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Posts Tagged afghanistan
Female Engagement Team Marines bridge gap between Western, Afghan culture
By Sgt. Jesse Stence
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan
Sgt. Meredith Burns has fielded numerous questions about females in combat since she deployed to Afghanistan as 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s Female Engagement team leader nearly six months ago.
The FET is a favorite target of media looking to document females on the front lines, but the real story is sometimes lost, Burns said.
The FET Marines aren’t meant to be interchangeable with infantry regulars; rather, they complement the coalition counterinsurgency strategy by reaching out to Afghan communities in a culturally sensitive way. They help amplify the voice of Afghan women.
When asked what civilian job is like being a FET Marine, Burns smiled thoughtfully, pondering the question.
Like a community organizer? A negotiator, a fund-raiser?
There are so many aspects of this job; it’s not just one thing, Burns finally said. There is no one civilian job I could compare it too. Read the rest of this entry »
Tactical Combat Casualty Care
From: IDGA
LT Brian Ellis of the 3rd Medical Battalion discusses Pre-Deployment Medical Care at IDGA’s Battlefield Healthcare event. He details advances in pre-deployment medical training specifically relating to tactical combat casualty care. He talks about adaptability on the ground and teaching deployed medics on the ground to adapt training and supplies to get the mission accomplished. He gives experiences from Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s New Ambulance
There is a new version of the M-ATV, from Oshkosh Defense, deploying to Afghanistan.
From Army.mil:
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has pressed hard for the past two years to bring medical care in Afghanistan in line with what’s available for U.S. troops in Iraq. This includes medevac capabilities that ensure wounded troops get advanced medical care within one hour of their injury, which is a factor that medical experts agree makes a major difference in survival rates.
…developed in cooperation with the mine-resistant, ambush-protected, all-terrain-vehicle program office, is an M-ATV-like ambulance specifically designed to traverse Afghanistan’s demanding terrain. The first 250 are scheduled to go into production this summer and are expected to be fielded this fall, Lee reported.
Unlike the mine-resistant, ambush-protected, or MRAP, ambulances in Afghanistan that were designed to operate in Iraq, the M-ATV-like versions are being built from the ground up for conditions in Afghanistan. They have improved suspension systems and offer more mobility and speed than the MRAP models.
Additional coverage at Wired’s Danger Room
Countering Global Insurgency
Posted by Gary in Threat Watch, Training on 21/Mar/2011 17:09
From: Counterinsurgency by David Kilcullen
Countering Global Insurgency
Since the United States declared a global “war on terrorism†following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, some analysts have argued that terrorism is merely a tactic, thus a war on terrorism makes little sense. Francis Fukuyama’s comment that ” the war on terror” is a misnomer… terrorism is only a means to an end; in this regard, a war on terrorism makes no more sense than a war on submarines†is typical. This view is irrelevant in a policy sense (the term “war on terrorism†is a political, not an analytical, expression) but nonetheless accurate. Indeed, to paraphrase Clausewitz, to wage this war effectively, we must understand its true nature: neither mistaking it for nor trying to turn it into something it is not. We must distinguish Al Qaeda and the broader militant movements it symbolizes—entities that use terrorism—from the tactic of terrorism itself. In practice, as I will demonstrate, the “war on terrorism” is a defensive war against a worldwide Islamist jihad, a diverse confederation of movements that uses terrorism as its principle—but not its sole—tactic.
– Excerpt from,  Counterinsurgency by David Kilcullen  -2010
Counterinsurgency
Posted by Gary in Threat Watch, Training, Warriors on 11/Mar/2011 20:11
Your company has just been warned for deployment on counterinsurgency operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. You have read David Galula, T. E. Lawrence, and Robert Thompson. You have studied FM 3–24 and now understand the history, philosophy, and theory of counterinsurgency. You have watched Black Hawk Down and The Battle of Algiers, and you know this will be the most difficult challenge of your life.
But what does all the theory mean, at the company level? How do the principles translate into action—at night, with the GPS down, the media criticizing you, the locals complaining in a language you don’t understand, and an unseen enemy killing your people by ones and twos? How does counterinsurgency actually happen?
– Excerpt from,  Counterinsurgency by David Kilcullen  -2010
Body of soldier Liam Tasker brought back to Britain with the ashes of his dog
Posted by Jack Sinclair in News, Warriors on 11/Mar/2011 09:55
“The body of a Fife soldier who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month has been flown back to Britain, along with the ashes of his loyal dog who died just hours after him.
Lance Corporal Liam Tasker (26), from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, became the 358th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2001, after he was shot on March 1 while he and his springer spaniel, Theo, were on patrol in Helmand Province.
liamtasker2
While Theo initially survived the attack, he died on return to the British base at Camp Bastion.
The pair, deemed “inseparable” by colleagues, were flown to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire from Afghanistan on Thursday.”
Lance Corporal Liam Richard Tasker killed in Afghanistan
No doubt Tasker and Theo were targeted because they were saving lives by finding IEDs
From: MOD
2 Mar 11
It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal Liam Richard Tasker, from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 1 March 2011.
Lance Corporal Liam Tasker and Theo - MOD
Lance Corporal Tasker deployed to Afghanistan on 8 September 2010 as part of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. Having trained as an Arms and Explosives Search dog handler, he was attached to 1st Battalion Irish Guards on 19 February 2011.
On 1 March 2011, LCpl Tasker was taking part in a patrol with his dog, Theo, when they were engaged by small arms fire, during which LCpl Tasker was struck and died from the injuries he sustained. Sadly on return to Camp Bastion, Theo suffered a seizure and died.
Lance Corporal Liam Richard Tasker
LCpl Liam Tasker was born on the 11 December 1984 in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. He joined the Army in 2001 and was originally a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. His passion though, was always dogs which led to his transfer to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in 2007.
A trainer who had a natural empathy with dogs, he was a rising star within the Dog Training group. In 2010, he was posted to 104 Military Working Dog Squadron, St Georges Barracks, North Luffenham, Rutland, part of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment.
From the onset of his operational tour in Afghanistan, he provided strong search and clearance capability for units across Helmand Province. In a short period of time, he had significant success locating Improvised Explosive Devices, weapons and bomb making equipment. His success undoubtedly saved many lives.
Lance Corporal Tasker was an outgoing, jovial and friendly character. He was extremely popular within the Squadron. His easy going, confident approach belied a consummate professional. He always strived to be the best and within the Squadron he was one of the best and he will be sorely missed by all in the Squadron.
He can never be replaced and will always be remembered. He was a fun, friendly, talkative character who always wanted the best from his dog, his troops, and himself.
He leaves behind his mother Jane Duffy, his father Ian Tasker, his brother Ian and his two sisters, Laura and Nicola, and girlfriend Leah.
Liam’s family said:
“There are three words that best describe Liam, larger than life. He lit up every room he walked into with his cheeky smile. He was the best son, grandson, brother and friend you could ever wish to meet. He died a hero doing a job he was immensely passionate about. We are so proud of him and everything he’s achieved. Words can’t describe how sorely he will be missed.
“Sleep well Liam you are forever in our hearts.”
Never Fight a Land War in Asia
Posted by Brian in Opinion, Threat Watch on 1/Mar/2011 15:23
Never Fight a Land War in Asia is republished with permission of STRATFOR.
By George Friedman
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, speaking at West Point, said last week that “Any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined.†In saying this, Gates was repeating a dictum laid down by Douglas MacArthur after the Korean War, who urged the United States to avoid land wars in Asia. Given that the United States has fought four major land wars in Asia since World War II — Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq — none of which had ideal outcomes, it is useful to ask three questions: First, why is fighting a land war in Asia a bad idea? Second, why does the United States seem compelled to fight these wars? And third, what is the alternative that protects U.S. interests in Asia without large-scale military land wars?
The Hindrances of Overseas Wars
Let’s begin with the first question, the answer to which is rooted in demographics and space. The population of Iraq is currently about 32 million. Afghanistan has a population of less than 30 million. The U.S. military, all told, consists of about 1.5 million active-duty personnel (plus 980,000 in the reserves), of whom more than 550,000 belong to the Army and about 200,000 are part of the Marine Corps. Given this, it is important to note that the United States strains to deploy about 200,000 troops at any one time in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that many of these troops are in support rather than combat roles. The same was true in Vietnam, where the United States was challenged to field a maximum of about 550,000 troops (in a country much more populous than Iraq or Afghanistan) despite conscription and a larger standing army. Indeed, the same problem existed in World War II. Read the rest of this entry »
Deadly Panjwai in Kandahar Province
Posted by Gary in News, Threat Watch on 28/Feb/2011 01:47
From: Michael Yon
27 February 2011
Filed from Tarin Kot, Urozgan Province
Panjwai has been one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. Much Canadian, American, and Afghan blood has soaked into this ground.
Podcast: Michael Yon with Military.com
Posted by Gary in News, Threat Watch on 28/Feb/2011 01:28
Michael Yon – Back in Afghanistan
Posted by Gary in News, Threat Watch, Warriors on 23/Feb/2011 05:29
From: Michael Yon
Am back in Afghanistan but for now am outside the wire and not with troops. I saw these US troops today as they searched for bombs in Kandahar City.
Afghan Guards sacrificed their lives thwarting attack
Posted by Jack Sinclair in News, Threat Watch on 14/Feb/2011 16:31
KABUL, Afghanistan — “The heroes in the suicide bombing of the Kabul City Center shopping mall on Monday were not among the police officers or NATO coalition and American Special Forces soldiers who showed up later.
They were Gul Agha and Lal Mohammed, two poorly paid security guards who have what lately has been one of the worst jobs in Afghanistan — screening visitors at the door…. witnesses reported an exchange of gunfire right before the bomber detonated the explosives in his vest. The only fatalities were the bomber and the guards, the police said, and two bystanders were wounded.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/world/asia/15afghanistan.html?_r=1&src=mv
The Real Enemy in Afghanistan – Corruption
Posted by Gary in News, Opinion, Threat Watch on 8/Feb/2011 15:15
From IDGA
Afghanistan is easily one of the most corrupt countries most Americans have ever been to and conducting counter insurgency in this environment is extremely taxing and difficult. Corruption starts from the highest level official and goes to the lowest level private.
Return of The ‘Beast of Kandahar’ Stealth Drone
Posted by Jack Sinclair in News on 26/Jan/2011 19:46
“Back in 2009, the Air Force confirmed that it had a mysterious stealth drone, the Lockheed RQ-170, flying over Kandahar in Afghanistan — the subject of much online speculation and grainy photography. Now, after something of a lull, the Secret Projects forum has new pics of the drone that Ares aviation ace Bill Sweetman dubbed “The Beast of Kandahar.â€
Not much is known about the Beast. It’s not believed to carry any missiles, and the new photographs don’t indicate that it’s armed. And as David Hambling wrote at Danger Room at the time, it’s a mystery why the stealth Beast even patrols Kandahar, given all the other drones in the skies above and the Taliban’s lack of radar.”
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/return-of-the-beast-of-kandahar-stealth-drone/
Obama’s State of the Union and U.S. Foreign Policy
Obama’s State of the Union and U.S. Foreign Policy is republished with permission of STRATFOR.
By George Friedman
U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver the State of the Union address tonight. The administration has let the media know that the focus of the speech will be on jobs and the economy. Given the strong showing of the Republicans in the last election, and the fact that they have defined domestic issues as the main battleground, Obama’s decision makes political sense. He will likely mention foreign issues and is undoubtedly devoting significant time to them, but the decision not to focus on foreign affairs in his State of the Union address gives the impression that the global situation is under control. Indeed, the Republican focus on domestic matters projects the same sense. Both sides create the danger that the public will be unprepared for some of the international crises that are already quite heated. We have discussed these issues in detail, but it is useful to step back and look at the state of the world for a moment. Read the rest of this entry »