MetaFilter posts tagged with afghannationalarmy

There's still a war going on

the man of twists and turns — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 22:49:47 -0800

August was one of the deadliest months in Afghanistan, for both civilians and soldiers. The death toll was increased by so-called 'green-on-blue' attacks by members of the Afghan National Army and police forces on ISAF and US forces. These attacks have been steadily rising, with no solution or end in sight. President Karzai blames 'infiltrators,' but there is little evidence of this. Training the ANA is a cornerstone of US withdrawal plans. Calculating the number of dead in war can be difficult. Can US Gains Last? Afghans are pushing for elections, developing a 'civil society,' while the US engages other world powers. Reconstruction often can go awry, with waste, fraud and corruption. The Right Way Out Of Afghanistan, with discussion. Some are skeptical that it will work, and others see mission failure. Despite riots, Pakistan has reopened its border to US convoys, to smiles all around. Pakistan is still dealing with Afghan refugees, regional rival India, and the rise of the Quetta Shura. Pakistani bureaucrats have a history of being the right man for the wrong job, with Americans no better off. The Taliban is still a major force in the region, in Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan - particularly Waziristan (where the British had their own problems), and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The Taliban have recently become more active in Pakistan, claiming victory, opposing a planned offensive, even storming an air base killing several soldiers. Pakistan and Afghanistan are uneasily cooperating against an enemy that crosses their border. The US, though, has no idea who Taliban leaders are. The Taliban are in it for the long haul. This summer has been the summer of revolt, with factional fighting and disillustionment with the Taliban. Even 11 years after 9/11, Afghanistan still matters. In the United States, after eleven years, it is the new forgotten war. Neither presidential candidate has made the ongoing war a central point of their campaigns. 9/11 may have made Democrats more like Republicans, however. We're still at war.

Our man in Helmand

Abiezer — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 08:23:18 -0800

From the frontline, Afghanistan. Vaughan Smith is spending time in the thick of it with his old regiment, the Grenadier Guards, on their tour of Helmand (he also looks in on other British Army units and the Afghan National Army they are mentoring). An old friend in Kabul is pessimistic about keeping the Taliban at bay permanently, but troops at a forward operating base are business-like or even cheerful despite regular contact with Taliban fighters.