NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
Combined Joint Public Affairs Office
Camp Eggers -- Kabul
Mar. 5, 2011
Release # 2011-03-04
Feature - The Time Is Now: Building an ANP Force, "Shohna ba Shohna," that will stand the test of time
by 1st Lt. Steven Comerford, Aide-de-Camp
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Since the creation of conflict and resolution involving state actors, one main question has beleaguered the states involved. The question is simple in wording but not in meaning. The question is "How and when do you enable a war stricken people to perpetuate ownership in their country again?" The question is valid, for when is the right time to facilitate the rebuilding of the "soul" of a country? It has become apparent throughout the history of time that not one country can accomplish such a monumental task on its own. So how do you begin to address such a seemingly insurmountable task? The answer is simple; it is the dynamic that has to be changed.
At NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, the dynamic has been changed. The new approach is a multinational effort to assist the people of Afghanistan in developing cohesion and self-ownership. This line of thinking can best be captured by Immanuel Kant's second formulation of his famous Categorical Imperative:
"Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only."
On the surface, it may be presumed utopian to believe that this type of philosophical sentiment could be transformed into practice, policy or programs at this time in history. However, the Human Terrain Team was fortunate enough to see the seeds of such noble actions. Representing Dr. Jack Kem, the Deputy to the NTM-A Commanding General, the HTT went on a fact finding mission to the Afghan National Civil Order Police Academy in Mazar-e-Sharif. There they witnessed the seeds germinate, grow and begin to bloom into a future free of discrimination, religious persecution and selfish ambition. What the team saw was a new generation of Afghans. Working side by side were once rival groups of Tajiks, Pashtuns, Hazaras, Farsiwans, and Uzbeks striving to become the best police officers for their country Afghanistan.
Leading the way for change for the Afghans was Col. Abdul Shakur Mohmand, Commander of the Mazar-e-Sharif training facility. He is a man of integrity, honor, professionalism, courage and vision. In a symbiotic relationship with his international counterparts, he assists in infusing morals, ethics and professional values. This is readily apparent in the actions and behavior of the cadets. Col. Shakur treats each cadet with respect and they return it with extremely genuine enthusiasm.
While visiting the academy, a U.S. Army Officer would immediately be reminded of their time at Army Officer Candidate School. Pride! Honor! Integrity! Those words reverberated throughout the camp. The environment was similar and encapsulated the esprit de corps that is within OCS.
In this positive environment, the HTT was able to ask the cadets candid questions about the present situation in Afghanistan and the future they envision for their country. The answers were astounding. One cadet said "I want to teach the importance of community and the protection of it. In order to do this we, the people, must be brothers in a nation without discrimination. We need to rebuild a sense of pride within our people. We must do this through education and literacy within our communities. Once we do all of this, we will be united as one. First we must take the first step and that is why I am here, to lead the next generation." This deep emotion and sense of nationalism, exemplified the thoughts of a majority of the cadets in multiple sessions.
In the world's eye this may be a small accomplishment. It could even be explained away as an anomaly by some individuals. However, it only takes one person to change the destiny of a country or even the world. At ANCOP cadets voices are being heard. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Now NTM-A/CSTC-A has planted the seeds and they are taking root within ANCOP. So, let us never be silent, so that our friends will rejoice in the "soul" of a new nation called "Afghanistan" -- shohna ba shohna!
Comments
Isn't this lieutenant's unit commanded by General Caldwell, subject of the recent uproar involving allegations of information operations? One wonders what General Caldwell might think about the timing of this clumsy attempt at perception management.
Lieutenant Comerford identifies himself as "Aide-de-Camp." He doesn't name his general, but one doubts there are all that many in the command.
This little puff piece gives rise to a lot of questions, most of which have little to do with accuracy. We know this thing is long on hyperbole and short on truth. What we don't know is its provenance or, perhaps more accurately, its sponsor.
In the Jan/Feb 2011 Issue of Foreign Policy, there is an interesting article by Stephen Walt, "Where do Bad Ideas Come From and Why Don't They go Away?" One passage that caught my attention due to its relevance to our current nation building efforts is:
"The tendency to cling to questionable ideas or failed practices will be particularly strong when a set of policy initiatives is bound up in a great power's ruling ideology or political culture,
break
"Today, U.S. leaders remain stubbonrnly committed to the goals of nation-building and democracy promotion despite their discouraging track record with these endeavors."
Somewhat related to Grant's comment above, he added:
"By concealing information behind walls of secrecy and classification, democratic as well as nondemocratic governments can cover up embarassing policy failures and make it difficult to learn the right lessons from past mistakes."
I think the facts on our efforts in Afghanistan are available, but it is the official and semi-official pieces that attempt to paint an overly rosey picture (like the one above) that undermines our credibility. It would have been a lot better if this article was framed in a larger context that admitted ongoing challenges, but there are examples of where we seem to be gaining traction and encourage to do his/her own analysis and assessment instead of attempting to spoon feed a perception.
These are the kinds of "STRATCOM" that make me shake my head. I fail to see how these prounouncements, AFN commercials, and Soviet Pravda press releases are different: they are rosy-colored and gloss over anything negative (or don't mention anything negative).
If anything I think these actually hurt our efforts. Our country is already jaded- if we keep releasing things like this then what happens if we have a "Tet"? They won't believe anything we say after that.
Just to single out one phrase: "a future free of discrimination, religious persecution and selfish ambition"- we don't have that in our own country or anywhere in the world- I especially don't understand the link to Afghanistan unless you were quoting a meeting of European NGOs.
I too don't fault the LT- this isn't something that is only coming from him- and he probably believes this. I would submit it would be hard to come away from most "battlefield circulation" trips or an average staff meeting at ISAF and NOT feel this way...
The author's question ("How and when do you enable a war stricken people to perpetuate ownership in their country again?") presupposes an existing or previously existing nation-state. This, in turn, suggests that the author is viewing Afghanistan through his own westernized lens vis-ÃÂ -vis the role of the nation-state in Afghan society.
I'd argue that Afghanistan is neither a nation-state as we (westerners) know it, nor does "Afghanistan" as an institution occupy the same place in Afghan society as western nation-states do in western societies. In other words, when was the last time the author considered the tribal affiliation of the guy who does his dry cleaning back in the states?
In light of this, it seems a more appropriate question might be "How do you build (i.e. from scratch) a functioning, democratic nation-state where there never was one?" And, if that is the question, the follow up questions should be "And is it wise to attempt such a thing?"
Concur with TT Carnehan. Maybe I am reacting cynically, and yet to me this commentary is naïve at best and scarily hyperbolic. Sorry, not accepting this as anything more than overreaching.
While I admire the LT's sense of patriotism and optimism, I think this text is blindingly idealistic. Not suggesting that "IO" or "strat comms" is at work here; it seems he really believes what he's saying.
This deserves a second look by a proofreader. The linguistic flourishes are unecessary and monumentally distracting.
The bloated writing makes me even more cynical about the author's romantic hopes for Jeffersonian communities in the Kush.
It takes a country to change a country, not one person. Afghanistan lacks that basic building block.
Remember: Clear, succint, powerful sentences.
-Afghan vet, RC south