Posted on Jun 10, 2019
Islamic State expands reach in Afghanistan, threatening West
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Is The Enemy of my Enemy, is my Friend?
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If there is one thing that is consistent with the Afghans; It's that they historically fight each other, until the next Invaders come to the Graveyard of Empires.
In my many Key Leader Engagements, I never heard or got the feeling, that our presence was seen as an "Invader", but more of "Tourists". We never wanted to stay, the village elders knew this and voiced, on numerous occasions, that openly supporting US forces, was foolish, because we would just leave; but the people wished us luck and success, because stability and minor improvements to water access, sanitation and some irrigation helped increase food and health security.
Physical Security, is improving because both sides, The Taliban & Allied Forces, have actively worked to avoid civilian casualties.
People need to realize that The Taliban, are the survivors of the Mujahideen (the group we helped kick the Russians out). They would be equivalent to Right Wing Extremists in American Politics.
Al Qaeda, was a seperate group, that lived in Afghanistan. They thrived in the eastern border regions, but influenced more than half of the country. These were the scary dudes; Ultra Conservative Vigilante Criminals enforcing a violent form of Islam. Teachers, doctors, police, army, elected officials and political appointees; foreign of local were targeted as apostates if we supported progress. But, they could justify their killings, and they called Afghanistan home.
There was a third group, the "Northern Alliance" which was the 2nd half of the Mujahideen that survived, this is the group we aligned with, and absorbed into the Adghan central government.
The NATO forces on the ground, are committed to making the Central Government function, in a progressive manner; the Taliban does not.
Al Qaeda is still scary; but, "The Islamic State" is scarier; and they will be aligned.
However, if the report is correct, The Islamic State, actors have forgotten the rules, and pissed off, everyone, even the Taliban, by targeting civilians, women in kids.
Right now, is a path to reconciliation. Assist the central government & the Taliban, to kick the hell out of The Islamic State, group.
The Government & The Taliban, both want a safe environment to raise their kids; we want out, and do not intentionally target innocents.
The IS-K group, is looking for a permanent home, attacking, killing and plundering as they go in; not respecting the Afgan way of fighting. They are the Next Invader.... and they are far worse, than having the Coalition Forces around to help infuse money into the economy, as well as construction projects and general improvements.
Peace through unity, in defense of the people?
Is there a chance?
*****************
If there is one thing that is consistent with the Afghans; It's that they historically fight each other, until the next Invaders come to the Graveyard of Empires.
In my many Key Leader Engagements, I never heard or got the feeling, that our presence was seen as an "Invader", but more of "Tourists". We never wanted to stay, the village elders knew this and voiced, on numerous occasions, that openly supporting US forces, was foolish, because we would just leave; but the people wished us luck and success, because stability and minor improvements to water access, sanitation and some irrigation helped increase food and health security.
Physical Security, is improving because both sides, The Taliban & Allied Forces, have actively worked to avoid civilian casualties.
People need to realize that The Taliban, are the survivors of the Mujahideen (the group we helped kick the Russians out). They would be equivalent to Right Wing Extremists in American Politics.
Al Qaeda, was a seperate group, that lived in Afghanistan. They thrived in the eastern border regions, but influenced more than half of the country. These were the scary dudes; Ultra Conservative Vigilante Criminals enforcing a violent form of Islam. Teachers, doctors, police, army, elected officials and political appointees; foreign of local were targeted as apostates if we supported progress. But, they could justify their killings, and they called Afghanistan home.
There was a third group, the "Northern Alliance" which was the 2nd half of the Mujahideen that survived, this is the group we aligned with, and absorbed into the Adghan central government.
The NATO forces on the ground, are committed to making the Central Government function, in a progressive manner; the Taliban does not.
Al Qaeda is still scary; but, "The Islamic State" is scarier; and they will be aligned.
However, if the report is correct, The Islamic State, actors have forgotten the rules, and pissed off, everyone, even the Taliban, by targeting civilians, women in kids.
Right now, is a path to reconciliation. Assist the central government & the Taliban, to kick the hell out of The Islamic State, group.
The Government & The Taliban, both want a safe environment to raise their kids; we want out, and do not intentionally target innocents.
The IS-K group, is looking for a permanent home, attacking, killing and plundering as they go in; not respecting the Afgan way of fighting. They are the Next Invader.... and they are far worse, than having the Coalition Forces around to help infuse money into the economy, as well as construction projects and general improvements.
Peace through unity, in defense of the people?
Is there a chance?
Islamic State expands reach in Afghanistan, threatening West
Posted from apnews.comPosted in these groups: 
Afghanistan
GWOT
Afghanistan GWOT
Posted >1 y ago
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I left that place feeling like nothing I'd done for a year mattered; that my replacement would simply start from "scratch" (seemed like none of them wanted our advice or "passdown"), and the whole, surreal, chaotic mess would replay itself over again...could almost imagine our ANA counterparts laughing about it as the new guys starting introducing themselves through the 'terps, "Here comes the next bunch...aren't they a riot!"
I don't claim to be an expert on strategy, or the intricacies of Afghan socio-politics, but I personally knew "village elders" who, in my best estimation, were "Taliban"...at least in ideology. Some of them seemed to be perfectly happy to leave us alone, take our money, and even accept a few changes. These same men also seemed to hate the variety of foreign terrorists who showed up, presumably to "help" them fight us. They had their civil war, and probably didn't care for a bunch of outsiders crashing it...but at least we brought medicine, money, and didn't ask their young men to blow themselves up needlessly for $20.
I don't claim to be an expert on strategy, or the intricacies of Afghan socio-politics, but I personally knew "village elders" who, in my best estimation, were "Taliban"...at least in ideology. Some of them seemed to be perfectly happy to leave us alone, take our money, and even accept a few changes. These same men also seemed to hate the variety of foreign terrorists who showed up, presumably to "help" them fight us. They had their civil war, and probably didn't care for a bunch of outsiders crashing it...but at least we brought medicine, money, and didn't ask their young men to blow themselves up needlessly for $20.
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CPT Ray Gilmore
I feel your dissatisfaction; in our work vs reward; 12 years after my first OP into BMG, reporting a large TB presence, and having the District HQ's sacked..... the exact same garbage happened, to the day.
I feel that most of the elders in my AOR, were indifferent.
I covered Farah in the south, to Bala Murghab (BMG) in the north; which included Herat; and Herat was very stable compared to the east & south.
In BMG, a group of elders openly admitted to being "Taliban"; and there was a distinct difference, from the AQ cells, which were more extreme and violent.
If you crossed them, or angered them (the TB), they were fierce. But, the AQ groups.... they were a whole other level.
I feel that most of the elders in my AOR, were indifferent.
I covered Farah in the south, to Bala Murghab (BMG) in the north; which included Herat; and Herat was very stable compared to the east & south.
In BMG, a group of elders openly admitted to being "Taliban"; and there was a distinct difference, from the AQ cells, which were more extreme and violent.
If you crossed them, or angered them (the TB), they were fierce. But, the AQ groups.... they were a whole other level.
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LCDR Joshua Gillespie
Yup-that's about it.
I was out east with all the Pashtun... opinions seemed to change from village to village out there. The ANA were mostly from the North and West, so racially and culturally incompatible. I generally felt the locals hated them way more than us...and kinda viewed us as "well-intended idiots" half of the time; irreplaceable resources the other half. It was frustrating because for the life of me, I never figured out what to call a "win"-that the ANA didn't roll too many LNs for cash? That we helped some of the people, some of the time? That the TB didn't openly run the show? or that generally-speaking, no one from some "other" place was able to come in and have a free hand?
One thing was always obvious-the day we all left, it would all "reset", and probably not in a nice way.
I was out east with all the Pashtun... opinions seemed to change from village to village out there. The ANA were mostly from the North and West, so racially and culturally incompatible. I generally felt the locals hated them way more than us...and kinda viewed us as "well-intended idiots" half of the time; irreplaceable resources the other half. It was frustrating because for the life of me, I never figured out what to call a "win"-that the ANA didn't roll too many LNs for cash? That we helped some of the people, some of the time? That the TB didn't openly run the show? or that generally-speaking, no one from some "other" place was able to come in and have a free hand?
One thing was always obvious-the day we all left, it would all "reset", and probably not in a nice way.
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CPT Ray Gilmore
LCDR Joshua Gillespie agreed; without NATO involvement & US money, it all rolls back to chaos and control goes to the warlord, who has the most guns for hire.
The Pashtuns, everywhere had a distaste for the Hazaras, calling them mongols and village idiots was the least of "bad things" that the Pashtun soldiers would do to those new Hazaras who showed up to serve.
The Hazaras comprised the majority of NCO's in the west and the young Pashtun soldiers would mouth off to them, as if they were superior in every aspect. Then get smacked around for it.
Beyond their differences in physical appearance; the Hazaras were also primarily Shia vs. Pashtun Sunnis....
So, there were physical and religious differences to divide them; without much to unify them.
And do not try & unite them via Massoud; he left a group of Hazaras to get butchered by the Taliban, as an unsupported rear guard, while he withdrew to the panjshir. So, ISAF forces threw an insult their way, every time we tried to get everyone to coalesce around the pictures of Massoud we plastered up everywhere.
Success, was never going to meet Western standard.
If 50% of ANP showed up. It was an improvement, the ANA had a slightly higher expectation, but not by much.
Not siphoning of gas before missions, would have been an improvement.
Hitting a target and controlling their muzzles was an improvement....
But, a functioning central government, in a European or American model, was not going to happen in our life time....
So, we monitored, movement of Maslow's needles.... girls allowed to go to school (physical security), increased water access, cleaner sanitation practices, lower incidents of illness and disease in the school aged children.. (improved health security); availability of food water, etc. If people can't eat or drink the water, $20 to blow yourself up, or $10 a day to farm poppies, is a great option.
However, Afghanistan has no easy solutions.
The Pashtuns, everywhere had a distaste for the Hazaras, calling them mongols and village idiots was the least of "bad things" that the Pashtun soldiers would do to those new Hazaras who showed up to serve.
The Hazaras comprised the majority of NCO's in the west and the young Pashtun soldiers would mouth off to them, as if they were superior in every aspect. Then get smacked around for it.
Beyond their differences in physical appearance; the Hazaras were also primarily Shia vs. Pashtun Sunnis....
So, there were physical and religious differences to divide them; without much to unify them.
And do not try & unite them via Massoud; he left a group of Hazaras to get butchered by the Taliban, as an unsupported rear guard, while he withdrew to the panjshir. So, ISAF forces threw an insult their way, every time we tried to get everyone to coalesce around the pictures of Massoud we plastered up everywhere.
Success, was never going to meet Western standard.
If 50% of ANP showed up. It was an improvement, the ANA had a slightly higher expectation, but not by much.
Not siphoning of gas before missions, would have been an improvement.
Hitting a target and controlling their muzzles was an improvement....
But, a functioning central government, in a European or American model, was not going to happen in our life time....
So, we monitored, movement of Maslow's needles.... girls allowed to go to school (physical security), increased water access, cleaner sanitation practices, lower incidents of illness and disease in the school aged children.. (improved health security); availability of food water, etc. If people can't eat or drink the water, $20 to blow yourself up, or $10 a day to farm poppies, is a great option.
However, Afghanistan has no easy solutions.
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