Kabul 15.2.2011
There has recently been a dramatic build up of a controversial anti Taliban militia that many Afghans fear could revive the country's detested warlords. But it has had to be suspended in a key district of Helmand amid outbreaks of fighting between different groups. The local defence programme, which is similar to others that have been heavily promoted by General Petraeus the US Commander as essential to beating the Taliban, has also been put on hold amid concern that the paramlitary 'police' force, with 800 men, is already bigger than the official police and could so would threaten government authority. Pretty avoidable balls-up I would have thought. Brilliant strategist, Petraeus, eh?
US marines in the former Taliban stronghold of Marjah say they are using the same approach they employed with "awakening" councils during the Iraq war. But problems are starting to show: the district governor, Abdul Mutalib, last week called in leaders of the 30 groups of up to 50 gunmen to make them sign up to stricter rules of behaviour.
"Around the country these groups are earning the hatred of the people," the governor told the assembled men, many of whom led armed mujahideen groups against the Soviet occupiers in the 1980s.
"The same must not happen in Marjah," the governor warned. Rogue militias in Marjah would be problem at a time when similar programmes are under scrutiny.
Marjah has great political significance in Washington where it is seen as a test of Barack Obama's decision to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan last year.
Warlords will never be the U.S.'s escape card in Afghanistan. Not only are warlords considered more powerful than many government officials, a clear usurpation of command, Afghanistan's tribal structure is far more disjointed than Iraq's. NATO often pits tribes against each other by funding one or the other.
ReplyDeleteA main example is Colonel Raziq, the Spin Bolduk border officer on the U.S. payroll. A Achakzai member, Raziq has violently suppressed the rival Noorzai tribe in the area, which in turn pays Taliban allegiance.
We refer to them as "warlords"
ReplyDeleteWe refer to our military as the "Dept. of Defense"
So just who is defending, and or offending who?