Afghan National Army Attrition

[BarakzaiAbdali]

"Though the Pentagon’s own report claimed the October 2012 goal of getting the Afghan military up to 352,000 members was met, a new report today from the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) confirms that they didn’t."


http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...1075741&rank=1

and this part makes one want to laugh and cry at the same time:

"SIGAR and others have reported that determining ANSF strength is fraught with challenges. U.S. and Coalition forces rely on the Afghan forces to report their own personnel strength numbers, which are often derived from hand-prepared personnel records in decentralized, unlinked, and inconsistent systems,” the report stated."

"In fact, the ANSF end strength is shrinking, not growing. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction found that the number of personnel shrunk by about 4,000 troops and policemen between March 2012 and February 2013."

the only bright spot was:

"In particular, the report praised Afghan Local Police units for their ability to keep the Taliban at bay.
“ALP members are recruited locally, recommended by village elders, and assigned to protect their home villages. Because they are a local force, the ALP has demonstrated “a unique resilience” against infiltration by the Taliban “as anyone outside the area would be immediately recognized as a foreigner,” the report states."

^ So basically the local lashgaar now just wears a uniform - it took them 13 years to recognize the centralized approach was a failing endeavor. Especially if Krakzai and his crew were leading the effort.

[KGODB]

the entire defence ideology and strategy of the ANA is retarded

[SiiNii]

the entire defence ideology and strategy of the ANA is retarded

Can you elaborate?

[SiiNii]

The idea that the ANA can be trained, equipped and supplied in a similar manner to coalition forces is ludicrous.

[khushal]

The idea that the ANA can be trained, equipped and supplied in a similar manner to coalition forces is ludicrous.

So the whole surge strategy was retarded then. It would have been better to have used that time and resources to tackle corruption. The idea behind the battle for hearts and minds is to make a better government, not actually fight the Taliban. If the government is good in the eyes of the people, then there is no Taliban. Good government equals no Taliban.

[khushal]

the entire defence ideology and strategy of the ANA is retarded

The ANA should not be working on defence strategy. It should be working on working serving the people. Afghanistan is a tough place, If a superpower like the US have problems with logistics, how could the ANA keep up. Naijb had supply lines from the north, how can the US supply Karzai when they leave. It can only work if the people actually side with the government and the people will side with the government if it is seen as legit in the eyes of those people.

[SiiNii]

At the time, I thought the surge made no sense, and still feel that way.

It would have been better to have used that time and resources to tackle corruption.

Can you name one country in all of Asia, besides Japan, that doesn't have a corrupt government? Yet they have functioning governments. Trying to fight corruption in Asia is like trying to fight the change of the seasons, when politicians say "we're making progress but we're having problems with corruption" to my ears it comes out like "we planted the crops but winter is hindering our harvest". As if they couldn't have predicted it!

We should have never tried to fund a centralized government or Army in the first place.

[Admin Khan]

The idea that the ANA can be trained, equipped and supplied in a similar manner to coalition forces is ludicrous.

Why?

[Hashmat]

Dear Barakzai Abdali,
Let's not forget that Afghanistan was lacking Afghan National Army, Afghan National police and Afghan National Directorate of Security post 2001. I am certain that most viewers on this forum will agree with me that the backbone of any country is these three forces, without these forces there will be no rule of law and good governance. The United States is committed to help Afghanistan stand on its own feet. The Afghan Army is on track to reach its goal of 352,000. As everyone is aware Afghan national Army is conducting 85 to 95 percent of all missions against Taliban and insurgents in Afghanistan. The United States and the International Community's support for the ANSF remain critical, notably in the provision of key enabling capabilities. This support will remain until such time when the ANSF are fully capable of acting independently. We will not let Afghanistan become a global hub for terrorists again. As our Secretary of State John Kerry said,"I reaffirmed our commitment to the Afghan people and to our determination that Afghanistan will not ever become a haven for terrorists,"
Respectfully,
Hashmat
DET, United States Central Command
U.S. Central Command

[BarakzaiAbdali]

Dear Barakzai Abdali,
Let's not forget that Afghanistan was lacking Afghan National Army, Afghan National police and Afghan National Directorate of Security post 2001. I am certain that most viewers on this forum will agree with me that the backbone of any country is these three forces, without these forces there will be no rule of law and good governance. The United States is committed to help Afghanistan stand on its own feet. The Afghan Army is on track to reach its goal of 352,000. As everyone is aware Afghan national Army is conducting 85 to 95 percent of all missions against Taliban and insurgents in Afghanistan. The United States and the International Community's support for the ANSF remain critical, notably in the provision of key enabling capabilities. This support will remain until such time when the ANSF are fully capable of acting independently. We will not let Afghanistan become a global hub for terrorists again. As our Secretary of State John Kerry said,"I reaffirmed our commitment to the Afghan people and to our determination that Afghanistan will not ever become a haven for terrorists,"
Respectfully,
Hashmat
DET, United States Central Command
U.S. Central Command

Hashmat,

Thanks for the feedback. Remember, the oversight study was conducted to monitor CENTCOM and ISAF progress in the face of the spurious reports and I think they did a good job. And dont take it to heart - this criticism is there to IMPROVE synchrony and efforts and it certainly shows a lot of room for improvement. I do think there is a lot of truth to your statement about 2001 and the fact that its only been 13 some years. And I think thats important to reflect on. The Brits, the masters of nation building could barely build Peshawar (former Afghan territory) across the border into a semi functional state after a century or more. So I think thats the issue is that the American Public is war weary and doesnt want a century long committment to building Pakistan next door to itself.

That being said, I really appreciate the back and forth and have a few questions:

1) Can you ask your superiors why ISAF wont stop indiscriminate shelling from the Pakistani Army? If one of our reasons for going to Turkey is to protect a nation state from cross border attack - why should Afghanistan not warrant the same privileges for such human rights abuses?

2) SPringboarding off 1 - lodging complaints with Islamabad doesnt appear to be holding water and the Afghan forces have been unable to make headway over this issue. One again, does that not warrant a military and rigorous response to those troops and locations indiscriminantly shelling Afghan villages? If for example drones are used to attack nonuniformed forces across the durand line - should evidence of infraction not be collected and followed up by a stern warning to Pakistani military forces to cease shelling? And if disobeyed should a targted ISAF and NATO led response not ensue to protect Afghanistan as we do Turkey?

[khushal]

At the time, I thought the surge made no sense, and still feel that way.



Can you name one country in all of Asia, besides Japan, that doesn't have a corrupt government? Yet they have functioning governments. Trying to fight corruption in Asia is like trying to fight the change of the seasons, when politicians say "we're making progress but we're having problems with corruption" to my ears it comes out like "we planted the crops but winter is hindering our harvest". As if they couldn't have predicted it!

We should have never tried to fund a centralized government or Army in the first place.

Afghansitan is not like the rest of Asia. Afghans dont want corruption. Afghan culture promotes the idea of equality just like America. If you have a few elites siphoning all the wealth and resources, the rest wont stand for it. If your an ANA soldier, Siinnii, why should you put your life on the line in the trenches for Karzai and his goons to siphon wealth. If Karzai and his goons actually shared the wealth with the people, maybe you as an ANA soldier might have a change of heart and actually have "morale" to fight an enemy that is trying to destroy an entity that is trying to serve its people.

[MostafaM]

Being a soldier doesn´t mean to back the current regime, as bad or corrupt it may be.

A soldier´s duty is to defend the political survivability of the state and the people residing in that state. It doesn´t mean that it always works out or that everything is always a bed of roses.

But NOT having an army, state institutions etc. is by far worse that having corrupt ones.

Corruption can be fought and erased.
Failed states can´t be repaired that easily.

[JAMALUDEEN]

Seriously Khushal, no one wants corruption but corruption has existed in Afghanistan all long even prior to 1980s.. lol..

People actually in lived peace even with all the corruption...

[BarakzaiAbdali]

That's like a movie theme Mostafa... And this is not gladiator with russel crowe... This is an installed group and the soldiers are mercenaries. A mercenary is basically a thug for hire with loyalties to himself. Afghanistans own people have served as its defense when needed.

Being a soldier doesn´t mean to back the current regime, as bad or corrupt it may be.

A soldier´s duty is to defend the political survivability of the state and the people residing in that state. It doesn´t mean that it always works out or that everything is always a bed of roses.

But NOT having an army, state institutions etc. is by far worse that having corrupt ones.

Corruption can be fought and erased.
Failed states can´t be repaired that easily.

[MostafaM]

That's like a movie theme Mostafa... And this is not gladiator with russel crowe... This is an installed group and the soldiers are mercenaries. A mercenary is basically a thug for hire with loyalties to himself. Afghanistans own people have served as its defense when needed.

Abdali Saib,

those times are over if they ever existed.

Back in the old days, when an ordinary men´s rifle was comparable to the weaponry of standing armies, ordinary people could withstand invaders.

But Afghans are facing modern enemies today. We aren´t living in the romantic 18 th century when British officers commanding 20.000 Indians would appear at our frontiers.

The downfall of the Afghan Army after the Coup against Daoud Khan untill the complete destruction of the Armed Forces in 1992 which was Pakistan´s major goal is a witness to that.

Nations need intelligence agencies, armed forces, police and border guards, military intelligence, modern weaponry and a doctrine.

We can´t rely on tribes and their leaders.

Example from History:

Mullah-e Lang /Gudd Mullah who was a British spy led the Mangal tribe into a full scale revolt against the Monarchy of Amanullah Khan. The British feared his charisma and his person to be a role model from Egypt to India. (Gamal Nasser mentions his meeting with Amanullah Khan when he was a child in his memoirs and how much he influenced his anti-colonial thinking) Thats why they tasked that guy to get rid of Amanullah Khan through a revolt.

Tribes, normal human beings, peasants, teachers and workers aren´t soldiers.

Afghanistan needs a military deterrence and I prefer the ANA who are called "traitors", "mercenaries" or "drug addicts" over every insurgent because the same words can applied for them, too. Their ultimate goal goes against the vital national interests of the Afghan people.

I guess, your romantic view on those "freedom fighters" who fight for a just cause is by far more "Hollywood" than my words.