Posted on Aug 24, 2021
Afghan defense attaché to U.S. military families: The Afghanistan people will never forget
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Posted in these groups: 
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 2
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Thank you, We need to pray for these people, that they stay the course forward.
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There are Afghanistan people who understand their plight, but why did their 300,000 strong military collapse in supporting themselves? So very sad...
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SGM (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - I was part of a team which was taking biometric information for recruits to Afghan Special Forces. There were slugs, but for the most part they were willing to be there and reasonably motivated.
Later I was writing intel at ISAF HQ, specifically collating reports from nightly raids to collect bad guys. Afghan teams went out with US medical and commo personnel, and were effective.
There were certainly plenty of cases of ANA soldiers running. Interestingly enough, the families of Taliban fighters who were killed were given about $5,000. ANA soldier's families got nothing, as late as 2014, when my last tour was over. If your family has you and only you to depend on to eat, you might be even more careful of risking your life.
I am not saying we could have won. Afghanistan was too much like Viet Nam, with liberals and the MSM constantly encouraging them to fight and stabbing us in the back. But I think the fortified firebase with nightly raids concept could have been carried on indefinitely with minimal losses. Every high level commander or IED manufacturer taken put a severe crimp in their operations as it could take years to train up a replacement
Later I was writing intel at ISAF HQ, specifically collating reports from nightly raids to collect bad guys. Afghan teams went out with US medical and commo personnel, and were effective.
There were certainly plenty of cases of ANA soldiers running. Interestingly enough, the families of Taliban fighters who were killed were given about $5,000. ANA soldier's families got nothing, as late as 2014, when my last tour was over. If your family has you and only you to depend on to eat, you might be even more careful of risking your life.
I am not saying we could have won. Afghanistan was too much like Viet Nam, with liberals and the MSM constantly encouraging them to fight and stabbing us in the back. But I think the fortified firebase with nightly raids concept could have been carried on indefinitely with minimal losses. Every high level commander or IED manufacturer taken put a severe crimp in their operations as it could take years to train up a replacement
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SSG (Join to see)
SGM (Join to see) There are many ways we COULD have won.
I guess the real point I was trying to make is that the Civilian Leadership portrayed the ANA Soldiers as being our equals, in both skill and dedication. Which was never the case.
I also speak from my time there, 20 years ago, so I understand things change. But I was there when the foundation for the ANA was being laid down. As warlords turned into government officials. It got a bad start and from what you have said it doesnt sound like it got much better.
Anyway, google "sri lanken 8 simple rules for COIN" they are perhaps the only truely successful country to fight and more importantly win against an insurgency.
I guess the real point I was trying to make is that the Civilian Leadership portrayed the ANA Soldiers as being our equals, in both skill and dedication. Which was never the case.
I also speak from my time there, 20 years ago, so I understand things change. But I was there when the foundation for the ANA was being laid down. As warlords turned into government officials. It got a bad start and from what you have said it doesnt sound like it got much better.
Anyway, google "sri lanken 8 simple rules for COIN" they are perhaps the only truely successful country to fight and more importantly win against an insurgency.
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SGM (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - I would put that even more simply. The military, even the Afghan military, wins wars. Politicians lose wars.
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