Good Ideas Deaf Ears

It’s not too difficult to find really good ideas in this country. All you need do is listen to the people around you. I have heard some fantastic ideas from Afghans as well as several from collation force members. I’ll bring up a few here just to give them some air. I don’t pretend to think anyone in a position to implement would pay any attention. Such is life.

An Afghan who has worked with both NGO’s and the military pointed out the fatal flaw in using local Afghan’s for advisors. All too often they have local allegiances that overshadow their role. Many of the attacks on villages that have resulted in high civilian casualty counts were the result of intentionally poor advice. What better way to settle a score in a war zone? His solution: use Afghan nationals but move them to unfamiliar parts of the country. They will still be effective at communicating but will have a more objective view without any local ties to color their loyalties. A former Special Forces member had another take on this point. Apparently we don’t keep translators for very long. Odd given all the clearance they have to get to qualify for the job. He recommended we pay them more and guarantee them longer contracts or favored immigration/work visa status.

A former Mujahideen Commander had several suggestions. He pointed out that Night Vision Goggles and other high tech gear including MilSpec GPS systems are openly available in several local bazaars. He bought one and tried to get the US Forces to take action but got nowhere. I’ve seen this same claim about Pakistani bazaars. Makes sense to me, where else would a thief sell all the items stolen in transit to coalition forces? This same gentleman told me how he had been negotiating with Egyptian Clerics to declare that the fight in Afghanistan is not a jihad. This is significant because Egypt is still a key center of religious authority. If they declared that Afghanistan was not a jihad the Taliban would loose a significant number of their foreign fighters as well as local fighters. President Karzai replaced this man on the project and it fizzled. Karzai is a Pashtun, the Commander is a Tajik.

One item that is finally happening, I met an Afghan woman who returned to the country when we invaded and has been working for either the military, government or NGO’s ever since. This is a very brave path to choose for an Afghan woman, especially one who could easily have remained in the USA. She told me a few months ago that US Forces were now producing information packets specific to geographical areas. These have detailed information on the local tribes, villages, customs, etc. These are for small geographic areas, Konar valley for example. To win in Afghanistan you cannot paint with a broad brush. You have to understand the local issues at a very granular level. The first step is understanding the basic cultural and political terrain. This woman plays a key part of that.

There has been a great deal of speculation as to General McCrystal’s plan. He is now the top dog in country. Many have speculated that he will say one thing to the press and direct his commanders to do another. I haven’t followed it closely but I have read his guidance to his top commanders. For this first time protecting civilians is the #1 priority. If followed, that alone will go a long way toward settling things in this wild land. I am of the opinion this is not one organized insurgency as the press likes to sell it. To be fair to the press it makes for an easier story if you treat it as a cohesive effort by evil Muslim hoards. I’ve seen enough of the politics in this country and watched the population though. I see this as a number of lawless players. There are Taliban, the Hezb-e Islami, local warlords, drug kingpins and common criminals. This is not a classic insurgency. This is an insurgency combined with a fragmented country that lacks a charismatic leader to pull it all together. I do think we can defeat the Taliban. I don’t believe we can force a solution for all the countries ills. That is for the Afghan people to decide. It likely won’t be pretty. It will probably piss off a lot of westerners who believe they know best (in the best colonial spirit). Like it or not the future of Afghanistan rests ultimately with the Afghans.