From FPRI:
BEYOND THE TENTH YEAR IN AFGHANISTAN:
SECURITY FORCE ASSISTANCE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
by William B. Caldwell, IV. and Derek S. Reveron
Ten years ago, Afghanistan was politically fractured,
economically irrelevant, and socially repressive. The
Taliban government, recognized by only three countries at
the time, reduced the nation's GDP per capita to under $170,
almost completely destroyed public infrastructure, and
ruptured Afghanistan into a conglomeration of belligerent
localities, geographically isolated from one another.
Afghanistan hosted al-Qa'ida and we soon learned what the
latest National Military Strategy of the United States
underscored, "In this interdependent world, the enduring
interests of the United States are increasingly tied to
those of other state and non-state actors." Afghanistan is
no exception.
While Taliban totalitarianism attempted to destroy Afghans'
future, the international community has attempted to reverse
societal regression. To be sure, Afghanistan still has many
challenges, but it is also not the fragmented society it
once was either. Insurgent groups still conduct attacks,
primarily in the south and east, but much has changed in ten
years-Afghanistan is now sovereign, the international
community is heavily invested in the future of Afghanistan,
and their society is slowly recovering. With international
assistance, GDP has increased to $1,000 per capita, almost
all Afghans have access to basic health services, and school
enrollment increased from 900,000 (mainly boys) to almost
seven million (37 percent girls). Women now serve in
Parliament and even train to be pilots in the Afghan Air
Force. Most of the country is now connected via mobile
phones, highways, and common purpose-assuming responsibility
for its own security, which remains threatened by various
insurgent groups.
Internationally, Afghanistan is not the pariah it once was
and it is on the verge of helping to link Central and South
Asia along a new Silk Road. India is providing $2 billion
worth of assistance; Uzbekistan is building rail links in
the north; and China is investing in the east. In short,
Afghanistan is attempting to normalize its international
relations and is on a path that President Obama outlined at
West Point on December 1, 2009 to "deny al Qaeda a safe
haven...reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the
ability to overthrow the government_ and strengthen the
capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so
that they can take the lead responsibility for Afghanistan's
future." In contrast to other ethnically-diverse countries
wracked by years of war, Afghans overwhelmingly favor a
unified, multi-ethnic country where ISAF members are
welcomed as guests.
To be sure, progress is dependent on international support
for Afghanistan, but as agreed at the NATO summit in Lisbon
last fall, Kabul will increasingly assume lead
responsibility for its development and security. This
process started in July of this year when the first seven
areas began to transition lead security responsibility from
NATO to Afghanistan. Far from an anomaly, this international
approach to enabling other governments to provide security
for their people is a contemporary feature of U.S. national
security. As former secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote,
"building partner capacity: helping others defend themselves
or, if necessary, fight alongside U.S. forces by providing
them with equipment, training, or other forms of security
assistance_[because] building the security capacity of other
countries must be a critical element of U.S. national
security strategy." These ideas are being practiced in
Afghanistan every day and have enabled the Afghan Surge.
THE AFGHAN SURGE
When the United States surged an additional 30,000 troops to
Afghanistan, they supported the training of Afghan soldiers
and police that now number 305,000. The growth is not only a
testament to the strength of partnership between the
international community and the government of Afghanistan,
but also Afghans' willingness to heed the call to defend
their country and determine their future. Taken together,
the combined NATO-Afghan force provides security "shoulder-
to-shoulder," in Dari shohna ba shohna, and in Pashtu ooga-
pa-ooga. NATO forces are partnered with Afghan units at many
levels and make the ultimate sacrifice too (last year Afghan
security personnel were killed at a rate one and half times
greater than coalition forces). This unfortunate fact is
both a reminder of the dangers insurgents pose and the
Afghans' heavy engagement in the fight for control of their
country. But the costs are beginning to show progress. In
July, NATO transitioned lead security responsibility to
Afghan forces in seven areas. The transition process will
continue through 2014 when NATO will shift to a supporting
role and underscores the importance of training, equipping,
and fielding a self-sustaining and enduring Afghan Army, Air
Force, and Police.
Former Minister of Interior Ali Jalali wrote in Prism in
September 2010, "the key to future success is a shared
vision for the end-state in Afghanistan, and the building of
indigenous capacity to achieve this goal." Afghan
presidential advsior Dr. Ashraf Ghani wrote in the same
issue, "the success of the counteroffensive will be judged
by its role in the larger project of
counterinsurgency-creating the enabling environment for a
stable political and economic system that can turn both
Afghan citizens and regional players into stakeholders in
its success." An underappreciated fact is that this is the
Afghans' war. Minister of Defense Wardak, Minister of
Interior Mohammadi, Chief of General Staff Karimi, Ground
Force Commander Murad Ali, and Sergeant Major Roshan are its
leaders. Every day, Afghan soldiers and police are
conducting patrols in Helmand, interdicting insurgents in
Paktika, and recovering weapons caches in Khost. ISAF forces
are certainly essential to these efforts today, but it is
with Afghans that combined operations protect the
population, build institutions, and deprive insurgents the
support they need. And over the next three years, ISAF
operations will yield to Afghan-led operations. This process
coupled with increased growth and professionalization is
enabling the Afghan military and police to assume greater
responsibility for security and self-reliance.
BEYOND GROWTH
Over the next year, the Afghan Army, Air Force, and Afghan
National Police will continue to grow from 305,000 and reach
their combined authorized end strength of 352,000. At the
same time Afghan infantry kandaks (battalions) replace ISAF
combat forces, the Afghan Army will also develop the
critical enabling and supporting capabilities. With its own
logistic capability, the army will be able to deliver
supplies to forward deployed units. With its own explosive
ordinance disposal units, the army will be able to defuse
improvised explosive devices left by insurgents; and with
its own air force, Afghanistan will have the capability to
support its forces in the field or assist with regional
disaster relief operations.
Afghan police are making progress too. Initially saddled by
disparate training programs and lacking civilian police
trainers, the Afghan National Police did not grow as easily
as the Army did. With the importance of civil policing to
assist social recovery, the Ministry of Interior revised its
training program to develop an Afghan curriculum based on
best practices from the European Union Police, German Police
Project Team, NATO countries, and non-NATO countries. The
curriculum advances Afghan civil policing through various
topics such as: criminal investigation fundamentals, human
rights, and gender issues. Given the security environment
and its starting point, it will take several years to impart
civil policing norms, but Afghan police are benefiting from
partnerships with organizations such as Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, Italian Caribinieri, French Gendarmerie, and
other members of the European Gendarmerie Force.
The progress of these efforts is evident in our daily
activities with Afghan policymakers, military, and police
leaders. Minister of Interior Mohammadi told the Afghan
National Police Symposium in January, "To win the support
and confidence of the people and provide for the personal
security of the citizens, we are determined to concentrate
more on developing civilian policing capacities of the ANP."
And President Karzai told an audience at the March National
Military Academy of Afghanistan graduation, "We understand
that the people of Afghanistan no longer want to see others
defend for them_The transition is the answer to the long
held aspirations of the people of Afghanistan." For this to
occur, recruited forces need to be trained, equipped,
fielded, and sustained.
Recruit and Train
Every day, more than 32,000 Afghan personnel are in training
at 70 sites across 21 provinces in Afghanistan, and in
selected courses in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. The
results are evident. In just two short years, the Afghan
National Army went from using Soviet-era equipment to more
modern NATO weapons. Weapons qualifications rates increased
dramatically and Afghans learned to conduct convoy
operations. Soldiers once unable to count or read are now
enrolled in mandatory literacy training.
An unfortunate reality is that those eligible for military
and police service had their educations stolen by decades of
war. While Afghans have a proud warrior ethos and tactical
intelligence, they lacked the ability to write their names
or count to ten. To make up for the shortfall, all
illiterate Afghan soldiers and police recruits are enrolled
in mandatory literacy programs to ensure they reach the
international standard for literacy. Currently, about 3,000
Afghan teachers are following Afghan Ministry of Education
guidelines to help recruits overcome the illiteracy barrier.
We see the effect in the force and see literacy as the
essential enabler. Literate soldiers and police can now
account for the gear they are issued and know that they are
receiving their full pay. And soldiers subjected to graft
now receive a living wage through electronic banking.
Finally, literate soldiers can read the service manuals for
the equipment they are issued and perform the necessary
services and repair equipment to ensure the significant
investment in vehicles and equipment is maintained and
accounted for properly. The international investment in the
literacy program is showing progress; the literacy rate in
the army and police will be twice that of the population in
2012.
Professionalize and Sustain
Since 2009, international focus has been on fielding trained
infantry to meet the needs of counterinsurgency with
additional combat fighting formations. Attrition in the Army
remains stubborn, but the force will continue to grow
another 47,000 over the next year with increased emphasis on
specialty or vocational training. Today, Afghans are
studying to be mechanics, engineers, and personnel
specialists. There are now 12 vocational schools that
provide Afghans the skill sets they need to sustain the
force the international community invested so heavily in.
Shifting from an ISAF-enabled infantry to a professional and
self-sustaining Afghan force will occur over the next
several years, but with an indigenous training base, a
process that is on-going.
Since the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan was created in
November 2009, investing in Afghan human capital has been a
priority. Through the "Afghan First" program, NATO is
supporting indigenous industries to supply uniforms,
equipment, and services to the Afghan military and police.
Under the Afghan First program, about 17,000 Afghan jobs
were created; this facilitates the development of legitimate
commerce, reduces cross-border transactions, and
institutionalizes transparent procurement mechanisms.
Further, supporting local industry reduces international
dependency and lays a foundation for sustainability.
Building enduring systems and institutions is a central
feature of the NATO strategy in Afghanistan. Lessons from
other conflict-prone societies suggest that sustainment is
essential to secure short-term gains and give a war-stricken
society a chance to recover. Given the investment made over
the last ten years and the priority of supporting
Afghanistan's stability, the international community and the
Afghan government reaffirmed a long-term commitment to a
better future for the Afghan people at last fall's summit in
Lisbon. Specifically, NATO and Afghan leaders agreed to
"sustaining and improving their capacity and capability to
counter threats to the security, stability and integrity of
Afghanistan effectively, and contributing to regional
security; and doing so with full respect for Afghan
sovereignty and leadership, in a manner consistent with and
supportive of the Afghan constitution and international law
and recognizing the sacrifices and the ongoing endeavors of
the Afghan people for achieving peace." To realize these
goals, army and police professionalization continues apace.
The effects are evident. Dr. Ashraf Ghani, who now oversees
the security transition process for President Karzai, noted,
"The Afghan National Army has had an enormous change both in
quality and in numbers." He told us that perceptions of the
Afghan Army and Police are at least two years old. More
importantly, the Afghan people agree. In a November 2010
Asia Foundation poll, 92 percent of Afghans viewed the
Afghan National Army favorably, while 84 percent viewed the
police favorably. In a May International Council on Security
and Development poll, 82 percent of northern Afghans saw the
army as effective compared to 67 percent of southern
Afghans. There are regional differences, but with
international support and training, Afghan soldiers and
police are beginning to show progress. And the Afghan people
increasingly trust and value their soldiers and police. This
is evident in the thousands of Afghans who report to
military and police recruiting stations every month, which
is the surest sign that Afghans want to take charge of their
future and relieve NATO forces of lead security
responsibility. The challenge remains to make the gains
enduring and the Afghan forces self-sustaining.
ESSENTIAL PARTNERSHIP
The progress made over the past two years would not have
been possible without the generous support of the
international community through partnership. Before the
creation of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan there were
disparate efforts with insufficient resources to properly
train and equip the Afghan Army and Police. Today, there are
35 countries (Ukraine and El Salvador are the newest)
providing trainers who are training both new recruits and
Afghan trainers to take their places. This is a clear sign
that the international community is committed to giving
Afghanistan the tools to control its borders, provide
security for its people, and contribute to regional
security.
Countries increasingly recognize that training Afghanistan's
police and military is essential to long-term stability in
Afghanistan and Central Asia. Further, developing,
employing, and sustaining the Afghan National Army, Air
Force, and Police ensures Afghanistan can be a net
contributor to international security rather than a
consumer. With a growing indigenous training base, over the
next several years, the government of Afghanistan will not
be dependent on foreign trainers and endeavors to become a
regional hub for peacekeeping training, pilot training, and
vehicle maintenance.
Reflecting on ten years of United States involvement in
Afghanistan, we recognize the greatest long-term effect we
can have is through partnership. Through partnership, the
training base has expanded and the benefits of partnership
are evident in the fielded force. Our Afghan counterparts
know the languages and terrain of Afghanistan and share
unique cultural insights with NATO forces. Most importantly,
we see hope here that was not here two years ago; with the
proper resources, Afghans can do this mission, which is
supported through security force assistance.
INSIGHTS FROM COMMAND
Our experience in Afghanistan resonates across conflict from
the last 20 years and informs our thinking about future
military operations. While NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
personnel are working hard with Afghans to develop Afghan
security forces, we are reflecting on the challenges,
successes, and opportunities the mission created. Among
these is the importance of international cooperation, which
undergirds efforts in Afghanistan. This is apparent in
listening to the different languages spoken from Kandahar to
Kabul. Far from an anomaly, partnership remains a key
feature of efforts in Afghanistan and more broadly for
international security.
The collective international experience in Afghanistan must
inform future thinking about the roles and missions of the
U.S. military. U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Martin
Dempsey pointed out in the Army Operating Concept that,
"future Army forces require the capability to conduct
security force assistance and civil military operations
(such as military support to governance, rule of law, and
institutional capacity building) in a multinational
environment with partners and among diverse populations to
support allies and partners, protect and reassure
populations, and isolate and defeat enemies." While we
practice this daily, we continue to redefine the
configuration and employment of conventional assets to build
the capacity of Afghanistan's security sector. We must
capture the lessons and deliberately incorporate them into
U.S. thinking and doctrine.
The U.S. military appears to be at a new, albeit familiar
crossroads. In the 1980s, the United States recognized the
importance of joint operations and worked to improve
cooperation among the military services. In the 1990s,
coalition warfare became the norm and interoperability took
on an international character. In the 2000s, military
operations incorporated interagency capabilities, which
leveraged a whole of government approach to
counterinsurgency and stability operations. In the 2010s, it
is imperative we recognize security force assistance is a
core function of military operations. It is time to evaluate
the shift from combat operations to security force
assistance and work together to consider the implications
for the size, shape, scope, and doctrine of future forces.
Ten years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we must be ready
to enable partners through security assistance to eliminate
security deficits that threaten international peace and
security.
----------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Foreign Policy Research Institute
(http://www.fpri.org/).
BEYOND THE TENTH YEAR IN AFGHANISTAN:
SECURITY FORCE ASSISTANCE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
by William B. Caldwell, IV. and Derek S. Reveron
Ten years ago, Afghanistan was politically fractured,
economically irrelevant, and socially repressive. The
Taliban government, recognized by only three countries at
the time, reduced the nation's GDP per capita to under $170,
almost completely destroyed public infrastructure, and
ruptured Afghanistan into a conglomeration of belligerent
localities, geographically isolated from one another.
Afghanistan hosted al-Qa'ida and we soon learned what the
latest National Military Strategy of the United States
underscored, "In this interdependent world, the enduring
interests of the United States are increasingly tied to
those of other state and non-state actors." Afghanistan is
no exception.
While Taliban totalitarianism attempted to destroy Afghans'
future, the international community has attempted to reverse
societal regression. To be sure, Afghanistan still has many
challenges, but it is also not the fragmented society it
once was either. Insurgent groups still conduct attacks,
primarily in the south and east, but much has changed in ten
years-Afghanistan is now sovereign, the international
community is heavily invested in the future of Afghanistan,
and their society is slowly recovering. With international
assistance, GDP has increased to $1,000 per capita, almost
all Afghans have access to basic health services, and school
enrollment increased from 900,000 (mainly boys) to almost
seven million (37 percent girls). Women now serve in
Parliament and even train to be pilots in the Afghan Air
Force. Most of the country is now connected via mobile
phones, highways, and common purpose-assuming responsibility
for its own security, which remains threatened by various
insurgent groups.
Internationally, Afghanistan is not the pariah it once was
and it is on the verge of helping to link Central and South
Asia along a new Silk Road. India is providing $2 billion
worth of assistance; Uzbekistan is building rail links in
the north; and China is investing in the east. In short,
Afghanistan is attempting to normalize its international
relations and is on a path that President Obama outlined at
West Point on December 1, 2009 to "deny al Qaeda a safe
haven...reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the
ability to overthrow the government_ and strengthen the
capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so
that they can take the lead responsibility for Afghanistan's
future." In contrast to other ethnically-diverse countries
wracked by years of war, Afghans overwhelmingly favor a
unified, multi-ethnic country where ISAF members are
welcomed as guests.
To be sure, progress is dependent on international support
for Afghanistan, but as agreed at the NATO summit in Lisbon
last fall, Kabul will increasingly assume lead
responsibility for its development and security. This
process started in July of this year when the first seven
areas began to transition lead security responsibility from
NATO to Afghanistan. Far from an anomaly, this international
approach to enabling other governments to provide security
for their people is a contemporary feature of U.S. national
security. As former secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote,
"building partner capacity: helping others defend themselves
or, if necessary, fight alongside U.S. forces by providing
them with equipment, training, or other forms of security
assistance_[because] building the security capacity of other
countries must be a critical element of U.S. national
security strategy." These ideas are being practiced in
Afghanistan every day and have enabled the Afghan Surge.
THE AFGHAN SURGE
When the United States surged an additional 30,000 troops to
Afghanistan, they supported the training of Afghan soldiers
and police that now number 305,000. The growth is not only a
testament to the strength of partnership between the
international community and the government of Afghanistan,
but also Afghans' willingness to heed the call to defend
their country and determine their future. Taken together,
the combined NATO-Afghan force provides security "shoulder-
to-shoulder," in Dari shohna ba shohna, and in Pashtu ooga-
pa-ooga. NATO forces are partnered with Afghan units at many
levels and make the ultimate sacrifice too (last year Afghan
security personnel were killed at a rate one and half times
greater than coalition forces). This unfortunate fact is
both a reminder of the dangers insurgents pose and the
Afghans' heavy engagement in the fight for control of their
country. But the costs are beginning to show progress. In
July, NATO transitioned lead security responsibility to
Afghan forces in seven areas. The transition process will
continue through 2014 when NATO will shift to a supporting
role and underscores the importance of training, equipping,
and fielding a self-sustaining and enduring Afghan Army, Air
Force, and Police.
Former Minister of Interior Ali Jalali wrote in Prism in
September 2010, "the key to future success is a shared
vision for the end-state in Afghanistan, and the building of
indigenous capacity to achieve this goal." Afghan
presidential advsior Dr. Ashraf Ghani wrote in the same
issue, "the success of the counteroffensive will be judged
by its role in the larger project of
counterinsurgency-creating the enabling environment for a
stable political and economic system that can turn both
Afghan citizens and regional players into stakeholders in
its success." An underappreciated fact is that this is the
Afghans' war. Minister of Defense Wardak, Minister of
Interior Mohammadi, Chief of General Staff Karimi, Ground
Force Commander Murad Ali, and Sergeant Major Roshan are its
leaders. Every day, Afghan soldiers and police are
conducting patrols in Helmand, interdicting insurgents in
Paktika, and recovering weapons caches in Khost. ISAF forces
are certainly essential to these efforts today, but it is
with Afghans that combined operations protect the
population, build institutions, and deprive insurgents the
support they need. And over the next three years, ISAF
operations will yield to Afghan-led operations. This process
coupled with increased growth and professionalization is
enabling the Afghan military and police to assume greater
responsibility for security and self-reliance.
BEYOND GROWTH
Over the next year, the Afghan Army, Air Force, and Afghan
National Police will continue to grow from 305,000 and reach
their combined authorized end strength of 352,000. At the
same time Afghan infantry kandaks (battalions) replace ISAF
combat forces, the Afghan Army will also develop the
critical enabling and supporting capabilities. With its own
logistic capability, the army will be able to deliver
supplies to forward deployed units. With its own explosive
ordinance disposal units, the army will be able to defuse
improvised explosive devices left by insurgents; and with
its own air force, Afghanistan will have the capability to
support its forces in the field or assist with regional
disaster relief operations.
Afghan police are making progress too. Initially saddled by
disparate training programs and lacking civilian police
trainers, the Afghan National Police did not grow as easily
as the Army did. With the importance of civil policing to
assist social recovery, the Ministry of Interior revised its
training program to develop an Afghan curriculum based on
best practices from the European Union Police, German Police
Project Team, NATO countries, and non-NATO countries. The
curriculum advances Afghan civil policing through various
topics such as: criminal investigation fundamentals, human
rights, and gender issues. Given the security environment
and its starting point, it will take several years to impart
civil policing norms, but Afghan police are benefiting from
partnerships with organizations such as Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, Italian Caribinieri, French Gendarmerie, and
other members of the European Gendarmerie Force.
The progress of these efforts is evident in our daily
activities with Afghan policymakers, military, and police
leaders. Minister of Interior Mohammadi told the Afghan
National Police Symposium in January, "To win the support
and confidence of the people and provide for the personal
security of the citizens, we are determined to concentrate
more on developing civilian policing capacities of the ANP."
And President Karzai told an audience at the March National
Military Academy of Afghanistan graduation, "We understand
that the people of Afghanistan no longer want to see others
defend for them_The transition is the answer to the long
held aspirations of the people of Afghanistan." For this to
occur, recruited forces need to be trained, equipped,
fielded, and sustained.
Recruit and Train
Every day, more than 32,000 Afghan personnel are in training
at 70 sites across 21 provinces in Afghanistan, and in
selected courses in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. The
results are evident. In just two short years, the Afghan
National Army went from using Soviet-era equipment to more
modern NATO weapons. Weapons qualifications rates increased
dramatically and Afghans learned to conduct convoy
operations. Soldiers once unable to count or read are now
enrolled in mandatory literacy training.
An unfortunate reality is that those eligible for military
and police service had their educations stolen by decades of
war. While Afghans have a proud warrior ethos and tactical
intelligence, they lacked the ability to write their names
or count to ten. To make up for the shortfall, all
illiterate Afghan soldiers and police recruits are enrolled
in mandatory literacy programs to ensure they reach the
international standard for literacy. Currently, about 3,000
Afghan teachers are following Afghan Ministry of Education
guidelines to help recruits overcome the illiteracy barrier.
We see the effect in the force and see literacy as the
essential enabler. Literate soldiers and police can now
account for the gear they are issued and know that they are
receiving their full pay. And soldiers subjected to graft
now receive a living wage through electronic banking.
Finally, literate soldiers can read the service manuals for
the equipment they are issued and perform the necessary
services and repair equipment to ensure the significant
investment in vehicles and equipment is maintained and
accounted for properly. The international investment in the
literacy program is showing progress; the literacy rate in
the army and police will be twice that of the population in
2012.
Professionalize and Sustain
Since 2009, international focus has been on fielding trained
infantry to meet the needs of counterinsurgency with
additional combat fighting formations. Attrition in the Army
remains stubborn, but the force will continue to grow
another 47,000 over the next year with increased emphasis on
specialty or vocational training. Today, Afghans are
studying to be mechanics, engineers, and personnel
specialists. There are now 12 vocational schools that
provide Afghans the skill sets they need to sustain the
force the international community invested so heavily in.
Shifting from an ISAF-enabled infantry to a professional and
self-sustaining Afghan force will occur over the next
several years, but with an indigenous training base, a
process that is on-going.
Since the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan was created in
November 2009, investing in Afghan human capital has been a
priority. Through the "Afghan First" program, NATO is
supporting indigenous industries to supply uniforms,
equipment, and services to the Afghan military and police.
Under the Afghan First program, about 17,000 Afghan jobs
were created; this facilitates the development of legitimate
commerce, reduces cross-border transactions, and
institutionalizes transparent procurement mechanisms.
Further, supporting local industry reduces international
dependency and lays a foundation for sustainability.
Building enduring systems and institutions is a central
feature of the NATO strategy in Afghanistan. Lessons from
other conflict-prone societies suggest that sustainment is
essential to secure short-term gains and give a war-stricken
society a chance to recover. Given the investment made over
the last ten years and the priority of supporting
Afghanistan's stability, the international community and the
Afghan government reaffirmed a long-term commitment to a
better future for the Afghan people at last fall's summit in
Lisbon. Specifically, NATO and Afghan leaders agreed to
"sustaining and improving their capacity and capability to
counter threats to the security, stability and integrity of
Afghanistan effectively, and contributing to regional
security; and doing so with full respect for Afghan
sovereignty and leadership, in a manner consistent with and
supportive of the Afghan constitution and international law
and recognizing the sacrifices and the ongoing endeavors of
the Afghan people for achieving peace." To realize these
goals, army and police professionalization continues apace.
The effects are evident. Dr. Ashraf Ghani, who now oversees
the security transition process for President Karzai, noted,
"The Afghan National Army has had an enormous change both in
quality and in numbers." He told us that perceptions of the
Afghan Army and Police are at least two years old. More
importantly, the Afghan people agree. In a November 2010
Asia Foundation poll, 92 percent of Afghans viewed the
Afghan National Army favorably, while 84 percent viewed the
police favorably. In a May International Council on Security
and Development poll, 82 percent of northern Afghans saw the
army as effective compared to 67 percent of southern
Afghans. There are regional differences, but with
international support and training, Afghan soldiers and
police are beginning to show progress. And the Afghan people
increasingly trust and value their soldiers and police. This
is evident in the thousands of Afghans who report to
military and police recruiting stations every month, which
is the surest sign that Afghans want to take charge of their
future and relieve NATO forces of lead security
responsibility. The challenge remains to make the gains
enduring and the Afghan forces self-sustaining.
ESSENTIAL PARTNERSHIP
The progress made over the past two years would not have
been possible without the generous support of the
international community through partnership. Before the
creation of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan there were
disparate efforts with insufficient resources to properly
train and equip the Afghan Army and Police. Today, there are
35 countries (Ukraine and El Salvador are the newest)
providing trainers who are training both new recruits and
Afghan trainers to take their places. This is a clear sign
that the international community is committed to giving
Afghanistan the tools to control its borders, provide
security for its people, and contribute to regional
security.
Countries increasingly recognize that training Afghanistan's
police and military is essential to long-term stability in
Afghanistan and Central Asia. Further, developing,
employing, and sustaining the Afghan National Army, Air
Force, and Police ensures Afghanistan can be a net
contributor to international security rather than a
consumer. With a growing indigenous training base, over the
next several years, the government of Afghanistan will not
be dependent on foreign trainers and endeavors to become a
regional hub for peacekeeping training, pilot training, and
vehicle maintenance.
Reflecting on ten years of United States involvement in
Afghanistan, we recognize the greatest long-term effect we
can have is through partnership. Through partnership, the
training base has expanded and the benefits of partnership
are evident in the fielded force. Our Afghan counterparts
know the languages and terrain of Afghanistan and share
unique cultural insights with NATO forces. Most importantly,
we see hope here that was not here two years ago; with the
proper resources, Afghans can do this mission, which is
supported through security force assistance.
INSIGHTS FROM COMMAND
Our experience in Afghanistan resonates across conflict from
the last 20 years and informs our thinking about future
military operations. While NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
personnel are working hard with Afghans to develop Afghan
security forces, we are reflecting on the challenges,
successes, and opportunities the mission created. Among
these is the importance of international cooperation, which
undergirds efforts in Afghanistan. This is apparent in
listening to the different languages spoken from Kandahar to
Kabul. Far from an anomaly, partnership remains a key
feature of efforts in Afghanistan and more broadly for
international security.
The collective international experience in Afghanistan must
inform future thinking about the roles and missions of the
U.S. military. U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Martin
Dempsey pointed out in the Army Operating Concept that,
"future Army forces require the capability to conduct
security force assistance and civil military operations
(such as military support to governance, rule of law, and
institutional capacity building) in a multinational
environment with partners and among diverse populations to
support allies and partners, protect and reassure
populations, and isolate and defeat enemies." While we
practice this daily, we continue to redefine the
configuration and employment of conventional assets to build
the capacity of Afghanistan's security sector. We must
capture the lessons and deliberately incorporate them into
U.S. thinking and doctrine.
The U.S. military appears to be at a new, albeit familiar
crossroads. In the 1980s, the United States recognized the
importance of joint operations and worked to improve
cooperation among the military services. In the 1990s,
coalition warfare became the norm and interoperability took
on an international character. In the 2000s, military
operations incorporated interagency capabilities, which
leveraged a whole of government approach to
counterinsurgency and stability operations. In the 2010s, it
is imperative we recognize security force assistance is a
core function of military operations. It is time to evaluate
the shift from combat operations to security force
assistance and work together to consider the implications
for the size, shape, scope, and doctrine of future forces.
Ten years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we must be ready
to enable partners through security assistance to eliminate
security deficits that threaten international peace and
security.
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Copyright Foreign Policy Research Institute
(http://www.fpri.org/).
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