tagged w/ War in Afghanistan
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YPNation contributor Taylor Wiles takes a look at the female engagement teams in Afghanistan:
"Still, these teams will likely face significant obstacles. The Small Wars Journal has published an essay (pdf), in which Captain Matt Pottinger, who co-founded the first FET, and two cultural advisers—one, a Pashtun-American who’s been at the job for two decades—lay out challenges for the future of FET deployments. Here, they say, are the most important limiting factors to their success:
* Die-hard presumptions by battlefield commanders that engaging local women will pay no dividends.
* Hackneyed hypotheses that female engagement will offend most Pashtun men.
* A failure to involve FETs in the planning stage of operations, leading to poorly conceived missions.
* An unwillingness to establish full-time FETs made up of volunteers who are given the resources and time to train as professionals should.
It’s old news that our military culture has sufficient faith in technological superiority—$780 billion of faith, to be exact—and not much in low-tech problem-solving. A little ironic when we consider the impact of the IEDs, which are made from scraps, that have killed nearly 1,000 coalition troops so far. This FET movement comes as a welcome challenge to misconceptions that have kept coalition troops from making sustained progress against the Taliban."
Read more: http://www.ypnation.net/afghanistan-war-strategy-women
What do you think about the female engagement teams? We want to hear from you!YPNation contributor Taylor Wiles takes a look at the female engagement teams in... more
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The United States and Pakistan worked side-by-side to arrest the top Taliban military commander Abdul Ghani Baradar. But was Pakistan, in the name of helping the United States, being selfless or selfish? Retired Army Sgt. James Hanson says Pakistan created the Taliban and they know where they are hiding.The United States and Pakistan worked side-by-side to arrest the top Taliban military... more
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The dramatic news of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's capture has revived a long-dormant spirit of optimism regarding the U.S.-led effort in Afghanistan. Eager for a clear-cut victory after the country's slow-motion collapse during the past five years, many hoped that the arrest of Baradar, Taliban leader Mullah Omar's top deputy, would not only be a turning point for the NATO war effort in Afghanistan, but would also usher in a new era of cooperation with Pakistan's main spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)...
..."The basic problem is that there are things we don't know about this operation, and that we will probably never know," says Teresita Schaffer, director of the South Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The most optimistic explanation is that the ISI thinks the Afghan Taliban has become a threat to its interests in Pakistan, and has decided to move against the group. But Schaffer also floated another, less cheerful, possibility: Baradar, as suggested by this Newsweek profile, is more open to negotiations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government than some of the Taliban hierarchy's hard-line members. The ISI could have arrested him in a bid to thwart negotiations meant to assimilate the Afghan Taliban back into Afghanistan's political fold, which would likely cost Pakistan its influence as the group's patron. In other words, given the information available to the public, the Pakistanis could have arrested Baradar with the hopes of halting Taliban attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan -- or they could have arrested him in an attempt to continue those attacks.
Even assuming that Baradar's arrest is a step in the right direction, there remains a long list of issues on which the United States and the Pakistani military do not see eye to eye....
see link for full storyThe dramatic news of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's capture has revived a... more
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President Obama's decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan is provoking strong and sometimes conflicting feelings among Afghan-Americans.
Moe Hashem, the owner of the Afghan Kabob restaurant in Springfield, VA, paints a rosy picture of post-U.S. occupation life in Afghanistan. "I support Mr. Obama 110%," Hashem said. "The [American] soldiers are my soldiers, my people. God bless them. They are helping the people. Under the Taliban, the women had no freedom, little girls were afraid to go to school. Now my sister's children go to school -- the girls and the boys. People see the beauty of life now because they are safer."
Hashem, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1990, said that he used to be afraid to go back to visit his family. "Before September 11, I was from Afghanistan, but I was not safe there. The Taliban would have killed me because I'm American. Now I visit my family every seven or eight months. If you are human, you appreciate the U.S. decisions."
Amena Chenzaie, a 34-year-old World Bank employee whose parents moved to the D.C. area from Afghanistan when she was six, is grateful to American troops for saving Afghan women from the Taliban. "From an Afghan-American woman's perspective, I support Obama sending more troops over there at this time... I can't even find a word to describe the condition of women living under the Taliban -- the curfews, the abuse. The women are prospering now."
But Sonali Kolhatkar, co-director of the Afghan Women's Mission in Pasadena, CA, says the war and the lawlessness in her native country are making life even worse for women than they were under the Taliban.
"It is a myth that women are better off under the new government than the Taliban," Kolhatkar said. "Overall, more women are being imprisoned for honor crimes, more women are being raped, women are killing themselves more, and maternal mortality rates have remained the same. There is an increasing lawlessness, so more women in general are being killed. What we're seeing today is similar to what we saw in the early 90s -- there is no accountability."
Kolhatkar said that unlike many Afghan-Americans who moved to the U.S. at a young age and have largely lost touch with their Afghan friends and relatives, she remains in close contact with women in all parts of Afghanistan and in refugee camps in Pakistan.
"The Afghan-American community is by definition a more conservative community," she added. "They are quick to support this war, but they don't have to live under the same conditions as the people. They might feel differently if they did."
As to the claim that girls now feel safe enough to go to school, she said, "Any claims about things like schools and hospitals are token claims, drops in the bucket. In the South and West, the Taliban is burning down women's schools and throwing acid in their faces. This is a new Taliban. The occupation makes them stronger, gives them legitimacy. They are able to say, 'We're protecting you from U.S. and NATO imperialism.'"
Heidar Nowrouz, who lives in Annandale, VA, but is currently working in Kabul for the Insurance Corporation of Afghanistan, said some Afghans are starting to wonder if they might prefer the Taliban to the current government. "At least there was more security under the Taliban in terms of justice. They shot women for committing adultery and chopped people's hands off for stealing; it was brutal, stupid and completely inhuman, but at least it was formal justice."
Nowrouz added, "Under the Bush Administration, everyone called the Afghan war 'the Good War.' It wasn't. The Bush Administration had no clue or didn't care about what was going on or what would be good for Afghanistan, and the people didn't see a whole lot of improvement in their lives. Afghans don't even like governments, but they will take whatever side is winning because they're destitute and helpless and need medical care."
More At link..President Obama's decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan is provoking strong... more
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The president said repeatedly during the 2008 campaign that Bush's war in Iraq was a distraction from the "real war on terror" in Afghanistan and Is shifting U.S. resources accordingly. But he risks alienating his hard-core anti-war supporters who voted for him amid sharp divisions in public sentiment on whether to send in more troops.
http://www.skeeterbitesreport.com/2009/11/obama-faces-moment-of-truth-with-tv.htmlThe president said repeatedly during the 2008 campaign that Bush's war in Iraq... more
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Here's an excellent observation from Mediaite's Rachel Sklar, who reminds us that while the "big news to come out of Meet The Press this week has been author Jon Krakauer's assertion that General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, was implicated in the cover-up about the death of Pat Tillman," that big news had already been more or less broken by Jon Stewart and The Daily Show:
Krakauer was on [The Daily Show] over a month ago. It's surprising that this one flew under the radar, given how many sharp-eyed journalists, bloggers and media-watchers tune into the Daily Show, and regularly report on the news it makes. But it can and does happen, and happened here. What this says about Krakauer, McChrystal and his book is no different than what was picked up from Meet The Press. But what this says about so-called 'fake' news is, keep your eye on it. People with important things to say make a point of trying to say them on the Daily Show. So don't fall asleep before the interview.
All of that is absolutely right, and it's worth pointing out that Stewart conducted his interview with a greater awareness of where the "news" is in an interview with Jon Krakauer. That meant that Daily Show viewers got an interview that began with the Pat Tillman story and went on for six probing minutes. Meanwhile, at Meet The Press, Krakauer sat on the set like window dressing, and the subject of Pat Tillman wasn't broached until the show's final sequence of questions. Why have him on then?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/daily-show-beat-meet-the_n_343923.htmlHere's an excellent observation from Mediaite's Rachel Sklar, who reminds us... more
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he man chosen by Barack Obama to lead the war in Afghanistan also helped cover up the friendly-fire death of NFL player turned soldier Pat Tillman, writes Jon Krakauer. He administered a fraudulent medal recommendation to keep the public in the dark. So why isn’t anybody talking about it?he man chosen by Barack Obama to lead the war in Afghanistan also helped cover up the... more
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US Senator John Kerry said, in an interview to be aired Sunday, it was "irresponsible" to send more US troops to Afghanistan at this time, amid a deepening election crisis that has placed the Kabul government's legitimacy at stake.
The United States should not proceed with a new Afghanistan strategy committing a potentially major increase in US resources, including tens of thousands more troops, without first securing a clear partner in Kabul, Kerry told CNN.
Kerry is not promoting sending more troops now. That would be irresponsible, he said, when Afghanistan’s election is not yet finished.
“I don’t see how President Obama can make a decision about the committing of our additional forces or even the further fulfillment of our mission that’s here today without an adequate government in place or knowledge about what that government’s going to be,” he said.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government has been plagued by uncertainty and a legitimacy crisis after allegations of widespread fraud in the August elections whose preliminary results put him on top, and ongoing charges of corruption.
Obama is nearing a decision on the way forward in Afghanistan, after weeks of deliberations with his top advisers, but also as public support wanes for the conflict.
The US contingent, set to reach 68,000 troops by the end of the year, is experiencing heavy casualties as it combats a Taliban that has regrouped and gained momentum. Related article: Obama's tensions with generals.
Among those options being considered are to follow a grim assessment by the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, and adopt a counter-insurgency strategy that requires at least 40,000 additional troops.US Senator John Kerry said, in an interview to be aired Sunday, it was... more
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if your not to busy with balloon boy,watch this child cry about his daddy getting shot in his own home. Global War on Drugs. Open Season on Reason. enjoy that poppyseed bagel..if your not to busy with balloon boy,watch this child cry about his daddy getting shot... more
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It's lonely at the top. There are times when being the president of the United States can be the toughest and loneliest job in the world. And at no time is that feeling greater than when a president is confronted with his most fateful decision in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces: To commit U.S. troops into armed combat, especially in a war that's unpopular with the American people. President Lyndon Johnson (above) found that out the hard way in 1965 with Vietnam. Now President Obama faces a similar decision on Afghanistan that could make or break his presidency . . .It's lonely at the top. There are times when being the president of the United... more
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The Liberal Democrats become the first major political party to call for an end to Britain's war in AfghanistanThe Liberal Democrats become the first major political party to call for an end to... more
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6 months ago
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First Sgt. Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo, from Spanaway, Washington, is the oldest member in the U.S Military to die in Afghanistan. The Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star was killed by a roadside bomb in Kabul on August 18 while driving a Humvee. He would have turned 60 this month.
Read article for more.First Sgt. Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo, from Spanaway, Washington, is the oldest... more
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Plenty.
Take a look at President Obama's approval disapproval ratings on various issues in this late May 2009 Gallup poll.
(The same results persist in more recent polling, but I use this poll because of its use of two separate relevant indicators.)
Note that the two questions on federal budget--the handling of the deficit and controlling government spending--are the only two areas on which the President received negative ratings. The poll may ask people what they think about Obama, but it's actually about the mood of the American people. Anxiety about deficits is rising. Politically, that means that the President's opponents have a line of attack with traction: "out-of-control government spending." The politics around this issue mean the President will be somewhat constrained in his policies by anxieties about spending, and that means any spending commitment could crowd out other priorities.
Politics aside though, the simple fact is that we could be insuring millions of Americans with the same dollars we're spending on war in Afghanistan.
So, what are the health care opportunity costs of continued military action in Afghanistan? Here's a quick video overview, using clips from "Rethink Afghanistan", Part Three: Cost of War:Plenty.
Take a look at President Obama's approval disapproval ratings on... more
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Children of U.S. military troops sought outpatient mental health care 2 million times last year, double the number at the start of the Iraq war, and there was also an alarming spike in the number of military kids actually hospitalized for mental health reasons.
Internal Pentagon documents show the increases, which come as the services struggle with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a shortage of therapists.
From 2007 to 2008, some 20 percent more children of active duty troops were hospitalized for mental health services, the documents show. Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, inpatient visits among military children have increased 50 percent.
The total number of outpatient mental health visits for children of men and women on active duty doubled from 1 million in 2003 to 2 million in 2008. During the same period, the yearly bed days for military children 14 and under increased from 35,000 to 55,000, the documents show.
Overall, the number of children and spouses of active duty personnel and Guard and Reserve troops seeking mental health care has been steadily increasing as the military struggles with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year's increase in child hospitalizations coincided with the "surge" of tens of thousands of additional U.S. troops into Iraq to stabilize the country.
However, reasons for the treatment increases are not clear from the documents. Besides the impact of service members' repeated tours in overseas war zones — and the severe economic recession that has affected all American families — the military has been encouraging troops' family members to seek mental health help when needed.
The military plans additional research.Children of U.S. military troops sought outpatient mental health care 2 million times... more
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Al-Qaida's top commander in Afghanistan urged Turkish Muslims in a new audio message to send money to militants fighting coalition troops in the country, saying they are low on funds.
Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed said many militants in Afghanistan are unable to fight because they lack the necessary equipment.
"And we, here in Afghanistan, are needy of money," al-Yazeed said in the message released Wednesday. "And the reason for the weakness of the operations here is the inadequacy of equipment."Al-Qaida's top commander in Afghanistan urged Turkish Muslims in a new audio... more
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Exclusive footage from the recent US airstrikes in Afghanistan provides a sobering look at the dire situation on the ground. The footage will be incorporated in the new documentary, "Rethink Afghanistan."Exclusive footage from the recent US airstrikes in Afghanistan provides a sobering... more
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Practical ways to get involved and take action.
The war in Afghanistan is a quagmire bordering on a catastrophe. With a current price tag of $2 billion a month, this drawn-out conflict took the lives of 155 American soldiers and 2,118 Afghan civilians last year--the bloodiest year of the war to date. Western airstrikes alone killed 522 civilians, fueling hostility toward the United States and causing more Afghans to join and support the Taliban insurgency that has spread into Pakistan. President Obama has escalated our military presence by committing an additional 17,000 US troops and 4,000 trainers to work with Afghan security forces. Where is the public outcry? The Nation and Z.P. Heller, editorial director of Brave New Films, have put together a list of things you can do to oppose the warPractical ways to get involved and take action.
The war in Afghanistan is a... more
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In 2008, The Guardian commissioned him to produce an online project called “Six months in Afghanistan.” The project was to include photography, short films, audio slideshows, and blogging.
More at www.frontlineclub.com Read our blogs at http://frontlineclub.com/news/blogs.html Watch our live channel at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/frontline-club Follow us on Twitter @frontlineblog http://www.twitter.com/frontlineblog
“I wanted to use the full range of multimedia options open to me to tell the story of the war in Afghanistan,” says McHugh, “and The Guardian gave me the opportunity to do this, and the platform to present the results to a worldwide audience.”
McHugh will present a selection of this multimedia work at The Frontline Club, and will talk with Roger Tooth, The Guardian’s head of photography, about the reasons why he has moved from working solely in traditional photojournalism into other fields.
“I still believe the power of a well composed still photograph is unsurpassable” McHugh says. “But, as the internet gathers pace, and a hungry news audience demands ever more information, while at the same time it becomes more difficult and more dangerous for journalists to travel and work on the modern battlefield, it is a logical step for some of us to blur the long-established separate roles.”
McHugh goes on to say, “I have heard it described as ‘convergence journalism’ by some, and others have called me a ‘multimedia practitioner,’ but really, the label is unimportant. The simple fact is that by learning and adopting these new skills, I have been able to produce a much stronger body of work, and have brought the reality of the situation in Afghanistan to far more people than through purely still photography, and as a journalist, that is my job.”In 2008, The Guardian commissioned him to produce an online project called “Six... more
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Stephen Grey is one of the UK's most distinguished investigative journalists and in December 2007 set off to Helmand, southern Afghanistan to see firsthand a conflict that was turning increasingly brutal and resulting in heavier losses for British armed forces. The reports that he filed for the Sunday Times - as he witnessed the death of both civilians and a British soldier -- won praise.
More at www.frontlineclub.com Read our blogs at http://frontlineclub.com/news/blogs.html Watch our live channel at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/frontline-club Follow us on Twitter @frontlineblog http://www.twitter.com/frontlineblog
But Stephen concluded that, in the chaos of frontline reporting, much of the true story has remained blurred. To research his new book - Operation Snakebite - he dug deeper into the events he witnessed, returning to Helmand and to Kabul and interviewing more than 200 British and American troops, plus officials, to reconstruct not only a gripping battle story but to make wider findings. He will be discussing this, and also what the British really make of working with President Karzai, the true story of talking to the enemy, revelations over 'takedown' operations conducted by US and British special forces, crucial equipment shortages and the unresolved tensions between Whitehall and the frontline.
A former editor on the Sunday Times' investigations unit, the Insight team, Stephen Grey has continued to contribute to the newspaper, as well to the New York Times, Guardian, Times, Independent, New Statesman and Newsweek. He is best known for his world exclusive revelations on the CIA's secret rendition program. He has reported for Channel 4's Dispatches, BBC Newsnight, BBC Radio Four and the World Service. He has been nominated for, and won, several major press awards.
Nick Fielding is a journalist and former Senior Sunday Times journalist leading global investigations. He is the author of two books: Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terror and Masterminds of Terror.Stephen Grey is one of the UK's most distinguished investigative journalists and... more
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We have said many times that liberals do not understand the military. We have said they do not understand the application of military force and they surely do not understand when to use it, as a threat, and when to actually apply that force. ...We have said many times that liberals do not understand the military. We have said... more
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