Schreer.

Kapisa Province - Taliban Enclave

The Taliban would seem to have control of most of Kapisa province. Tagab district is especially at risk. The Afghan soldiers in Tagab district stay confined to their base. If they want to visit the local bazaar they can only go for an hour at 9:00 am; and only without their weapons. That is the deal the Taliban have offered them. Read more in "Hour's Drive Outside Kabul, Taliban Reign", The New York Times,  November 22, 2014. Check out a video about a French, American, and Afghan combined operation to retake the Alasay Valley (Alasay district) in Kapisa province (2009 2 mins).

Operation Zarb-e-Azb

Operation Zarb-e-Azb, or "Strike of the Prophet's Sword", was mounted by the Pakistan military to dislodge terror groups located in North Waziristan - a remote and ungoverned region located near the Afghan border. This area was ignored by the Pakistan military so the recent operation was welcomed by the ISAF coalition and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, many suspect that the targets were the "Bad Taliban" and not the "Good Taliban". The operation was "telegraphed" so that many of the terrorists and insurgents ("good" and "bad") fled to other areas of Pakistan or Afghanistan. Some reports indicate that the "good Taliban" were warned ahead of time by the Pakistan intelligence service and even assisted with relocation ahead of the operation. Read more in "A Rare Glimpse Inside Pakistan's Anti-Taliban Operation in North Waziristan", NBC News, November 22, 2014.

Afghan War News Snippets (Nov 24, 2014)

Afghanistan's lower house of parliament approved agreements that will allow NATO to stay on past December 2014. The Bilateral Security Agreement and the NATO SOFA were approved; the next step is for the upper house of the Afghan parliament approval. (Defense News, November 23, 2014).

The Department of Defense released its revised FY 2015 Military Intelligence Program (MIP) request. The request includes the base budget and the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) appropriations for a total of $16 billion.

Goat Game: Thirteen Tales from the Afghan Frontier. Wick Walker writes about building a schoolhouse for Nuristan. (Medium.com, November 16, 2014).

The Department of Defense has published a directive that applies to the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence - DoDD 5143.01, October 24, 2014.

India is offering training in solar energy to foreign professionals. Afghan students will benefit. (Business Standard, November 24, 2014).

Norway is hosting the "Oslo Symposium on Advancing Women's Rights and Empowerment in Afghanistan". (The Nordic Page, November 23, 2014).

The chief of the Afghan High Peace Council, Salahuddin Rabbani, has resigned his position (although it is not confirmed that Ghani has accepted the resignation). Rabbani reportedly had disagreements with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. He was the son of former High Peace Council chief and ex-president Burhanuddin Rabbani.

The "Intelligence Officer's Bookshelf" is a listing of books suggested by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Air Force drone pilots conduct their training at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. There are a total of 31 drones or UAVs at the air base. Learn more in "Drone pilots train at Holloman Air Force Base", KOAT.com, November 21, 2014.

Some jihadists adopt a more peaceful and quieter life with age. Read more in "Mellowing Jihadist Not As Enraged by Western Culture As He Used to Be", The Onion, November 19, 2014.

And speaking of drones, it is reported that "The US Just Launched Its 500th Drone Strike" (Defense One, November 21, 2014). 

President Ghani and CEO Abdullah have still not made much progress in the formation of a cabinet. It is hoped that the "National Unity Government" would be fully formed prior to the London international aid conference to be held in December.

The business climate in Afghanistan is horrible. The new president hopes to change that climate but government corruption stands in his way. The wide-spread hope is that he will appoint "technocrats" instead of corrupt politicians to head the ministries but thus far the Abdullah Abdullah camp has stymied his efforts to appoint a cabinet. Read "Afghan businesses hope for change", BBC World News, November 18, 2014.

An article wrote by Salma Malik discusses the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Read "Burying the Past: A New Beginning for Pakistan and Afghanistan - Analysis", Eurasia Review, November 18, 2014.

There is an abundance of sub-standard medicines sold in Afghanistan that is made in Pakistan. The poor quality drugs can be sold freely in Afghanistan because there is no Afghan government regulation of pharmaceuticals. Read more in "Report: Sub-Standard Medicine Floods Afghan Markets", Associated Press, November 19, 2014.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzi says progress in his country was undermined by the United States ignoring the problem of Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan. Can't say he is wrong! He also disses us on night raids, civilians killed in air attacks, etc. Watch a video (2 mins) of Karzai telling us "what for", Radio Free Europe, November 22, 2014.

The U.S. claims that al Qaeda is restricted to isolated areas of northeastern Afghanistan. But The Long War Journal seems to think otherwise. See the LWJ's post dated 19 Nov 14.

The retrograde of supplies and equipment from Afghanistan is a story that gets little attention. Of course, that is a good thing. Journalists and correspondents don't get paid to report good news - it doesn't make the news unless it is bad news. So the lack of attention on the retrograde mission is good news because that means things are going well in that aspect of the war. Read some good news in "Retrograde in full gear", U.S. Air Force News, November 19, 2104.

The Asia Foundation has posted an informative article about the "youth bulge" in Afghanistan (November 19, 2014) where the issues of diminishing international aid, unemployment, and a resilient insurgency are discussed.

Help with Afghan War News Blog

The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition,we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Morning Coffee and Afghan War News

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Send an e-mail to staff@afghanwarnews.info or go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box in the top of the right hand column. It is easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

C-27s and the U.S. Air Force

The United States Air Force has a troubling past with the C-27 aircraft. The U.S. Army needed a good, dependable tactical aircraft to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones in a time-sensitive manner. There was an agreement between the Army and the Air Force to field C-27s to fill this void; the aircraft would perform a type of transport mission that the C-130 was too large to handle. However, one just has to look at how the USAF is treating the C-27 fleet and you get a feel for how they are supporting this critical mission for the Army. The USAF's C-27 fleet is being eliminated entirely. Efforts to keep the aircraft in the National Guard were stymied by the USAF. Reports indicate that USSOCOM will pick up a few of the C-27s and the Coast Guard may convert some over to their use. Knowing the background of the Air Force C-27 fleet elimination helps understand why the USAF scrapped 16 brand-new C-27s bought for the Afghan Air Force so that they could field three C-130s. The C-27s are what the U.S. Army needed and the C-130s are NOT what the Afghan Air Force needed. The basic issue is that the Air Force wants "efficient" airlift (keep expenses down and stay on a forecasted schedule) while the Army needs "effective and timely short-range, tactical airlift" that is ideal for a counterinsurgency mission. Learn more in "The USA's C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft", Defense Industry Daily, November 19, 2014.

Call for Extension of Visa Program for Interpreters

For the last several years the blame for the poor implementation of the Special Immigrant Visa Program for Afghan interpreters can easily be placed on the Department of State. Up until mid-2014 the State Department was doing everything it could to NOT provide visas to Afghan interpreters who wished to immigrate to the United States. Finally State saw the light after getting hammered by members of Congress and the media. Now it is Congress that is under the spotlight. The visa program needs to be extended so that up to 9,000 more Afghans can get visas. The program sunsets at the end of the year. There are two bills before Congress - one in the house and one in the Senate. The Senate bill is more generous. Read more in "Extend the special visa program for Afghan interpreters", The Washington Post, November 17, 2014.

Solar Power in Balkh Province

Turkmen-Afghans in Balkh Province in northern Afghanistan are using solar energy instead of candles and kerosene lamps. Many are using the free electricity generated by the sun for their trades and handicrafts. Afghanistan, a poorly-developed country with unreliable sources of electricity, can benefit from the provision of low-cost solar power energy sources. Most of the electricity that comes from power plants goes to urban areas. The vast majority of rural areas in Afghanistan do not have the electrical lines constructed. Read more in "Turkmen-Afghans turn to solar energy", Central Asia Online, November 18, 2014.

A Battalion Ships Out to the War

An extremely compelling story of a 700-man battalion of the 101st Airborne Division leaving their homes and families at Fort Campbell to head off to war. The article captures the essence of the final day prior to getting on the plane for that long ride to Afghanistan to include the doubts of the Soldiers and feelings of concern by their families. Read "The End , In Their Sights", The Washington Post, November 22, 2014.

"Afghan Interpreters Deserve Visas"

Congress will be making an important decision in the next month or so about Afghan interpreters. The interpreters served as the eyes and ears of the U.S. military in Afghanistan for years. Many wish to emigrate to the United States; some are in fear for their lives due to Taliban reprisals. The United States should keep faith with these loyal comrades and provide them visas. It is up to Congress to authorize these visas. Read more in "Afghan interpreters deserve visas", Columbia Daily Tribune, November 18, 2014.

Counterinsurgency Paradigm Shift

The increased use of asymmetric, insurgent, and hybrid warfare by non-state actors requires that the United States military continue to retain the capability to conduct counterinsurgency. However, there are indications that the U.S. Army and the rest of the military may be moving away from that capability to concentrate on "the big fight". It would be a mistake to assume that our Special Forces Groups will concentrate special warfare and special operations and still be able to handle any and all counterinsurgency requirements in the future. Our conventional forces need to be able to conduct combined arms maneuver but also counterinsurgency. A graduate of West Point and veteran of the Afghan and Iraqi conflict provides us with his thoughts on the importance of counterinsurgency doctrine and training within the conventional forces and recommends how to attain / retain the coin capability within the conventional forces. Read "The Counterinsurgency Paradigm Shift", War on the Rocks, November 20, 2014.

TAAC East and Task Force White Eagle

The Polish armed forces operational commander - Lt. Gen. Marek Tomaszycki - recently visited Train Advise Assist Command - East. He was briefed on the security force assistance mission in eastern Afghanistan. Polish forces, part of Task Force White Eagle, will be part of TAAC East. Their role will be to provide security and also perform as advisors to the Afghan National Security Forces. Read more in "TAAC-E welcomes Polish OPCOM, TF White Eagle", DVIDS, November 18, 2014.

ISIS in Afghanistan?

The Islamic State (IS) - sometimes called ISIS or ISIL - is generating lots of press based on their rapid climb to success in Iraq and Syria. In addition, al Qaeda affiliated groups are proclaiming their allegiance to ISIS; as well as other jihadist groups throughout the world. There are many who are looking for signs that ISIS in making inroads in Afghanistan. While there have been some media reports about some smaller insurgent groups indicating their support there is no concrete evidence that any significant progress is being made by ISIS in Afghanistan. Read a detailed examination of this topic by Borhan Osman in "Messages in Chalk: 'Islamic State' haunting Afghanistan?", Afghanistan Analysts Network, November 17, 2014.

Afghan Daily News Snippets

Officials in Wardak province are criticized by Afghan workers employed by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for a lack of progress in the reintegration and reconciliation of Taliban members. Each province has a council that works for the High Peace Council located in Kabul. The NGO's are also accusing the provincial level government officials of a lack of coordination with other actors (NGOs) in the province. Read more in "Afghan Local Officials Taken to Task", Institute for War & Peace Reporting,  November 2014.

Japan will be providing $19.2 million for animal disease control to the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL). (Central Asia Online, November 20, 2014.)

The German cabinet has approved a new mandate for the Afghanistan mission. More solders (850) will be sent to serve in northern Afghanistan and will be aimed at training Afghan security forces. (DW.de, November 20, 2014).

A watchdog group says that over a quarter of a million hectares of land has been illegally seized by powerful officials and warlords. (Reuters, November 19, 2014).

The Task Force for Business and Stability Operations is under investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR). Seems that the $800 million program has "accomplished nothing". (USA Today, November 19, 2014).

The 2014 Survey of the Afghan People conducted by The Asia Foundation has prompted a number of analysts and observers to provide their take on the report. One of the Asia Foundations' officers provides her view on the report. (The Asia Foundation, November 19, 2014).

A Special Forces officer and veteran of the Afghan Conflict reflects upon lessons learned in Afghanistan and provides recommendations on the way forward to combat the Islamic State. Read Michael G. Waltz thoughts in a Washington Times article dated November 20, 2014.

The many decades of war in Afghanistan has produced millions of refugees that fled to Pakistan to escape violence. Many of these refugees are currently returning home to Afghanistan. But they face many challenges - especially the children. (UN Refugee Agency, November 20, 2014).

The President of Afghanistan - Ashraf Ghani - was once a professor of anthropology at John Hopkins University from 1983-1991. Read more here (The John Hopkins Newsletter, November 20, 2014).

Now that the British have vacated Helmand province a series of "post-mortem" is taking place. Read "The Challenges of British Counterinsurgency in Helmand - Why did it go so Wrong?", E-International Relations, November 17, 2014.

Washington State University (WSU) recently received a national award for work to improve food security in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Program (AAEP) team earned the award for the three-year program that was completed under the USDA this fall. The program worked closely with Afghanistan's federal agricultural agencies. New funding will provide an opportunity to expand the program to additional provinces. (WSU News, November 21, 2014).

A female professor recounts her brief stay in Afghanistan to teach at a university in Herat. See "Professor recounts experience in Afghanistan", Western Courier, November 21, 2014.

There will be a meeting of international donors who will pledge contributions to Afghanistan held in December. Learn what President Ghani must do to secure billions in future funding. (The Washington Post, by Sudarsan Raghavan, November 22, 2014).

A new pub is out about Personnel Recovery - DoD Instruction 3002.04, DoD Personnel Recovery - Non-conventional Assisted Recovery (NAR), November 17, 2014 is available at the below link. You must have a DoD PKI certificate to access.
www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/300204_placeholder.pdf

An opinion piece is posted on Sunday Review of The New York Times entitled "When Is a War Over?", by Elizabeth D. Samet. The article addresses the way that short wars become long ones and how we tend to ignore history at the same time we rush headlong into a conflict. Within the article a military officer talks about his time in Nuristan - and how he wished he knew more about the language, culture, history, and terrain of Afghanistan prior to deployment.

An article by Daniel Altman (teacher of economics at New York University) says that the State Department should get serious about the upcoming Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) in order to line up supporters for continued funding for overseas development projects. (Foreign Policy, November 20, 2014).

Have a Need to Express Yourself?

The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition,we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Morning News and Coffee

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Send an e-mail to staff@afghanwarnews.info or go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box in the top of the right hand column. It is easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

NSOCC-A and SOJTF-A

The special operations units in Afghanistan are numerous and varied in their mission and roles. Below you will find a brief description of the various components and their focus areas. The NATO Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan / Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan (NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A) conducts Security Force Assistance and targeted Counter-Terrorism in Afghanistan to ensure the enduring relevance, capability, and sustainability of the Afghan Special Security Force, and to deny safe haven to Al Qaeda and its affiliates and adherents. NSOCC-A is the NATO component of the two-star organization (composed of various SOF units from Europe and elsewhere) and SOJTF-A is the United States component of the organization. The commander of NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A is dual-hatted.

There are several components of NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A:

Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan (SOTF-A) conducts Foreign Internal Defense (FID) throughout Afghanistan to improve partnered unit capacity, capability, and self-sustainability.

Combined Joint Special Operations Aviation Component - Afghanistan (CJSOAC-A) conducts special and conventional aviation operations to include assault, fires, mobility and aerial Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance within Afghanistan in support of SOJTF-A.

General Command Police Special Units Special Operations Advisory Group (GCPSUSOAG) builds enduring tactical Ministry of Interior capabilities with specialized units in order to neutralize insurgent networks, protect the population, and create a stable environment for the populace.

Other special operations task forces conduct offensive operations in Afghanistan to degrade the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and the Haqqani Networks in order to prevent them from establishing operationally significant safe havens which threaten the stability and sovereignty of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States.

Focus Areas for NSOCC-A and SOJTF-A:

Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC) is composed of two elements: the Afghan Commandos and the Afghan Special Forces. Commandos conduct specialized light infantry operations in support of regional corps counterinsurgency operations, and provide a strategic response capability for the Government of Afghanistan. The Afghan National Army Special Forces (ANASF) specializes in internal defense by putting an Afghan soldier into the local populace.

Special Mission Wing (SMW) works in close partnership with members of ANASOC, as well as other Afghan National Security Force partners to provide lift and aerial ISR capabilities with Mi-17s and PC-12 aircraft.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) is an Afghan Ministry of Interior sponsored, village-focused security program, which complements counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited or no ANSF presence in order to enable conditions for improved security, governance, and development.

National Mission Units (NMUs) are Afghan Ministry of the Interior units which conduct special police law enforcement in high threat environments in order to uphold the laws of GIRoA.


(Source of above information is the USSOCOM Fact Book 2015, page 42, published November 14, 2014 on the DVIDS portal. www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/23684)

U.S. Role in Afghan Combat Extended

A classified order was signed by President Obama in recent weeks authorizing a more expansive role for the military in Afghanistan in 2015. Read "In a shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat", The New York Times, November 21, 2014.

Afghan Daily News Snippets

Daniel W. Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, has penned a piece entitled "Should the Central Intelligence Agency be less centralized?", The Washington Post, November 20, 2014.

Kenneth Katzman, a specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, has scripted Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance in a Congressional Research Service (CRS) pub dated November 4, 2014. (RS21922).
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/234362.pdf

Special Operators will get new wheels! The "Sneaky Petes" need the ability to penetrate remote, hard-to-reach locations in a stealthy manner. A new research grant hopes to lead to the development of a prototype motor bike that will do that. Read "Company Developing Hybrid Energy Motorbike for Special Operators", National Defense Magazine, December 2014.

Leadership, Haircuts, and PT. A commentator worries about "A Failure of Leadership" within the Army. (Combat Cav Scout - From the Op, November 2014).

Jed Ober opines about the new "National Unity Government" that has taken charge in Afghanistan. Read "Stopgap Democracy: Afghanistan's Shaky Government", Foreign Affairs, November 20, 2014.

Malaysia has been one of the many in the Coalition to fight the Taliban and reconstruct Afghanistan. It looks like the country will continue its support. Read "Malaysia Continues to Provide Opportunities for Development in Afghanistan", National News Agency of Malaysia, November 21, 2014.

Pennsylvania's senior U.S. senator, Bob Casey, is attuned to the problems facing Afghan women. He believes that it is important to strengthen women's rights and that includes more participation in the Afghan government and its security forces. Read "Casey: Women in Afghanistan are key to success of their country", Lancaster Online, November 20, 2014.

The U.S. government is a strong back of the TAPI international pipeline project and hopes it will succeed - as it will benefit Afghanistan as well as Central Asia. (Silk Road Reporters, November 20, 2014).

The NATO E-3A mission in Afghanistan is now complete. The last of the crew members have left Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS), Afghanistan. The airplanes were deployed as part of Operation Afghan Assist. (DVIDS, November 19, 2014).

The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) will hold its 10th Annual U.S. - Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference on December 9, 10, and 11, 2014 in Washington, D.C. Read more here (PR Newswire, November 20, 2014).

A women reporter working in Afghanistan has many challenges. One intrepid female reporter uses a disguise (young boy) to get around safely. (New York Post, November 20, 2014).

A commentator on drone warfare, Conor Friedersdorf, thinks that news organizations should stop reporting that "militants" were killed when they can confirm no such thing. Read "Drone Strikes Never Kill 'Humans'", The Atlantic, November 20, 2014.

The use of blue force trackers (BFTs) are an important addition to the ability of the U.S. military to keep tabs on the location of friendly units, reduce friendly fire incidents, and to increase situational awareness of the battlefield. However, as the BFTs become more able a new set of problems are prone to develop. Read "Blue Force Tracker Becomes Self-Aware, Has Existential Crisis", DuffleBlog, November 20, 2014.

India is wary about the future of Afghanistan. It would like to see Pakistan stop its support of the Taliban, would look forward to an Afghan economy that would benefit India, and worries about the increasing drug trade in Afghanistan. Michael Kugelman, a senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has penned a piece entitled "What Indians Really Think About the Foreign Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan", The South Asia Channel - Foreign Policy, November 20, 2014.

The Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction worries about Afghan corruption. Read more in "IG: Corruption in Afghanistan Getting Significantly Worse", National Journal, November 18, 2014. See also "IG: U.S. renewal money in Afghanistan wasted", USA Today, November 19, 2014.

A visionary and motivational speaker, Simon Sinek, speaks to a United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) about motivation, leadership, and addiction. (Posted on YouTube by USASOC PAO, November 21, 2014. 15 mins).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvekfdb2Rgk

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded ten contracts in 2014 totaling over $1 billion to expand its geospatial intelligence programs. One service the NGA will provide in the future is the "Map of the World" - a data portal designed to provide content. One of the customers for this service is the Army - whose Situational Awareness Geospatially Enabled (SAGE) project aims to provide an advance look of unfamiliar territory. SAGE is part of the Distributed Common Ground System - Army (DCGS-A) and is currently in use in Afghanistan. Read more in "NGA on campaign to expand Map of the World", GCN.com, November 20, 2014.

 A writer worries that the fragile gains made for women in Afghanistan will diminish over time as a result of the withdrawal of ISAF. Britain is encouraged to continue its support of Afghan women. Read "Britain urged to give unstinting support for women's rights in Afghanistan", The Guardian, November 21, 2014.

"Saving Mes Aynak" is a documentary about the copper mine that sits on top of an ancient Buddhist site in Logar province. The Chinese want to start digging for copper but an archaeological site is at risk. (PBS Newshour, November 19, 2014).

Bloggers Wanted for Afghan War Newsletter

The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition,we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Get a Jump on the News

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Send an e-mail to staff@afghanwarnews.info or go to   www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box in the top of the right hand column. It is easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

Death Penalty Works in Afghanistan

Some Afghans were recently hung for the crime of gang rape (and other transgressions). A group of men dressed as policemen stopped a group of cars carrying men and women from a wedding. The men were tied up and the women were gang raped in front of the men. The public outcry was huge and the offenders were quickly tried and hung. While the international community groaned and moaned about the rapists' human rights most Afghans seemed pleased. Law enforcement officials say that reported incidents of rape have dropped dramatically. In addition, there was a significant drop in crime. Read more in  "Death Penalty Works, Afghans Say", Institute for War & Peace Reporting, November 2014.

Status of Contractors in Afghanistan Changes

The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) and the NATO Status of Forces Agreement will cover the military personnel who will work in Afghanistan post-December 2014. Essentially, the military will have immunity from prosecution by the corrupt Afghan judicial system. Not so much for contractors. Contractors will be subject to Afghan criminal and civil jurisdiction while operating in Afghanistan. Contractor employees may only carry weapons in accordance with Afghan laws and regulations. All contractors will be required to have passports and visas to enter and exit Afghanistan The two links below will bring you to more information released by ISAF on November 17, 2014.

www.isaf.nato.int/images/media/PDFs/141117bsasofainfo.pdf

www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-news/office-of-legal-advisor-gives-details-on-bsa-nato-sofa.html

Green Village Attacked by Taliban

A foreign workers compound located in Kabul called "Green Village" was attacked by the Taliban. Four Taliban suicide bombers lost their lives in the attack. It was the second attack on foreign workers within a week time span. The Taliban tried to break into the compound by detonating a car packed with explosives at the entrance of the compound but they were unsuccessful in breaching the housing complex. The compound was targeted in October 2013 and in May 2012. The 2012 attacked killed seven guards and several civilians. Read more in "Afghan attack: Foreign worker's compound targeted in Kabul", BBC, November 19,m 2014.

ANP Logistics Seminar at ISAF HQs

A logistics seminar was recently held for Afghan National Police (ANP) senior noncommissioned officers at the Milano Theater on the ISAF HQs compound in Kabul on November 16, 2014. The seminar was hosted by the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A). Learn more in this news article by DVIDS (November 17, 2014).

China - Afghanistan's New Best Friend

President Ghani spent four days in China on a recent visit and it appears that some positive developments will transpire in Afghanistan's future. It is extremely likely that China will be forthcoming with additional money for aid and increased training opportunities for Afghans. A stable and prosperous Central and South Asia is important for China's security and economic future. Read more in "Is China Afghanistan's New Best Friend?", International Policy Digest, November 16, 2014.

Book - "Afghanistan: A Canadian Story"

A new book is out about the Canadian involvement with Afghanistan. It is entitled Afghanistan: A Canadian Story 2001-2014. Read a book review at "Canadian Armed Forces members share Afghanistan war stories in book", Edmonton Sun, November 16, 2014.

Special Warfare - Greater Emphasis Needed

According to Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 3-05, Special Operations, 31 August 2012, special warfare (page Glossary-7) is defined as:

"The execution of activities that involve a combination of lethal and nonlethal actions taken by a specially trained and educated force that has a deep understanding of cultures and foreign language, proficiency in small-unit tactics, and the ability to build and fight alongside indigenous combat formations in a permissive, uncertain, or hostile environment."

A recent online article on special warfare explores the need for the United States to refine and strengthen this capability. Some of the authors of the article include Dan Madden, Dick Hoffman, Michael Johnson, Fred Krawchuk, John Peters, Linda Robinson, and Abby Doll. Read "Special Warfare: The Missing Middle in U.S. Coercive Options", War on the Rocks, November 20, 2014. View other Irregular Warfare Publications.

Increase in Global Terror Attacks

The BBC News World reports that 2013 saw a sharp rise in global terror attacks. The number of deaths from terrorist attacks increased by 61% between 2012 and 2013. Most of the attacks were a result of the Islamic State, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, and the Taliban.

UK's Watchkeeper Drone

The British Army recently used the Watchkeeper drone during its withdrawal from Camp Bastion and Helmand province. Early reports are that the new drone performed well. Read more in "British Army praises performance of Watchkeeper during debut deployment", Flight Global News, November 18, 2014.

Cell Phones and Internet in Afghanistan

Theresa Falke, a member of the "Friends of Afghanistan (FKA) - a German non-profit volunteer NGO - provides us with a detailed account on the use of mobile phones, the Internet, and social media. Her article discusses the benefits of the growth of each as well as the social aspects of this new telecommunications technology. Read "Where There's a Will, There's a Way to Go Online: Afghanistan's youth and new media", Afghanistan Analysts Network, November 13, 2014.

SIGAR - Afghan Development Effort a Failure

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) - John Sopko - has called America's development effort in Afghanistan a failure. Read more in "Sopko faults leadership for 'abysmal failure' in Afghanistan nation-building", Stars and Stripes, November 18, 2014.

More Afghan War News Snippets

Some folks are in awe of LTG H.R. McMaster's Veterans Day speech presented at the Georgetown University's Veterans Day ceremony. See a news article by the Council of Foreign Relations (November 17, 2104). McMaster warns that the warrior ethos is threatened by both high tech evangelists who say that war can be fought at a distance (air power advocates?) and the growing gap between the military and civil society.

The Army has published an updated version of ATP 2-01.3, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield/Battlespace, dated November 10, 2014.
https://armypubs.us.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_b/pdf/atp2_01x3.pdf

Provide Content to Newsletter

The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition,we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Morning Coffee and Morning News

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Send an e-mail to staff@afghanwarnews.info or go to   www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box in the top of the right hand column. It is easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

JP 3-40 Countering WMD (Oct 14)

The Department of Defense has released an update to Joint Publication 3-40, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, dated 31 October 2014. The publication provides guidance and the basis for the planning and execution of military activities to counter weapons of mass destruction. It sets forth countering weapons of mass destruction doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the US in joint operations and provides the doctrinal basis for US military coordination with other US government departments and agencies and for US military involvement in multinational operations. Chapter topics include "Weapons and Associated Concerns", "Organizational and Command Relationships", "Planning", and "Execution". There is also several appendices and a glossary.

www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_40.pdf

Paper - "Reforming the Afghan Security Forces"

A recent paper published in the Fall 2014 issue of  Parameters addresses the challenges ahead for the Afghan government in establishing security in Afghanistan and funding its very large security force structure. The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) remain deficient in some important areas - logistics, sustainment, fires, aviation, MEDEVAC, intelligence, and (some would say) ability to conduct small unit tactics in a counterinsurgency environment. The Taliban have yet to be defeated, and with the withdrawal of ISAF combat troops and close air support, they are more likely to increase the number of massed attacks against remote ANSF outposts and vulnerable district centers.

According to the authors of the paper, the ANSF suffer from three developmental challenges. 1) A high attrition rate, high absenteeism rate, and inflated recruitment roles, 2) lack of ability to sustain its forces over the long-term, and 3) failure of the GoA to incorporate the country's ethnically and tribally diverse populace into the national security architecture. Compounding these three challenges is the reduction in international funding for the ANSF - which will force a reduction in the overall manpower of the security forces.

The authors recommend ". . . a more resilient, inclusive, and localized security structure . . ." with an expansion of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) and the Afghan National Army Special Forces (ANASF). The growth of the ALP would provide more localized security (more effective in a counterinsurgency environment). In addition, the ALP - a less costly approach from a funding aspect - would allow for a reduction in the size of the Afghan National Army (resulting from decreased international funding).

Read more in "Reforming the Afghan Security Forces", Parameters, Autumn 2014, by Daniel Glickstein and Michael Spangler. Glickstein served in Afghanistan's Laghman province as a U.S. Soldier in 2011-2012 and Spangler is a State Department Foreign Service Officer, a visiting fellow at the U.S. Army War College, and served in Afghanistan in 2009-2010.

Formation of Afghan Cabinet Delayed

The new president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, is taking more time than expected to form his cabinet. He is at odds with Abdullah Abdullah (new CEO) on the appointment of cabinet ministers. Read more in "Long-troubled Afghan government undergoes overhaul", Stars and Stripes, November 17, 2014.