Observations from Afghanistan

Bill Roggio:

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- Pakistan's lawless tribal belts are a major source of Taliban support, including indoctrinating, funding, arming and training Pakistani and Afghan Taliban recruits. The Afghans I spoke to curse Pakistan for allowing this to happen. The porous situation on the Afghan-Pakistan border is a national security issue for Afghanistan, and the international community as al-Qaeda is operating training camps within the Northwest Frontier Province and Baluchistan.

- The Taliban is unable to stand up against the Western militaries when they attempt to mass in large formations (100 to 300 fighters, equivalent to company or battalion sized units). Their advantage is they know the local terrain far better than the Coalition forces. The solution is to get the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police trained, equipped and on the front lines in southeastern Afghanistan.

- The levels of effectiveness of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police varies from unit to unit. The Canadian soldiers trust the army units, but are very wary of police units. Corruption is a major problem with local police formations, as is drug usage (this is also a problem within the Taliban). The ANA and ANP are often poorly armed and trained. But to a man, the Canadian soldiers are impressed with their enthusiasm and courage once a fight breaks out. "Once the bullets fly, these guys are solid. They bring everything they got and never shy away from a fight," one Canadian officer said. The Canadians stated the Afghan security forces do not like plan operations but want to immediately make contact with the Taliban. The Canadians often have to restrain the Afghans from leaving the gates without planning an operation. Over enthusiasm is often a weakness in conducting military operations.

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There is more. I have made similar observations from Washinton, Texas, but Roggio's on the scene perspective adds weight. I am hopefully about the trends in Afghanistan, and the Taliban's increased tempo actually supports that hope, because it is so counter productive to their cause. While Roggio mentions later in his post the problem with the poppy farmers, and giving them an alternative crop, I think if they do not make that choice RoundUp should be brought to bear on the fields.