Saving Afghanistan

[Administrator]

Last fall, I returned from a six-month deployment to Iraq with the Navy, in which I worked as a tribal and leadership engagement officer in the Fallujah area. By the end of my deployment, Fallujah had changed from an area rife with al-Qaida’s presence and upward of 750 security incidents a month to one where al-Qaida was on the run and security incidents were down to about 80 a month. I saw what was needed to convincingly defeat an insurgency as we worked with local tribes and Iraqi security forces to clear and hold each of Fallujah’s 10 neighborhoods and numerous surrounding villages.

http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2008/11/3738650

[Casstx]

Where were the Cover and article pictures taken? I can't find a credit in the magazine. Are they Dan Green's? They look like Nanagahar/Naray. Someone asked me and I'd like to tell them this is why a foot army isn't always a good idea given the terrain. Most people don't know how rugged it really is over there. Thanks!

[RVN6870]

Excellent readout by Mr. Green. I've been trying to force-feed myself on Afghanistan after speeding three consecutive tours in OIF with State. A bit of (now ancient) history: the Iraq PRT program was a loose partnership with MNF-I (at the time). The PRT program in Afghanistan was neither the model nor the inspiration for the Iraq program - in fact we looked more to a CORDS template, albeit smaller. The Iraq program was and is a provincial empowerment program that de-centralizes governance vice the stated mission of the Afghan program which remains " to extend the reach of the central government.". The Iraq program, which we first called Provincial Development Teams and then Provincial Governance Action Teams (PGA-Teams), was only dubbed "PRT" AFTER it was proposed to Main State by the Ambassador who had also been the COM to Afghanistan. By the time of "launch" in the days following the constitutional referendum (which carries with it the implication of provincial powers) on October 19, 2005, the name had stuck... much to our chagrine. This is not to denigrate either program, but merely to differentiate between them. Some have suggested that the PRTs in Afghanistan would have benefited from civilian leadership, staffing and a de-centralized mission from the beginning - I leave that arguments to those more knowledgeable on that AOR.

[Qman101]

It's hard to express my anger without swearing but just wish our world was different. Would like to thank everyone involved in Afghan and Iraq for their great work in a very difficult situation, it really makes me wonder how people can strike here in the UK under such stressless conditions where our lads and laddesses fight bravely on for our country with poor equipment and poor backing from the mice in Whitehall.

In particular would like say hi to any Riflemen from the Rifles that are out and about at the moment. Keep your heads down and hopefully you'll all be coming home very soon.

As a little plus, we have done a deal with Ladbrokes to get Armed Forces personnel an extra tenner if you like your betting. Just use HMSQWERTY as a sign up. (To Editor: Please remove if dissallowed).

God Bless to all our heroes!