Meanwhile In Afghanistan

[EchoFiveMike]

 

A nice military human interest story, and a little trolling of a certain German fellow:

 

 

This Afghan man served 3 years as a translator for the military — now he's a US Marine

 

While some children grow up with aspirations to become scientists, professional athletes or actors, Mohammad Nadir’s goal was to become a United States Marine, stemming from an early childhood amid a strong military presence.

 

As the sixth of ten siblings, Nadir grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he constantly lived amongst uniformed personnel.

 

“My mom would tell me stories about the military when I was younger, my father was a cop with the Afghan police . . . and many people welcomed the Americans, even during times of strife,” Nadir explained.

 

Intrigued by the lifestyle, Nadir’s curiosity for the military grew after he graduated high school and discovered several private companies hiring Afghan locals.

 

“They were hiring Afghan locals to work as interpreters for the International Security Assistance Force,” said Nadir. “This was my chance to be around the military.”

 

Under the impression Nadir would be safe, his family wished him well as he left to the Sangin District of Helmand province, Afghanistan, in October 2011, where he spent the next three years working with multiple operational units and serving as a key influencer to the community.

 

[break]

 

 

Mohammad Nadir (center) poses with a group of Marines during a base construction project for the Afghan police in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Jessica Quezada/US Marine Corps

 

[break]

 

As an interpreter, Nadir also had the opportunity to apply for a Special Immigrant Visa, which helps provide protection for translators and their families to migrate to the U.S. after their service.

 

Through this program, Nadir took his first steps on American soil on Nov 10, 2014, the Marine Corps’ much-celebrated birthday, and set forth on his journey to become a United States Marine.

 

“I told my family I was going to come to America and become a Marine, so I did,” said Nadir.

 

Nadir traveled to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he stayed with Marine Corps Maj. Mark Nicholson, a former administration advisor for the Afghan National Police Advisory Team with Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan.

 

“We met him at the airport and brought him to our home,” said Nicholson. “Nadir helped us out when we needed him. He had been in some pretty dangerous situations, but was as good as they got. Interpreters put themselves in a lot of danger, more than we do.”

 

Nicholson built a strong bond with Nadir and other interpreters as he supervised a majority of the administrative tasks handled for these employees. The type of relationship between the interpreters and U.S. service members require a lot of trust and reliability.

 

“Nadir is a really smart guy,” said Nicholson. “We relied on interpreters for our safety and knowledge of the culture. I trusted him with my life.”

 

Nadir found work soon thereafter to help support his family back home. He also took lessons to help improve his English fluency and prepare for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

 

“My English was terrible, so I had to study,” Nadir joked. “I moved to Anaheim, Calif., with a friend and that’s when I met a Marine recruiter, Sgt. William Soukthavong.”

 

Nadir enlisted in February 2017 and recently graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on May 26, 2017.

 

 

Marine Corps Gen. William Jurney, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, shakes hands with Private Mohammad Nadir at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on May 26, 2017. Sgt. Jessica Quezada/US Marine Corps

 

 

Meh...some virtue signalling publicity stunt by the Corps.

 

What about the other 400+ recruits that graduated that weren't from Shitholistan? Where's their handshake from some general officer? This guy is a pet.

 

This is not new, we made great virtue signalling efforts regarding some Marine in the early 90's who was related to Farouk Adid (Somalia) as well as LtCol Khan during early OEF. It's part of the downside of the USMC's aggressive publicity seeking ethos. S/F.....Ken M

[Dark_Falcon]

 

 

A nice military human interest story, and a little trolling of a certain German fellow:

 

 

This Afghan man served 3 years as a translator for the military — now he's a US Marine

 

While some children grow up with aspirations to become scientists, professional athletes or actors, Mohammad Nadir’s goal was to become a United States Marine, stemming from an early childhood amid a strong military presence.

 

As the sixth of ten siblings, Nadir grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he constantly lived amongst uniformed personnel.

 

“My mom would tell me stories about the military when I was younger, my father was a cop with the Afghan police . . . and many people welcomed the Americans, even during times of strife,” Nadir explained.

 

Intrigued by the lifestyle, Nadir’s curiosity for the military grew after he graduated high school and discovered several private companies hiring Afghan locals.

 

“They were hiring Afghan locals to work as interpreters for the International Security Assistance Force,” said Nadir. “This was my chance to be around the military.”

 

Under the impression Nadir would be safe, his family wished him well as he left to the Sangin District of Helmand province, Afghanistan, in October 2011, where he spent the next three years working with multiple operational units and serving as a key influencer to the community.

 

[break]

 

 

Mohammad Nadir (center) poses with a group of Marines during a base construction project for the Afghan police in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Jessica Quezada/US Marine Corps

 

[break]

 

As an interpreter, Nadir also had the opportunity to apply for a Special Immigrant Visa, which helps provide protection for translators and their families to migrate to the U.S. after their service.

 

Through this program, Nadir took his first steps on American soil on Nov 10, 2014, the Marine Corps’ much-celebrated birthday, and set forth on his journey to become a United States Marine.

 

“I told my family I was going to come to America and become a Marine, so I did,” said Nadir.

 

Nadir traveled to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he stayed with Marine Corps Maj. Mark Nicholson, a former administration advisor for the Afghan National Police Advisory Team with Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan.

 

“We met him at the airport and brought him to our home,” said Nicholson. “Nadir helped us out when we needed him. He had been in some pretty dangerous situations, but was as good as they got. Interpreters put themselves in a lot of danger, more than we do.”

 

Nicholson built a strong bond with Nadir and other interpreters as he supervised a majority of the administrative tasks handled for these employees. The type of relationship between the interpreters and U.S. service members require a lot of trust and reliability.

 

“Nadir is a really smart guy,” said Nicholson. “We relied on interpreters for our safety and knowledge of the culture. I trusted him with my life.”

 

Nadir found work soon thereafter to help support his family back home. He also took lessons to help improve his English fluency and prepare for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

 

“My English was terrible, so I had to study,” Nadir joked. “I moved to Anaheim, Calif., with a friend and that’s when I met a Marine recruiter, Sgt. William Soukthavong.”

 

Nadir enlisted in February 2017 and recently graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on May 26, 2017.

 

 

Marine Corps Gen. William Jurney, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, shakes hands with Private Mohammad Nadir at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on May 26, 2017. Sgt. Jessica Quezada/US Marine Corps

 

 

Meh...some virtue signalling publicity stunt by the Corps.

 

What about the other 400+ recruits that graduated that weren't from Shitholistan? Where's their handshake from some general officer? This guy is a pet.

 

This is not new, we made great virtue signalling efforts regarding some Marine in the early 90's who was related to Farouk Adid (Somalia) as well as LtCol Khan during early OEF. It's part of the downside of the USMC's aggressive publicity seeking ethos. S/F.....Ken M

 

Virtue signaling is annoying in some ways, to be sure, but this kind of virtue-signaling is needed to keep the left wing wolves at the door at bay. It also serves as useful counter-propaganda against the idea the US is at war with Islam.

[Panzermann]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/21/pentagon-blew-28-million-uniforms-afghan-soldiers-report-says/413219001/

 

the report: https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/special%20projects/SIGAR-17-48-SP.pdf

 

 

they bought what the afghan MoD wanted, which was Woodland camo uniforms. And frilly options like zippers. Not that many forests in Afghanistan and the report rates it as a waste. Though I think woodland had been the general issue camo of the afghan army back then.

[Dark_Falcon]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/21/pentagon-blew-28-million-uniforms-afghan-soldiers-report-says/413219001/

 

the report: https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/special%20projects/SIGAR-17-48-SP.pdf

 

 

they bought what the afghan MoD wanted, which was Woodland camo uniforms. And frilly options like zippers. Not that many forests in Afghanistan and the report rates it as a waste. Though I think woodland had been the general issue camo of the afghan army back then.

 

I don't really think it can simply be summed up as waste, since the real purpose of the 'Afghan Forest' pattern was not to camouflage its wearers but rather to cloth them in a uniform of a unique pattern. The Afghan MoD wanted such a pattern to instill identity in the troops and wasn't greatly concerned about the normal primary role of camouflage.

Edited August 23, 2017 by Dark_Falcon

[Simon Tan]

Nope. If they did they could have used any number of non-propietary patterns. If precluding infiltration was a concern, I think the green on blue suggests otherwise. Someone made a lot of money.

[mattblack]

$28 million is a drop in the bucket compared to how much has been wasted on camouflage uniforms by the Department of Defense in the past 20 years. The hilarious part of this is that it is now cool for US special forces to wear the old woodland pattern,to be special.

[Panzermann]

$28 million is a drop in the bucket compared to how much has been wasted on camouflage uniforms by the Department of Defense in the past 20 years. The hilarious part of this is that it is now cool for US special forces to wear the old woodland pattern,to be special.

 

This. And so far the afghan 4CES pattern is only worn by afghan army and not for sale in any bloody surplus shop around the globe. Unlige the old woodland that you can get any place. And some say it has reduced green on blue, but incidents nt happening are hard to prove. At least it makes ANA soldiers easily identifiable.

 

A real gag is this from a Senator

 

 

“You’d think the Pentagon would have had a good handle on how to pick the right camouflage for uniforms,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican and senior member of the Budget and Finance committees, said in a statement. “Instead, the Defense Department gave up control of the purchase and spent an extra $28 million on the wrong pattern just because someone in Afghanistan liked it. It’s embarrassing and an affront to U.S. taxpayers. Those who wasted money on the wrong camouflage uniforms seem to have lost sight of their common sense.”

 

The U.S. Army was fighting in the brand spanking new ACU uniforms in UCP pattern at the same time. So much for choice of pattern.

 

 

Oh and the ANa uniforms are made from Berry compliant materials either assembled in USA too or sewn in AFG. Of course they cost more than made in bangladesh cheap polyester-cotton blend. But giving work to americans or its allies is bad I guess.

[Panzermann]

• Lazaro Gamio
• Aug 21

U.S. troops and contractors in Afghanistan by year

President Trump will address the nation regarding his strategy in Afghanistan tonight. Here's how many U.S. troops and contractors were in the country through as of late-2016, and the 8 years prior, according to an April report from the Congressional Research Service.

 

Department of Defense troop and contractor levels in Afghanistan

By fiscal year quarters from 2007-Q4 to 2016-Q4

 

 

Data: Congressional Research Service; Chart: Lazaro Gamio / Axios

Some takeaways from the report:

• The latest available figures from Q4 of FY2016 show 9,800 troops in Afghanistan, down from about 100,000 in 2011.
• Contractors have frequently made up over half of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan — in Q4 of FY2016, 72 percent of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan consisted of contractors.
• About 3 percent of these contractors were armed private security contractors.

 

 

https://www.axios.com/how-many-u-s-troops-and-contractors-are-in-afghanistan-2475498549.html

[Panzermann]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/world/asia/trump-speech-afghanistan.html?_r=0

 

 

 

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/08/21/remarks-president-trump-strategy-afghanistan-and-south-asia

 

 

"killing more terrorists" is solving the problems in afghanistan and the greater region how?

[lastdingo]

Well, considering his record regarding truth and nonsense, I don't see why anyone should pay attention to any of his announcements.

One may look at his actions, but his words are worthless.

[mattblack]

The most important thing the speech did was,16 years too late,call out Pakistan.

[Dark_Falcon]

The most important thing the speech did was,16 years too late,call out Pakistan.

 

Donald Trump will say the things that other leaders are afraid to say. The problem is that said others often fear to say certain things for good reasons

[TTK Ciar]

"killing more terrorists" is solving the problems in afghanistan and the greater region how?

This is the dominant rule of American politics: Everything any politician does, is done to appeal to voters and/or financiers in America. Everything.

 

It's not about solving problems in the region. It's not about morality. It is entirely about looking good to constituents and supporting business interests.

 

This was true of at least the five previous presidents, it is true of this one, and it will be true of the next one.

[Panzermann]

safe place of origin:

 

 

Red Cross leaves Kunduz: http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/icrc-closes offices-kunduz-faryab-over-insecurity

British SF relocated back to Helmand: http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/british-special-forces-back-helmand-hunt-taliban bomb-maker

 

Taliban announces new „taxes“ on Agricultural land in Kundoz, also warns govt officials their land is ‚Beatul Maal‘ – belongs to the nation https://t.co/3YxKE3wXVP
— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) October 8, 2017

 

https://twitter.com/bsarwary/status/917000173431279616

[Roman Alymov]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/31/150000-americans-couldnt-beat-us-taliban-fighters-defiant-in-afghanistan

'150,000 Americans couldn’t beat us': Taliban fighters defiant in Afghanistan
Rare interviews with militants shine light on resilient movement that resisted both Obama’s surge and now Trump’s ‘killing terrorists’ strategy

[Chris Werb]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/31/150000-americans-couldnt-beat-us-taliban-fighters-defiant-in-afghanistan

'150,000 Americans couldn’t beat us': Taliban fighters defiant in Afghanistan

Rare interviews with militants shine light on resilient movement that resisted both Obama’s surge and now Trump’s ‘killing terrorists’ strategy

 

115,000 Russians* couldn't beat them, so why would you expect 150,000 Americans to?

 

*Peak no. of Russians in theatre c/o Wiki. Incidentally the top number i have for US troops in Afghanistan is just over 100,000 in 2011.

[Simon Tan]

The Taliban did not fight the Soviets. They did not exist at the time.

[Roman Alymov]

The Taliban did not fight the Soviets. They did not exist at the time.

It is true, but Taliban is just another franchise name while the people with AKs on the ground are still the same tribal\feudal militia that were there during Soviets and even Brits, so no surprise they see things in historic perspective.

[Panzermann]

TV station in Kabul attacked:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/07/gunmen-attack-kabul-tv-station-after-explosion

 

analysis of the current series of attacks in AFG:

https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-humvee-bomb-series-the-october-wave-of-taleban-attacks-in-2017-context/

 

 

from an interview with Stoltenberg:

 

So the reason why we are supporting the Afghan Security Forces is to enable a political peaceful solution. There will be more troops; the current level is around 13,000; the new level will be around 16,000. They will train, assist and advise, and in particular we are focusing on training the Afghan Special Operations Forces which have proven so key in the fight against insurgents, the terrorists, the Taliban, and we are going to help them with developing their air force. The Afghans are now more and more capable of conducting air operations themselves, and we will help them with military schools, improved command and control.
We are also extremely focused, that will be an important issue during the meeting, on funding. Non-U.S. allies have promised US$ 1 billion yearly to support the Afghan army and police, and we will stress and I will underline the importance that we don’t only deliver the forces we have promised to train the Afghans but also deliver the funding for funding the Afghan national security and military. And then we will also address for instance the issue of sanctuaries in Pakistan and the importance of having a regional approach to a peaceful solution in Afghanistan.

 

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_148359.htm

 

the interview goes over other stuff like NATO reorganisation and such as well

[Roman Alymov]

Afghanistan MOD declared they no more need Russian helicopters as now they are receiving NATO countries ones http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/4715330

[Roman Alymov]

http://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/Afghanistan/Afghan_opium_survey_2017_cult_prod_web.pdf

[Panzermann]

They just like the red flowers and export them to the Commonwealth for remembrance day. I am sure!

 

---

 

meanwhile the Taliban have bought night vision and trained with it:

 

 

Taliban Red Unit With Night Vision Kills Dozens of Afghan Officers (NYT)

 

 

 

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan The newest additions to the Afghan battlefield are fighters sporting Star Wars-like headgear containing Russian-built night goggles, American-made M-4 automatic rifles with laser pointers, and bulky telescopic sights made in Iran or Pakistan.

 

They wear baggy shalwar kameez clothing and turbans and fight for the Taliban.

 

Members of an elite outfit called the Red Unit, they may even ride into battle aboard a Ford Ranger police pickup truck or an armored army Humvee.

 

The red dots from their laser pointers shine on police officers and soldiers from the Afghan government, which has benefited from billions of dollars in Western aid to the Afghan security forces.

 

In five nighttime attacks in a 36-hour period on Monday and Tuesday, fighters who appeared to be from such Taliban units killed scores of Afghan security personnel, mostly police officers, in two provinces in southern and western Afghanistan.

 

The Afghan authorities said that the insurgents in these and similar recent attacks were proving to be better equipped than government forces, particularly those in police units, which have suffered most of the casualties.

Continue reading the main story

 

Advertisement

Continue reading the main story

 

The Red Unit has carried out many of these attacks, Afghan officials said, often using stolen military or police vehicles as Trojan horses to get close to bases they plan to attack.

 

The Taliban now are using different tactics, said Qudratullah Khushbakht, spokesman for the governor of Kandahar Province. They have their own mobile special forces unit which is equipped with lasers and night-vision gear, and they are attacking check posts and bases and then leaving the area as quickly as possible to avoid airstrikes.

That was the case in attacks into the early hours of Tuesday in two districts in Kandahar Province, in which Mr. Khushbakht said 23 police officers were killed and 16 injured in rolling attacks on 15 police posts. Other officials, however, put the death toll in those episodes in the Zahre and Maiwand districts at 70 officers.

Mr. Khushbakht said that attacks began when insurgents drove a stolen police Ford Ranger pickup truck into a police post and detonated explosives, then moved on to attack nearby bases.

(...)

 

was only a matter of time I guess. Though instead of Russia I bet they bought the gear in China. Or it fell off an AFG army truck. Or a cousin owed a favour.

Edited November 17, 2017 by Panzermann

[shep854]

On the gov't side, from StrategyPage:

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsf/articles/20180106.aspx

Special Operations: Afghans Have A Plan

[Panzermann]

 

 

Imam Sahib offensive suspended for unknown reasons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Security & Crime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

Ajmal kakar

 

On

Jan 07, 2018 - 15:47

 

 

 

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Security forces in the Imam Sahib district of northern Kunduz province say they are not allowed to launch an operation against the Taliban for unknown reason.

 

Imam Sahib, one of the insecure districts of Kunduz, where an offensive was conducted by security forces 20 days back. Several areas of the district were cleared of Taliban.

Second Lieutenant Najmuddin Hakimi told Pajhwok Afghan News the Qarghaz area of the district was the frontline but they were not allowed to crack down on the militants there.

Hakimi said: We are awaiting orders from the police headquarters; we can to recapture many areas currently under insurgents control.

Mohammad Saber, another official, claimed the Taliban had lost their ability of face-to-face fighting with the security forces. We should prevent their attacks.

About 20 days ago, we conducted an operation and retook Qarghaz area. We are still there but cannot continue our offensive for reasons unknown to us, he complained.

Other security officials in the area hold a similar view.

 

A resident of the locality, Haji Gul Mohammad, confirmed several areas that had been under Taliban control for three years had been retaken by the security forces.

Civilians had suffered casualties and homes had been destroyed during the conflict, he said, stressing the need for the security of residents during operations.

For his part, provincial police chief Abdul Hameed Hamidi said they had suspended the Imam Sahib operation on the basis of a proper plan, and it would resume soon.

sa/mud

https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/01/07/imam-sahib-offensive-suspended-unknown-reasons

[Roman Alymov]

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/afghanistan/2018-01-02/russias-afghanistan-strategy

Russia's Afghanistan Strategy
How Moscow Is Preparing to Go It Alone