Act of Valor Opens to Good Reviews

The movie Act of Valor opened to mixed reviews over the weekend. The action scenes were excellent; but the acting performances off the mark a little.  If you want to know more about the movie then visit WikipediA's page on Act of Valor.

Read some of the reviews:

February 24, 2012. ABC News.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/review-act-valor-awed-ode-navy-seals-15778570

February 24, 2012.  Rolling Stone.
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/act-of-valor-20120224

February 24, 2012.  Fox News.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/02/24/review-seals-make-act-valor-unique-gripping-shoot-em-up/

February 24, 2012.  CNN Entertainment.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/24/showbiz/movies/review-act-of-valor-charity/index.html

February 24, 2012.  The Christian Science Monitor.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/0224/Act-of-Valor-glorifies-Navy-SEALs.-But-can-they-act-trailer

February 24, 2012. National Review Online.
http://www.nationalreview.com/home-front/291952/act-valor-review-warrior-manifesto-rejects-your-pity/nancy-french

Learn more about the training US Navy SEALs undergo.

Video about NATO Special Operations Headquarters

The NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ) is located in Belgium. The major activity there is the coordination of training exercises and the conduct of the NATO Special Operations School.  In the school students learn procedures for intelligence sharing, communications, interoperability, and build human relationships with other SOF counterparts from the many different NATO countries. View a video that explains more about the NATO Special Operations Headquarters.

Train and Advise Mission to Expand to Conventional Army

A very small part of the proposed defense budget is a center piece of how the Army plans to operate in the future. This inexpensive effort includes " . . . international war games, advisor missions, officer exchanges, and other efforts . . ." to engage with foreign militarys in order to build partnership capacity.  In the past many of these types of missions would be performed by U.S. Army Special Forces - whose Special Forces training makes them the ideal unit for these types of activities.

However, with the downsizing of the U.S. Army it is felt that our allies around the world will have to start defending themselves and relying less on the United States - therefore the new approach to building the fighting capacity of our allies or partners. This partnering effort with our allies will involve the conventional Army's units as well as Special Forces - expanding the ability of the U.S. Army to work with an increased number of partner nations around the world.

Read more on this topic in "Army Makes Big Bets On Small Programs: Train, Advise Mission May Spread Beyond SOF", AOL.com Defense, February 14, 2012.

Regionally Aligned Brigades (RABs) of the U.S. Army

A new concept, called Regionally Aligned Brigades or RABs, is being introduced into the Army.  The U.S. Army is going to become lighter, faster, and more flexible in the future.  The Brigade Combat Teams or BCTs will have a third maneuver battalion added to its force structure.  This change is all in conjunction with the reduction in the total number of BCTs and the withdrawal of two BCTs from Europe.  The RABs will deploy more often but in smaller groups - sometimes working in conjunction with special operations forces that are deploying to the same area.  For more info on this topic see "Army Eyes Deeper Brigade Combat Team Cuts, Odierno Says", by Carlo Munoz, AOL.com Defense, February 24, 2012.

Special Operations Recruiting and War Movies

The movie Act of Valor will soon be showing in theaters nation-wide. For those who have not heard the movie actors are real-life Navy SEALs.  While many veterans and servicemen eagerly await a movie that shows "what it is really like" others are criticizing the movie as a military recruiting tool; similar to the 1960s The Green Berets starring John Wayne. Could be.  But I bet it will be a great movie! As far as recruiting goes; I hope the movie is a good recruiting tool - just as The Green Berets was a great recruiting movie. The Special Operations community (MARSOC, Army Special Forces, AFSOC, and Navy SEALs) need high-quality, physically fit, and intelligent men to undergo the intense training and demanding selection process and join the special operations teams.  If a movie helps to attract recruits to those select units then that is a good thing.  If after seeing the Act of Valor you think you might have what it takes to be a special operator then check out these websites below:

Air Force Special Operations
www.afsoc.af.mil

Navy SEALs
www.public.navy.mil/nsw

Marines Special Operations
www.marines.mil/unit/marsoc

Army Special Forces
www.bragg.army.mil/sorb

National Guard Special Forces
www.nationalguardspecialforces.com

And for those who have never heard of the movie entitled The Green Berets you can learn more at the link below at Amazon.com:

The Green Berets

U.S. Army Civil Affairs Units are Busy in CENTCOM AOR

The United States Army Civil Affairs units are one of the most deployed units in the military. Read about their activities in the CENTCOM Area of Operations.  See "CA forces in CENTCOM: Building the SOF enterprise through partnerships", DVIDS, February 22, 2011.

Video of US Air Force Special Operations High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Training Jump

Watch a video of a USAF Special Operations High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) training jump.

COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Teams (CAAT) Award Providing Services in Afghanistan Protested

It appears, according to the Army Contracting Command at Rock Island, that there will be a modification to the current COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Teams (CAAT) contract. The extension is due to a protest filed against the award (RFP W52P1J-11-R-0071).  The current contract is due to expire on 14 March 2012.  The bridge contract will have an estimated period of performance of a two (2) month extension until 14 May 2012 with a potential of three (3) one month option periods. This extension will provide services to the CAAT based at ISAF headquarters in Afghanistan until the dispute is resolved.  The CAAT organization was formerly known as the Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team.

Read more news on the "FedBizOpps.gov" website here.

Learn more about the COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT).

Special Operations Boss Wants More Authority to Position SOF Elements Around the World

The USSOCOM commander, ADM McRaven, has asked for more authority to position his SOF units around the world.  This has caused lots of conversation - some observers saying that it provides a quicker response and more flexible force - while others say it undermines the authority of the Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCCs).  Read more in "Proposal to Give Special Ops Boss More Sway Faces Scrutiny", U.S. News and World Report DOTMIL, February 22, 2012.

Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) Targeted by US Special Forces in Four Central African Countries

U.S., African Forces Mitigate Terror Group’s Impact

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2012 – U.S. special operations forces are helping four Central African nations reduce the size and lethality of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a group that has terrorized the region for 25 years, U.S. officials said today.

Navy Rear Adm. Brian L. Losey, commander of Special Operations Command Africa, said in a conference call with reporters that the LRA is down to about 200 core fighters. Karly Wycoff, deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, also participated in the call.

While still under the direction of its leader, Joseph Kony, the admiral said, the group is kept on the run in the remote, shared border region of South Sudan, Uganda, Central Africa Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo -- an area about the size of California.

President Barack Obama ordered about 100 special operations forces to deploy to Central Africa in October to train and augment the capabilities of the African militaries in the region.

Read the rest of the article here "U.S., African Forces Mitigate Terror Group's Impact", American Forces Press Service, February 22, 2012.

2011 Not a Good Year for Somali Pirates

The increased security measures, to include armed security teams aboard ship, have forced the Somali pirates to travel farther to plunder cargo ships passing along Somalia's coast. There is a booming business in providing maritime security to cargo ships.  Successful attacks along the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden have decreased while successful attacks in the Arabian Sea have increased. However, piracy is still costing the shipping industry loads of money. Read more in "Somali pirates take more risks and rethink tactics", The Guardian, February 21, 2012.

Middle East Homeland Security Summit to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE on April 23-24, 2012

The Middle East Homeland Security Summit will be held on April 23-24, 2012 at Park Rotana, Abu DHABI UAE.  The two-day event will consist of sessions and panel discussions. The summit will seek to discuss the challenges that government and homeland security professionals face in their fight against terrorism and offer possible solutions to counter the lurking threats. This platform will address strategic and fundamental issues including intelligence and early warning, defence against and recovery from catastrophic events and infrastructure protection.

Some Key Topics of the Summit:

Enhanced Crisis Management for National Security
Overview of MENA landscape & the latest security threats to Energy Infrastructure
Information / Cyber Security Awareness: Challenges & Counter Measures
Robust Maritime Security Strategies: Trends & the Way Forward
Public-Private Partnerships for the Protection of Vulnerable Targets

Who Should Attend?

Ministries of Interior, Police Forces, Border Security Agencies, Critical Infrastructure Protection Authorities, Customs, Civil Aviation Authorities, Airport and Aviation Security, Coast Guard and the Armed Forces, Chief Security Officers, VPs, AGMs, DGMs, MDs, Directors, and Section Heads.  In addition the Managers & Deputy Managers of: Corporate Security, Physical Security, Industrial Security Operations, Security Regulations, Offshore and Onshore Security, Asset Security, HSSE, Safety, Security & Evironment, Emergency Response Planning, Asset Protection, Fire & Security, Infrastructure, Facilities, Operations & Strategy, Risk & Crisis Management, Business Continuity, Contingency Planning, Risk Assessment, Loss & Preventions and Project Managers, Security Superintendents, Security Training Officers, Policy Advisors, and Security Consultants.

U-28A Plane Crash Claims Lives of Four Special Operations Airmen in Djibouti, Africa

An Air Force special operations plane, a U-28A, crashed on Saturday (18 Feb 2012) in Djibouti.  It was an ISR aircraft that conducts intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in support of special operations forces.  The aircraft was returning from to its base at Camp Lemonier and crashed about six miles from the airstrip.

The U-28 is a single propeller engine plane that can conduct a variety of missions for special operations forces. The U-28 can be outfitted to carry a suite of sensors and cameras to observe activity on the ground.  It is also a STOL aircraft which allows it to land on short dirt or grass strips.  The U-28A is a variant of the Pilatus PC-12 (see WikipediA for more info).  You can view pictures of the PC-12 on the Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. website here and on americanspecialops.com here.

"Hurlburt’s 319th SOS, which flies the U-28A, a variant of the single-engine Pilatus PC-12, is a pioneer in the field. Air Force Special Operations Command is tight-lipped, as are the U-28A’s small crews, about the aircraft. Its ability to operate on short and unimproved surfaces, and suite of advanced radar, communications, and navigation tools make the U-28 ideal for small, secretive missions.

In 2008, a second nonstandard aviation unit stood up—the 318th SOS at Cannon. It is home to the PC-12 and will soon add additional light and medium twin-engine aircraft. By Feb. 10, the squadron had one of 10 planned M-28 Skytrucks—a Polish light twin-engine transport based on the Antonov An-28 design."  (Source: "The SOF Makeover", AirForce-Magazine.com", Vol. 93, No.6, June 2010.)

News Articles about the U-28 plane crash in Africa:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/02/spy-plane-crash-africa/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/djibouti/9094822/US-special-forces-killed-in-Djibouti-plane-crash.html

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/4-air-force-airmen-killed-in-africa-crash-1331572.html

The four airmen were assigned to special operations squadrons at Hurlbert Field, Florida. The flyers were identified as belonging to the 34th, 319th, and 25th Squadrons.  See "DoD Identifies Air Force Casualties", U.S. Department of Defense News Release, February 20, 2012.

Private Military Contractors in Afghanistan

"The New York Times reported Sunday that in 2011, for the first time, deaths among civilian contractors working for American companies in Afghanistan outnumbered the deaths of U.S. military personnel in that country. The figure highlights the extent to which modern U.S. military has come to rely on the private sector in carrying out its missions. In September 2009, before the recent surge, contractors made up 62 percent of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. Furthermore, many believe that the civilian number is understated because, unlike the military, the contractors are under no obligation to disclose their casualties to the public."

Read the rest of the article in "Civilian Contractors in Afghanistan", Foreign Policy Association, February 17, 2012.  See a list of private military contracting firms providing security, intelligence, aviation, language and training support to the DoD in Afghanistan.

Obama and the Navy SEALs

A recent article explores President Obama's trust with the special operations community.  Read "Navy SEALs: Obama's Secret Army", The Daily Beast, February 20, 2012.

Who Wins and Who Loses with the Proposed Defense Budget on January 2012

The unveiling of the proposed Pentagon defense budget with its deep cuts has everyone wondering who wins and who loses.  According to an online article by Foreign Policy wrote by Robert Haddick the winners are long-range bombers, aircraft carriers, submarines (and cruise missiles), special operations forces, drones, and cyber operations. The losers are ground forces, pay and benefits, old ships and planes, Joint Strike Fighter, and bases.  Read his article "This Week at War: Winners and Losers of the Defense Budget" (January 27, 2012).

See "Defense Budget Priorities and Choices" by the Department of Defense, January 2012.
http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Budget_Priorities.pdf

See "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense", by the Department of Defense, January 2012
http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Strategic_Guidance.pdf

Troubles Along the Afghanistan Pakistan Border

A recent Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) FRONTLINE program details the problems in denying the Taliban sanctuary in Pakistan and stopping its fighters from crossing the Afghan Pakistan border.  See the video at the link below.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1908468892

View more news about the Afghan war at the link below.

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/

Peace Talks with the Taliban

Every once in a while we see a flurry of activity on the diplomatic front concerning the prospect of peace talks with the Taliban.  Over the past several years there have been several peace talk initiatives - mostly hidden from the glare of the media.  It appears we are in the midst of one of those initiatives - where different parties (U.S., Taliban, Karzai, Pakistan and others) are maneuvering to be at the peace talks table.  Each side is articulating their starting positions.  For instance, the U.S. has recently indicated that for the Taliban to participate they will have to denounce ties to international terrorism.  Hmmmm. Read more on this in "US Envoy: Taliban Must Renounce Terrorism to Participate in Talks", Voice of America, January 22, 2012. Read more news about past Afghanistan peace talks and reconciliation attempts.

CIA's Open Source Center

A little known fact is that much of today's "intelligence" is information gleaned off the Internet from web sites and social media.  The CIA is out in front on this with their "Open Source Center". While the Open Source Center is somewhat secret it's existance is well-known to some that track the intelligence world.  A recent news article entitled "CIA Tracks Public Information For The Private Eye", National Public Radio, January 22, 2012 provides information about this organization.

Solar Panel Energy for VSO Sites in Afghanistan?

A recent news article on Army.mil provides information on a solar energy experiment to provide energy efficient power to deployed units located in austere locations.  There was a recent demonstration of different technologies available held at Bagram AFB to include microgrids and hybrid solar power systems. The Energy Initiative Proving Ground (EIPG) will soon be placing a hybrid solar power system into a Village Stability Platform. The introduction of solar energy systems into remote locations where Village Stability Operations (VSO) are conducted will save energy, reduce costs, and lessen the work load of the logistics personnel supporting VSO.  Read the article entitled "Money-saving energy initiatives get spotlight in Afghanistan", Army.mil, January 17, 2012.

AfPak Hands Program in Afghanistan

One of the more innovated programs established to support the war in Afghanistan is known as the AfPak Hands Program.  Established in September 2009 by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, the AfPak Hands Program's purpose was to develop a cadre of military and senior civilian experts that specialize in the language, culture, history, and other aspects of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  According to a recent news article the program is highly successful.  Read more in "AfPak Hands Program Pays Dividends in Afghanistan, Pakistan", American Forces Press Service, January 4, 2012. 

Learn more about the AfPak Hands Program here.

Critique of "Human Terrain" Program

A blogger has posted a recent article critical of the effort to acquire knowledge about the "human terrain" in Afghanistan.  He believes that a lot of intelligence support to the counterinsurgency effort in Afghanistan got side-tracked into accumulating data that has not helped us win the conflict in Afghanistan.  Read "Counterinsurgency, What Do You Really Know?", by Keith Boyea, January 6, 2012.

Corruption in Afghanistan

Despite the best efforts of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and other Western organizations corruption continues to be an imposing problem in Afghanistan.  Learn more about one of the reasons that much of the population is disenchanted about the Afghan government and lends their support to the Taliban - see Corruption in Afghanistan.

Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Program in RC North Under Review (Afghanistan)

Early news reports indicate that the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) program administered by Regional Command North (RC North) in four northern provinces of Afghanistan is under review.  The CIP program may either be closed down or its units and activities transferred to Afghan control. The CIP security guards are paid by ISAF using Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds.  The news accounts state that President Karzai was "unaware" these units were operating in the north and under the control of Regional Command North.  Visit the following link to learn more about the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) program.

Avian Influenza - A Threat We Should be Ready For

Recent news reports have detailed the research conducted by Dutch virologists that created an extremely contagious strain of the avian influenza - sometimes called H5NI or "bird flu". Two things that are troubling about these reports is that the research was conducted in the first place and the willingness of the researchers to provide comprehensive details on how to replicate the experiments to scientific journals for publication. Just what we need - online instructions that terrorists can follow to create biological weapons. Read a concise explanation of this new development in "Making Avian Influenza As Contagious as Season Flu", Lawfare, December 23, 2011.

Sectarian Violence in Iraq May Start Again with U.S. Withdrawal

With the last U.S. troops in Iraq now home attention has turned to the situation in Iraq to try and gauge the future of that country. A big fear is that there will be a return to sectarian violence which saw its peak in 2006-2007. Many think that the Shias will attempt to consolidate its hold on the government and completely shut out the Sunnis from being able to participate. There is also the worry that the current Iraqi government will turn to Iran for more support thus increasing Iran's influence over Iraq. Another concern is a possible move against the Kurds in the north in an attempt to diminish the Kurds autonomy and control of oil in Kurdistan. Read the transcript from a recent discussion on Fox News entitled "Renewal of Iraqi Sectarian Violence", December 22, 2011.

Dim View of of Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Afghanistan by Critics is Unwarranted

Many observers of the war in Afghanistan are taking a hard look at the Afghan Local Police (ALP) effort of the Afghanistan Ministry of Interior that is supported by ISAF. Unfortunately, the conclusions they draw are off the mark - see "ISAF's Plans for Afghan Local Police Are Shortsighted", Trevor Keck, Foreign Policy Association, December 23, 2011. Critics too easily attach the label "local militia force" to the ALP. These same critics fail to recognize that the ALP is an Afghan security force selected from members of the local community and vetted at the district, provincial, and national level by authorities in the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MOI). The ALP members are equipped, trained, supervised, and paid by the Ministry of Interior. This differentiates the ALP from local militias organized and paid by regional warlords.

There are problems associated with the ALP - but if you look hard enough you will find problems with every aspect of the Afghan military, police, and government. ISAF has prepared a response to criticism of the ALP program by a recent Human Rights Watch report that can be read here. Not understood by critics is the strategic significance of gaining the support of the people at the local level through the introduction of security, governance and development. The ALP helps establish security at the local level thus aiding governance and development. It truly is a key to transition in Afghanistan. Learn more about the Afghan Local Police.

Counter Terror Expo in Washington DC (May 16-17, 2012)

The Counter Terror Expo 2012 will be held in Washington, DC on May 16-17, 2012.  The venue is the Washington Convention Center. The former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Michael Leiter, will be the keynote speaker. The Counter Terror Expo focuses on the collective efforts and shared responsibilities of the Counter Terror community - Federal, State, Local and Private-sector partners to maintain critical homeland security capabilities.

www.counterterrorexpo.us

Special Operations and the Afghan Local Police (ALP) - Important Key to Transition

A recent online post on the Foreign Policy web site cites the importance of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) program to the successful transition to Afghan security forces and exit of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The post also poses a number of concerns of the Special Operations assisted ALP endeavor. Read the article in "Keeping control of bad choices", The AFPAK Channel, December 20, 2011. The author of The AFPAK Channel post, Rachel Reid, also co-authored a critical report about the ALP while working for Human Rights Watch entitled "Just Don't Call it a Militia" published in September 2011. A recent memorandum by ISAF on December 6, 2011 has responded to the Human Rights Watch piece and can be viewed here on the ISAF website.

CAAT is now COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Team

The Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) established in late 2009 has now been renamed the COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Team.  COMISAF is short for Commander International Security Assistance Force.  The CAAT was formed to assist in the overall counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan by advising and assisting commanders at all levels to enable effective and integrated counterinsurgency operations.  Learn more about the COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Team.

SO/LIC Symposium & Exposition (Feb 2012) in Washington, D.C.

The Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict Symposium and Exhibition will be held February 6-8, 2012 in Washington, D.C. A description is provided below taken from the NDIA website.

"The 23rd Annual NDIA SO/LIC (Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict) Symposium & Exhibition will examine the changing roles of Special Operations Forces (SOF) and General Purpose Forces (GPF) in the new world dynamic. As major combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan diminish, SOF and GPF will face new challenges. A continuing threat from global terrorists, popular uprisings and a rapidly shifting political landscape, the coming need to employ military forces in small teams across vast distances, and the likelihood of declining budgets all require SOF and GPF leaders to develop new synergies between their forces and with our Interagency partners. Speakers will discuss increasing interoperability between SOF and GPF, how to enhance the inherent capabilities of the SOF warrior, and how SOF, its enablers, and Interagency partners support global objectives in the new world dynamic."

Learn more about the conference at the link below:
http://www.ndia.org/meetings/2880/Pages/default.aspx

Check our conference and exhibition listing for other related security  and defence events:
http://www.securityinfonet.com/Security_Conferences_and_Seminars.htm

Special Operations Glossary

A Special Operations glossary can be found online at the www.specialforcestraining.info website. Check out the listing and explanation of terms and phrases used by special operators at the link below.

Special Operations Glossary

Afghan Local Police (ALP) May Triple in Strength According to Admiral McRaven

The Afghan Local Police (ALP) may triple in strength according to Admiral McRaven - the commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).  Read more in "Tripling Afghanistan's community watch with AK-47s", CNN Security Clearance Blog, December 11, 2011.  Learn more about the Afghan Local Police (ALP).

Reintegration of Afghan Insurgents a Slow Process

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2011 – Permanently removing insurgents from the fight and reintegrating them into their Afghan communities is a gradual process that will take time, the International Security Assistance Force officer directing coalition support to that Afghan-led effort said today.

British Royal Marine Maj. Gen. David Hook, director of ISAF’s Force Reintegration cell, briefed Pentagon reporters today by video link from Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Afghan Peace and Reintegration program has so far helped 2,970 former insurgents rejoin Afghan society, Hook noted, and is working with another 1,200 fighters who represent “reintegration opportunities.”

While the program is nationwide and directed by the central government in Kabul, he added, it is implemented at the district and provincial level throughout Afghanistan. Most reintegrated former fighters, he said, have come from the nation’s northern and western provinces, but numbers in the southern and eastern areas are increasing slowly.

Read the rest of the story at "Afghan Reintegration Program will Take Time", U.S. Department of Defense, December 8, 2011.  Learn more about reintegration of insurgents.

Movie - "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

A new movie has been released entitled Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  This should prove to be a classic and of great interest for those who work in or want to know more about the intelligence field; and of course, it should prove to be great entertainment for many more as well. The movie is based on the book Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John LeCarre and is set in the Cold War era when western agents and Soviet bloc agents were spying on each other. LeCarre is a former British intelligence operative who retired and became a famous writer of espionage novels. Read a recent movie review of the film by Peter Rainer in The Christian Science Monitor here. Click here to view a book review on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Hope for Afghanistan? Assessment by Linda Robinson

Linda Robinson, a well-known author, has a piece in The AFPAK Channel blog on Afghanistan. She has visited Afghanistan four times this year (2011) and interviewed numerous military and civilian officials of the coalition and Afghan government.  Her assessment is spot on and a good read which will provide a great understanding of the current situation in Afghanistan.  Of note is her stance that we need to partner more with Afghan security forces, support the Afghan Local Police (ALP) program, and get the Afghan security forces engaged more in the counterinsurgency fight.  See her article entitled "Is there hope for Afghanistan?", The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, November 29, 2011 at the link below:

http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/11/29/is_there_hope_for_afghanistan

Irregular Afghan Forces in Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan has seen a multitude of units and forces engaged in the fight.  Units from the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, ISAF, US military and other entities populate the battlefield.  Lesser known entities include the private security companies, contract organizations, and the various Afghan militias that are throughout the country.  Some of these more 'private' entities have a storied past. Read more in "After the US pulls out, will CIA rely on Afghan mercenaries", The Christian Science Monitor, November 16, 2011.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) - "Bad Guys" or "Worse Guys"?

A recent news article by Luke Mogelson entitled "Bad Guys vs. Worse Guys in Afghanistan" ( The New York Times, October 19, 2011) explores the benefits and problems associated with the Afghan Local Police (ALP). The ALP is a Ministry of Interior (MoI) program where local police are formed and trained at the community or village level in rural areas of Afghanistan. The coalition element responsible for oversight on the ALP is CFSOCC-A or Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan. Mogelson's article, which is not entirely complimentary, is extensive and delves into the dynamics of ALP within Baghlan Province in northern Afghanistan. The ALP is an integral part of Village Stability Operations or VSO - the methodology that CFSOCC-A is using to help the Afghans implement security, governance, and development in a bottom-up approach.

British Ex-Marines Fighting Pirates off Africa Coast

A recent news report states that a large contingent of former British Marines are now being used as shipboard security guards on ships that transit the East Africa coast. The world shipping industry has suffered huge losses to Somali pirates preying on unguarded vessels. The ships are seized and then the crew, cargo, and ship are held for ransom. They are employed by a firm called Protection Vessels International Ltd. Read more in "Ex-Marines Fighting Pirates Off Africa as World Shipping Lanes Attacked", Bloomberg, October 18, 2011. Learn more about piracy and maritime security firms.

The Business Cyber Security Summit 2011 - London, UK (21-23 November 2011)

The Business Cyber Security Summit 2011 will be held on 21-23 November, 2011 at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London. The summit brings together industry experts to discuss the latest solutions and strategies in order to combat this ever present danger. Learn more at the link below:

The Business Cyber Security Summitt 2011

Book - The Afghan Solution - Inside Story of Abdul Haq

A new book is out about the early history of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan with a look at what could have happened. According to the author, Lucy Morgan Edwards, there was an opportunity to support Abdul Haq in the toppling of the Taliban regime without the extensive bombing campaign and use of Northern Alliance fighters. Abdul Haq, a well-known and respected mujaheddin fighter, had a plan to get top Taliban leaders and commanders to defect and establish a moderate government in Afghanistan. The Bush administration did not support Haq with the result that Haq's plan did not come to fruition. Instead, the Bush administration used the Northern Alliance in their plans to topple the Taliban (aided by the bombing campaign) and installed a centralized government under the corrupt Karzai supported by corrupt warlords from the Northern Alliance. The author asserts that the combination of the bombing campaign (which provided Afghans a rallying point to oppose the foreign invasion), posting of Northern Alliance warlords to key governmental and ministry positions (for the most part excluding Pastuns), and the attempt to impose a centralized government on a tribal based society would go a long way to ensuring a difficult road ahead for the U.S. in Afghanistan.

The The Afghan Solution: The Inside Story of Abdul Haq, the CIA and How Western Hubris Lost Afghanistan

Funding for National Cybersecurity Office in Question

It appears that the Republicans and Democrats can't agree on how to fund the National Protection and Programs Directorate office. Currently it is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The office is responsible for defending civilian computer networks from hackers and was established under law in 2002 as part of a congressional DHS authorization bill. Learn more in "Homeland Security cyber protection office's fate is up in the air", Nextgov, October 14, 2011.

A Close Look at the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program (APRP)

The United States Institute of Peace has posted a publication on its web site entitled "Impact or Illusion? Reintegration under the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program". The APRP, as it is sometimes called, has been in existance for over one year. The Afghan APRP aims to reintegrate insurgents (Taliban and others) back into Afghan society promising jobs, financial incentives, security, and a clean slate. Results have been dissappointing. You can read online or download the publication, wrote by DeeDee Derksen, here on the web page of the United States Institute of Peace.

Night Vision Devices Provide Edge to U.S. Troops Fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan

A recent article posted on the Defense Industry Daily web site provides us with information on how night vision technology is giving U.S. troops an edge in the fight against insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The article examines how night vision works, how the technology has matured over the years, and how the military has adapted the technology for military purposes.  Read the article entitled "Through a Glass, Darkly: Night Vision Gives US Troops Edge" (October 4, 2011).  Learn more about night vision technology.

A Special Forces Team's Approach to Village Stability Operations (VSO)

A team leader for a Special Forces team currently in Afghanistan has posted a paper on the Small Wars Journal web site that explains how his detachment is conducting Village Stability Operations (VSO). Village Stability Operations is one of the primary missions of CFSOCC-A and the CJSOTF-A in Afghanistan.

"This paper is an effort to demonstrate my team’s approach to VSO using the principles and TTPs that numerous articles have recently highlighted in the July-September issue of Special Warfare Magazine. It illustrates the practical application of the principles of VSO in the current operational environment and details exactly how these principles appear through the prism of the Military Decision-Making Process. This is the product of the team’s assessment, planning, execution, after action review and refinement process over the last 150 days of VSO operations in an austere and isolated location."

Read the paper entitled "One Team's Approach to Village Stability Operations", Small Wars Journal, September 4, 2011.

SOCOM to Acquire CCM Special Ops Boats for SEALs

USSOCOM (MacDill AFB, Florida) will soon be acquiring high-speed special operations boats for its Special Operations Forces (SOF). The boats, called the Combatant Craft, Medium Mark 1 or CCM Mk1, will be a replacement for the current Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs). Read more about the CCM program in "US SOCOM's CCM Fast Boats", Defense Industry Daily, October 10, 2011.

Building Afghan Security Forces

An article recently posted on the AFPAK Channel examines the US military training mission in Afghanistan.  The author, Andrew Exum, examines the historical context, things we have done wrong (invade Iraq reducing resources to Afghanistan), and things we have done right (the CJSOTF-A's Village Stability Operations or VSO program).  Read more in "Struggling to Build Afghan Security", The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, October 6, 2011.

Contractor Casualties in War Zones Unacknowledged

In a recent opinion piece David Isenberg has written an article about the casualties that contractors have incurred while supporting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The point of his article is that the casualties are not tracked in the same way that military casualties are tracked - thus not giving full credit to the contractors contributions. This also lowers the human cost of the war - in terms of what the general public understands as the death toll. Read more in "Contratistas Desaparecidos", Huffington Post, October 10, 2011.

Iraq Military Training Plan Still Up in Air

We are seeing less and less news about the war in Iraq as the drawdown continues in that country. The continuing fight in Afghanistan continues to dominate the news in military circles. However an important event that recently took place is the Iraqi refusal to grant immunity to U.S. military personnel who would remain after December 2011. At the same time the Iraqis have requested a continuing training mission for its armed forces. The U.S. is scrambling to find a solution to that vexing problem. Read more in the article below.

"U.S. seeks to redraw Iraq training plan", The Washington Post, October 8, 2011.

Is Counterinsurgency Working in Afghanistan?

A recent news report examines our counterinsurgency doctrine as applied to Afghanistan to determine if it is working. The report is essentially an interview of the director of the U.S. Army's Counterinsurgency Center - Lt. Col. John Paganini - who has recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan. Some of the questions posed include:

Is COIN working?
How do you counter Taliban intimidation?
How do you bring Pastun leadership into the process?
How long before we win the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan?
How do you apply the doctrine of counterinsurgency to Afghanistan?
How has COIN changed from the beginning of the Afghan War to present day?
Are we in the 'clear, hold, or build' phase of COIN?
What is the value of foot patrols?
Are counterterrorism and counterinsurgency competing or complementing strategies?
Is there a shift to counterterrorism?

Read Lt. Col. Paganini's answers in the news article.

"10 Years of Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan - Is It Working?", ABC News, October 8, 2011.