U.S. Army armored transport vehicles convoy out following a meeting at the Farah Feeding Center in Farah City, Afghanistan, July 13, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Chad A. Dulac
Summer Offensive Sizzles And Stumbles -- Strategy Page
July 16, 2013: At the start of the year most Afghan police and soldiers were not looking forward to the departure of all the foreign troops next year. The NATO forces provide a lifesaving edge against the Islamic radicals, warlords and drug gangs. NATO has lots of very effective troops not to mention warplanes, helicopters and smart bombs. Over the last two years the Americans have been using their missile armed UAVs more in Afghanistan and that has made the enemy even more reluctant to come out and fight. With the Western troops gone the Afghan security forces will still have an edge, but it won’t be as much as now. That means there will be more casualties for the army and police. For that reason there is growing pressure on the government from security forces commanders to make a deal with the Americans to leave as many troops as possible after 2014. Those negotiations are still under way.
With NATO forces less active, Afghan security forces have been suffering more casualties. Afghan forces are taking over more of the security operations this year (they are now in charge of 77 percent of the districts and 80 percent of the population) and they are uncomfortably (to the Taliban and drug gangs) successful. Moreover, the Afghan police and soldiers play by Afghan rules. That means they also (like the Taliban and drug gangs) use kidnapping, torture and murder against their enemies. In many cases the Afghan security forces are out for revenge because of past losses from Taliban violence. Revenge is a big deal in Afghan culture. The idea is that if you kill someone, there will be payback. That often gives people pause when they consider murdering their way to an objective.
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More News On Afghanistan
Official says 2 Afghan civilians killed in east, NATO service member dies in separate attack -- Washington Post/AP
NATO Soldier, 2 Afghans Killed In Separate Attacks -- Radio Free Europe
NATO soldier killed in direct fire in eastern Afghanistan -- Khaama Press
Afghan translator links U.S. forces to civilian killings -- Reuters
Inquiry after Afghan who shot Nato soldier escapes jail -- BBC
Afghan jailer helps Nato soldier's killer escape -- The Guardian
Suicide bomber shot dead near Kabul airport -- Khaama Press
German general pledges 2015 presence in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes
Afghan HRW Calls For Preserving Legal Protections For Women -- Radio Free Europe
Afghan lawmakers take aim at women's rights - HRW -- Reuters
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