IEDs Killing Fewer Troops in Afghanistan - Washington Post
Scores of Taliban Killed in 2 Airstrikes - New York Times
Bombs Kill 3 Foreign Troops in Afghanistan - Voice of America
NATO: Bomb Blast Kills 2 Troops in Afghanistan - Associated Press
Massive Afghan Iron Ore Deposit Up For Tender Again - Reuters
Pakistan
Pakistan PM Cancels Trips as Govt Speculation Swirls - Reuters
Pakistan Arms Minister Quits - BBC News
U.S. Missile Strike Kills 4 in Pakistan - Voice of America
Iraq
U.S. Gift for Students in Iraq Offers a Primer on Corruption - New York Times
Iran
Iran Fights Malware Attacking Computers - New York Times
United States
U.S. Officials Defend "State Secrets" Claim - Washington Post
WH: Lawsuit for Cleric Would Reveal State Secrets - Associated Press
United Kingdom
Labor Party Elects Pro-union Miliband - Washington Post
Brother Beats Brother in Labour Vote - New York Times
Britain's Labor Party Chooses New Leader - Los Angeles Times
Britain's Labour Elects Ed Miliband In Cliffhanger - Reuters
I'm My Own Man, Says Ed Miliband - BBC News
Northern Ireland Man Faces Terrorism Charges - Associated Press
Africa
Somali President Urges International Help to Fight Terrorism - Voice of America
U.S. 'Engages' with Somali Regions - BBC News
Obama Presses for Fair Sudan Vote - BBC News
Egypt and Thirsty Neighbors Are at Odds Over Nile - New York Times
Kenya Says West Wasting Money on Anti-Piracy Ships - Associated Press
Nigeria: Nobel Laureate Launches Political Party - Associated Press
Americas and Caribbean
Mexico Not New Colombia When it Comes to Drug Cartels - Los Angeles Times
Mexico Nabs Drug Trafficker Poised to Replace Capo - Associated Press
Mexico Nabs Suspected Drug Lord - BBC News
Colombian Police Examine FARC Rebels' Laptops - BBC News
Venezuela to Elect New Parliament - BBC News
Undecided Voters Likely Key to Venezuelan Legislative Election - VOA
Chavez Likely to Retain Parliament In Venezuelan Vote - Reuters
Political Flavor Infuses Venezuela's New Cafes - New York Times
Venezuela: Chavez Aiming to Keep Control in Legislative Vote - Associated Press
Rescue Cage Arrives at Chile Mine - BBC News
Storm Kills Five, Adds to Homeless Misery In Haiti - Reuters
Storm Shreds Aging Tents in Haiti Earthquake Camps - Associated Press
Asia Pacific
Japan Rejects Apologizing to China - New York Times
Japanese Leader Says No Apology to China - Associated Press
China Repeats Apology Demand After Japan Frees Fisherman - Reuters
Australia, China Conduct Live-Fire Naval Exercise in Yellow Sea - VOA
Petition Urges Nobel for Jailed Chinese Writer - New York Times
Shanghai Taking on Hong Kong - Washington Post
Thai Leader Calls for Inclusion in Burma - Washington Post
China is Gaining Influence - Washington Post opinion
Europe
ETA Willing to Declare Permanent Cease-Fire - Associated Press
Basque Guerrillas Say Ready to Prove Truce Real - Reuters
Turkey: Gallery Attack Ignites Debate - Associated Press
Hungary to Focus on Jobs And Roma as E.U. President - Reuters
Middle East
U.S. Tries to Breathe Life Back Into Mideast Talks - New York Times
U.S. Scrambles for Compromise to Keep Peace Talks Going - Los Angeles Times
Palestinian Leader Vows Peace, Urges Settlement End - Reuters
Abbas Says No Peace Without Moratorium on Settlement Construction - VOA
Abbas Says Settlements Block Mideast Peace Deal - Associated Press
Middle East Peace Push Faces Settlement Deadline - Reuters
Israeli Settlement Slowdown to End at Midnight - Associated Press
'50-50' Hope for Settlement Deal - BBC News
Hamas, Fatah Move Closer to Deal - Voice of America
Abu Dhabi: In Arabian Desert, a Sustainable City Rises - New York Times
Egypt: Islamic Body Criticizes Bishop's Remarks on Quran - Associated Press
South Asia
India Makes Major Shift in Policy in Kashmir - New York Times
India to Review Kashmir Deployment to Tackle Unrest - Reuters
India Bids to Ease Kashmir Crisis - BBC News
India Makes Mad Dash to Ready Commonwealth Games Village - Reuters
U.S. Strategists Seek Afghan Fixes Outside the Box - Associated Press
Widespread Fraud Seen in Latest Afghan Elections - New York Times
Afghan Equality and Law, but With Strings Attached - New York Times
Insurgents Attack NATO Base in Afghanistan - Los Angeles Times
Failed Attack on Base Leaves 5 Insurgents Dead - AFPS
Afghan, NATO Forces Kill 30 Insurgents In Assault - Reuters
NATO: Bomb Blast Kills 2 Troops, 30 Militants Die - Associated Press
3 Afghan Journalists Released - New York Times
NATO Says 3 Detained Afghan Journalists Released - Associated Press
Army Limits Use of Images of Casualties in G.I.'s Case - New York Times
Britain's Fourth Afghan War, Through the Lens of Three Others - New York Times
Pakistan
Pakistani Journalist Speaks Out, Eyes Turn to the Military - New York Times
Pakistanis Protest NY Court Ruling on Female Scientist - Voice of America
U.S. Sentence for Pakistani Ignites Anger and Protests - Associated Press
Gunmen Kill 2 People in Attack on Pakistani Mosque - Associated Press
U.N. Speakers Urge Pakistan to Free Up Arms Talks - Reuters
Visiting Pakistan's Cut-Off Villages - New York Times
Pakistan PM Cancels Trip to Europe - Reuters
Black Hole for Foreign Aid - Washington Times
Iraq
Much Uncertain as U.S. Officials Enter Crucial Handover Phase - Washington Post
Iraq's Winning Bloc Rejects Maliki as PM Again - Reuters
Iran
Obama Reaches Out to Iran with Multiple Messages - Washington Post
Russia Pushing Back on Tougher Sanctions Against Iran - Los Angeles Times
Obama: Ahmadinejad's Remarks 'Hateful' - Washington Times
Iran's President Expresses Hope for More Nuclear Talks - New York Times
Iran's Nuclear Agency Trying to Stop Computer Worm - Associated Press
Ahmadinejad Says Iran May End Enrichment - Associated Press
Iran Insists U.S. Attacked Itself to Attack Others - Voice of America
Obama Calls Iranian President's U.N. Remarks Hateful - Voice of America
Freed U.S. Hiker Meets Ahmadinejad - Voice of America
U.S. Department of Defense
Alexander Details U.S. Cyber Command Gains - AFPS
Officials Seek to Strengthen Reserve Components - AFPS
The Soldiers We Need at Home - New York Times opinion
Lady Gaga's Call to Arms - Washington Times opinion
'Gays,' Guns and Mad Social Science - Washington Times opinion
United States
State Secrets Cited in Effort by White House to Block Suit - New York Times
Obama Invokes 'State Secrets' Claim to Dismiss Suit - Washington Post
FBI Searches Antiwar Activists' Homes - New York Times
United Nations
U.N. Warns Volatile Food Prices Threat to Food Security - Voice of America
Africa
Obama Exhorts Sudan to Proceed with Vote on Independence - Washington Post
Obama Presses for Peace in Likely Sudan Partition - New York Times
Sudan Seeks Global Support as Vote Nears - Associated Press
S. Sudanese Risk Citizen Rights In Vote - Reuters
U.N.: Rwanda Won't Pull Troops Out Of Darfur - Reuters
U.S. Boosts Ties With Break-Away Somalia Regions - Reuters
U.N.: 303 People Raped by Militia in DRC in Four Days - Voice of America
Nigerian Presidential Candidates Campaign for Youth Vote - Voice of America
2 Million People Displaced in Nigeria Flooding - Associated Press
Americas and Caribbean
Fourth Mexico Mayor Killed in Under Six Weeks - Los Angeles Times
Slaying of Mayor is Fourth in Northern Mexico in Past Month - Washington Post
Small-Town Mayors Targeted by Mexican Drug Gangs - Associated Press
Chavez Urges Peace in Colombia After Rebel's Death - Associated Press
Venezuela Opposition Hopeful of Inroads Against Chavez - Los Angeles Times
The Last Election in Venezuela? - Washington Times opinion
Cuba Details New Policies on Budding Entrepreneurs - New York Times
Caribbean Crime Wave Linked to U.S. Deportations - Associated Press
Asia Pacific
Obama's U.N. Visit Includes Strong Outreach to Asia - Washington Post
Obama, S. East Asian Leaders Urge Free Navigation - Associated Press
Repatriation Policy Links China to Rights Violations - Washington Times
Japan Retreats With Release of Chinese Boat Captain - New York Times
Japan Releases Chinese Boat Captain - Washington Post
Japan Releases Chinese Fishing Captain - Los Angeles Times
Japan Refuses China Demand For Apology In Boat Row - Reuters
Koreas Fail to Reach Deal on Reunions - New York Times
U.S., South Korea Plan Anti-submarine Exercise - AFPS
Thai PM Calls for 'More Inclusive' Political System in Burma - Washington Post
A Thai Region Where Husbands Are Imported - New York Times
Central Asia
Uzbek Survivor of Torture Seeks to Fight It Tacitly - New York Times
Middle East
End of Israeli Settlement Freeze Looms Over Peace Talks - Voice of America
Clinton Meets Abbas as Mideast Peace Deadline Looms - Reuters
Israel Plays Down Scope Of Future Settler Projects - Reuters
Arab Move to Censure Israel Stymied at U.N. Meeting - Associated Press
U.N. Nuclear Assembly Rejects Arab Move Targeting Israel - Reuters
Al-Qaida Gunmen Ambush Bus Carrying Yemeni Forces - Associated Press
Nations Vow Support For Yemen as It Faces Threats - Reuters
South Asia
Foreign Athletes Arrive in India for Commonwealth Games - Voice of America
India: Athletes arrive for Commonwealth Games - Washington Post
Games Official Angers India With Hygiene Comment - New York Times
Commonwealth Games Chief Says All Countries Will Take Part - Reuters
Commonwealth Games Head Says Much Work Remains - Associated Press
Here is the latest edition of my column at Foreign Policy:
Topics include:
1) A collision between Obama and the Afghan surge faction is inevitable
2) Does the terrorism threat in Yemen warrant a billion-dollar response?
A collision between Obama and the Afghan surge faction is inevitable
Of the many revelations in early previews of Bob Woodward's new book Obama's Wars, the most corrosive is the obstinacy President Barack Obama faced from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, and then Centcom commander Gen. David Petraeus. According to the Washington Post's reporting of the book, Obama repeatedly pressed his military advisors for an exit plan from Afghanistan. "I'm not doing long-term nation-building. I am not spending a trillion dollars," Obama said. Yet according to the Post, Gates, Mullen, and Petraeus -- whom I will term the Afghan surge faction -- essentially barred from consideration any plan that did not involve a counterinsurgency strategy requiring at least 30,000 more U.S. troops. In spite of their resistance to his wishes, Obama chose not to confront the surge faction, opting instead to accommodate their policy inside a muddled compromise. But the compromise will only delay an inevitable clash.
Woodward's book strongly reinforces the impression that Obama's paramount goal in Afghanistan is to find the exit. Gates, Petraeus, and others have attempted to dilute the harmful effect of Obama's July 2011 deadline by explaining that any U.S. withdrawal will be very gradual and "conditions-based." Woodward's exposition of Obama's restless eagerness to get out wipes away those efforts.
If one purpose of the surge was to achieve negotiating leverage over the Taliban, Woodward's book will instead reinforce their determination to hang on and fight. Indeed, according to the Wall Street Journal, it is U.S. commanders who are downgrading their expectations for military progress. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is now likely to redouble his efforts to make a separate peace with Pakistan and the Taliban, a chilling prospect for many of Afghanistan's non-Pashtun ethnic groups.
Thus, by next summer the United States is likely to face hardened Taliban resolve, a more belligerent Karzai, and an Afghanistan that might be splintering along ethnic lines, trends reinforced by Obama's yearning for the door. If by next summer the counterinsurgency strategy's hoped-for improvements have not arrived, Obama's long-delayed confrontation with the surge faction will very likely occur. Obama is likely to look for a new team to implement the policy he wanted all along. The White House has already probably been preparing for Gates's retirement and the end of Mullen's tour as Joint Chiefs chairman. The termination of Petraeus's command in Kabul would be much more dramatic.
For the United States, there is a strict inverse relationship between the size of a troop commitment to a shooting war and the amount of time the public will allow for clear results. For example, in contrast to the political time pressure Obama feels regarding Afghanistan, the small but successful foreign internal defense missions the United States conducts in Colombia and the Philippines are under no time pressure as they gradually accumulate progress.
When policymakers choose a military strategy that comes with a short fuse, periodic decision-point crises get built into the strategy. According to Woodward, Obama perceived that the American public would give him just two years to do something in Afghanistan. True, but only because of the options forced on him by the Afghan surge faction. One of the crises built into Obama's Afghan strategy was a clash with the promoters of that strategy. Obama might regret not having that clash in 2009, before he committed so much prestige and so many lives to a strategy he never had the resolve to properly see through.
Does the terrorism threat in Yemen warrant a billion-dollar response?
Officials at U.S. Central Command are pushing a six-year $1.2 billion security force assistance program for Yemen. If approved, the program would provide Yemen's military and police with automatic weapons, patrol boats, helicopters, transport aircraft, spare parts, other support equipment, and training. This long-term $200 million per year commitment is a huge change in policy; in 2006, U.S. security assistance to Yemen totaled just $5 million. Centcom's plan does not please everyone. The State Department is resisting, claiming that the program is too big for Yemen and that a six-year commitment forfeits U.S. leverage over Yemen's subsequent behavior. Others are concerned that Yemen's autocratic ruler, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, will use this enhanced military power to battle his domestic opponents rather than al Qaeda. And some wonder whether the pricey attention Yemen is now receiving from U.S. national security officials is simply an overreaction to the al Qaeda presence there.
It is Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born cleric now hiding in Yemen and the spiritual motivator to at least three recent homegrown terrorist plots, who has caused Yemen to rise to the top of the U.S. government's worry chart. The president has already authorized a Hellfire missile for Awlaki's forehead, should someone be able to find him. While that manhunt goes on, U.S. counterterrorism officials now speculate that more small-scale terrorist attacks inside the United States, like those instigated by Awlaki, are likely.
Given a choice between doing less and doing more in Yemen, the political risk calculus for the Obama administration is to overrule the State Department and approve Centcom's big security force assistance program. The virtual absence of terrorist attacks inside the United States since 2001 has burdened the government with maintaining this nearly perfect record indefinitely. A single car bomb or a one-person Mumbai-style shootout will be viewed by many as a dramatic homeland security failure. Homeland security officials seem resigned to the near-impossibility of thwarting all such small-ball attacks in advance. But after such an attack occurs, the public will want to know what the government was doing to suppress the source of the problem in places like Yemen. Thus, from the perspective of political risk management, the administration has a strong incentive to show that it was executing a vigorous counterterrorism program, like that proposed for Yemen.
The U.S. government has another reason to try out Centcom's plan for Yemen. Win or lose in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. government will not be attempting any more large-scale, manpower-intensive counterinsurgency and stabilization campaigns anytime soon. Another approach is needed. The new model will be security force assistance and foreign internal defense programs like Centcom's plan. Advocates of this approach will want to demonstrate that in the post-counterinsurgency era, this model can work for a tough case like Yemen.
Some will still object that the plan for Yemen, though a better approach than what's currently in place, is too large, too expensive, and too wasteful. Perhaps, but it is more important now to show that the model can work. After that happens, policymakers can worry about economizing.
"I'm not particularly interested in growing Army special operations forces any bigger than it is today," said Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Army special operations forces are expected to finish their currently planned growth by 2017 and at that point, "we'll be pretty well postured," Mulholland said.
This is partly because growing Army SOF force structure comes at the expense of the larger Army, the three-star told a Sept. 21 conference hosted by the Institute for Defense & Government Advancement.
"I don't think you'll see SOF growth across the force, not just in the Army," Mulholland said.
It seems as if it is not just the Marine Corps that is complaining about how SOF recruiting drains the best NCOs from the general purpose forces.
The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review sets a goal of fielding about 660 special operations teams across the entire SOF community.
The article goes on to detail by region the current worldwide distribution of Army Special Forces manning and missions.
Gates Defends Policy and the Debate That Shaped It - New York Times
National Security Team Unified on Afghan War Strategy - Stars and Stripes
Obama Well-served by Afghan Debate, Gates Says - AFPS
Senators Seek Removal of Inspector General for Reconstruction - Washington Post
Afghan, Coalition Forces Pursue Taliban Commanders - AFPS
Afghan Women Earn Army Commissions - AFPS
Afghan President Calls for Release of Journalists - Associated Press
Snickers and Skepticism Greet Film Shot in Afghanistan - New York Times
Pakistan
Pakistani Receives 86-Year Sentence for Firing at U.S. Troops - VOA
Biden: U.S., U.K. Commit to Continued Aid for Pakistan - AFPS
Iraq
Fallujah Raid Highlights Iraq's Security Concerns - Associated Press
Iran
Ahmadinejad's U.N. Speech Triggers U.S. Walkout - Voice of America
U.S. Storms Out of Iran Leader's U.N. Speech - Wall Street Journal
Ahmadinejad Suggests U.S. 'Orchestrated' 9/11 Attacks - Washington Times
U.S. Walks Out as Iran Leader Speaks - New York Times
U.S. Walks Out on Ahmadinejad U.N. Speech - Los Angeles Times
Protests at Ahmadinejad U.N. Speech - BBC News
New Iran Sanctions Tighten Controls on Consumer Goods - Voice of America
Stuxnet Worm 'Targeted High-value Iranian Assets' - BBC News
United Nations
Highlights: World Leaders Address U.N. General Assembly - Reuters
Obama Focuses on Human Rights at U.N. - Washington Post
Aid Groups Cheer Obama Development Plan - Associated Press
U.N. Session Urges US, Others to Back Nuke Test Pact - Associated Press
U.S. Department of Defense
General Discusses Changes to Initial Army Training - AFPS
Cybercom Chief Details Cyberspace Defense - AFPS
Gaps in Authority Hamper Military Against Cyber-attacks - Washington Times
Cyber Command Chief Proposes Secure Network - Washington Post
Cyberwar Chief Calls for Secure Computer Network - New York Times
Army of Tech-savvy Warriors Fighting its Battles in Cyberspace - Washington Post
Navy Seeks Advances in Biomedical Research - AFPS
United States
White House Reviews Nation's Cybersecurity - Washington Post
Obama: U.S. Takes 'Targeted Approach' on Extremism - AFPS
United Kingdom
British Cuts to Military Concern U.S. Officials - New York Times
Brothers Compete to Lead Labour Party in Britain - New York Times
Africa
African Al-Qaida Group Targeting Foreign Companies to Build Support - VOA
France Calls on Al-Qaida-linked Group to Make Hostage Release Demand - VOA
Somali Forces Fight Islamists in the Capital - New York Times
Africans Seek Funds to Increase Somali Force - Associated Press
Summit Plea for Somalia Funding - BBC News
African Union: Sudan Leader Case Undermines Peace - Reuters
Delegates at U.N. Pressed on Vote in Sudan - Washington Times
Nigerian Ruling Party Suspends Primaries - Voice of America
Americas and Caribbean
Longtime Colombian Rebel Commander is Killed - Los Angeles Times
Colombian Rebel Leader Reportedly Killed in Military Strike - Washington Post
Rebels' Second in Command Has Been Killed, Colombia Says - New York Times
Colombia Kills Top FARC Rebel Commander In Raid - Reuters
Colombia Rebels Briefly Assault Cerrejon Mine - Reuters
Colombia: A New Beginning? - Washington Post opinion
Not Much Chance for Opposition in Venezuela - Washington Times
Chavez, Opponents Rally Before Venezuela Vote - Associated Press
7 Killed in Shootout in Mexican Resort City - Associated Press
Gunmen Kill Mexican Mayor Near Monterrey - Reuters
Mexico Journalists Debate Cartels, Self-Censorship - Associated Press
Rousseff's Lead Unchanged In Brazil Election Poll - Reuters
Asia Pacific
Chinese Premier: U.S.-China Common Interests Outweigh Differences -VOA
China's Foreign-policy Power Struggle - Washington Post
With Warning, Obama Presses China on Currency - New York Times
Repatriation Policy Links China to Rights Violations - Washington Times
Chinese Attitudes on Generosity Are Tested - New York Times
U.S. 'Watching' Rising China-Japan Tensions - Washington Times
Japan Releases China Boat Captain - BBC News
China Arrests Four Japanese Amid Tensions - New York Times
China Says 4 Japanese Filmed Military Targets - Associated Press
Japan Frets About Economic Fallout From China Row - Reuters
Obama: U.S.-Japan Alliance a Security 'Cornerstone' - Associated Press
North Korea: Promotions Point to Shift in Nuclear Dealings - Washington Post
Exiled Cambodian Leader Sentenced to 10 Years in Jail - Voice of America
Europe
In Europe, a Mood of Austerity and Anxiety - New York Times
Moscow Mayor Pokes Kremlin. (Cue Hornets.) - New York Times
Middle East
Obama Urges Global Support for Mideast Peace Efforts - Voice of America
Obama Calls on Arab Nations to Support Peace Talks - Los Angeles Times
Obama Challenges the World: Time for Mideast Peace - Associated Press
Officials: Palestinians Will Consider Compromise - Associated Press
Settlement Freeze Has Barely Slowed Construction - Associated Press
A Test of Israel's Character - New York Times opinion
South Asia
India Tries to Salvage Commonwealth Games - Voice of America
India: Problems with Commonwealth Games Mount - Washington Post
India Rushes to Finish Work to Host Commonwealth Games - New York Times
Australia Olympic Chief Says India Not Fit For Games - Reuters
Sri Lankan Government Urged to Say Sorry for War Years - BBC News
National Defense Univeristy Press just published a review of Understanding Counterinsurgency: Doctrine, Operations and Challenges by CPT Crispin Burke (Starbuck around here). From NDU:
"Followers of the many discussions about counterinsurgency being bandied about the blogosphere should be familiar with the name of today's contributor. As the keeper of the influential blog Wings Over Iraq and a contributor to Small Wars Journal and many other blogs, Captain Crispin Burke, USA, is in the vanguard of rising young warrior-scholars who are translating their mastery of the classic counterinsurgency canon into the dynamic contemporary milieu of online discussion and debate about the subject. For our purposes today, though, the good old-fashioned book review is CPT Burke's weapon of choice—but maybe he read the book on one of those new-fangled electronic devices... In any event, let us know if his assessment whets your appetite to delve into the book for yourself."
Here's the author lineup: Part I: Doctrine; France by Etienne de Durand, Britain by Alexander Alderson, Germany by Timo Noetzel, United States by Conrad Crane. Part II: Operational Aspects; Army by Peter Mansoor, Marine Corps by Frank Hoffman, Airpower by Charles Dunlap, Jr, Naval Support by Martin Murphy, Special Operationsby Kalev Sepp, Intelligence by David Kilcullen, Local Security Forces by John Nagl. Part III: Challenges; Governance by Nadia Schadlow, Culture by Montgomery McFate, Ethics by Sarah Sewall, Information Operations by Andrew Exum, Civil-Military Integration by Michelle Parker and Matthew Irvine, Time by Austin Long, Counterinsurgency in Context by Thomas Rid and Thomas Keaney.
Read the review here and purchase Understanding Counterinsurgency here.
Book Says Obama Administration Divided On Afghan Strategy - Voice of America
Generals in Civilian Posts were Toughest Critics of Surge - Washington Post
U.S. Covert Paramilitary Presence Much Larger Than Thought - Washington Post
Afghanistan as Obama and Others Game It - New York Times
Partial Afghan Poll Results to Be Released - Associated Press
3 Journalists Arrested in Afghanistan, Collaborating with Taliban - New York Times
Al-Jazeera Protests NATO Detention of 2 Cameramen - Washington Post
Afghan, Coalition Forces Target Insurgents - American Forces Press Service
U.S. Troops Killed in Crash Included 5 with 101st Airborne - Los Angeles Times
U.S.: Dead in Afghan Chopper Crash Were All American - Associated Press
Iraq
Iraq Gives Amnesty to 2 U.S. Corruption Suspects - Washington Times
Iran
Ahmadinejad Faces Political Battle at Home - Washington Post
Iran Far From United Behind Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Los Angeles Times
Nations Repeat Commitment to Negotiated Solution on Iran Nukes - VOA
Iran Signals Interest in Talks on Nuclear Program - Washington Post
Iran Says Nuclear Talks Can Succeed Only if Fair - Reuters
U.S. Lauds Russia on Barring Arms to Iran - New York Times
Diplomats: Iran Seeks Seat on U.N. Nuke Agency Board - Associated Press
Stuxnet Worm 'Targeted High-value Iranian Assets' - BBC News
Bomb at Iranian Parade Kills at Least 12 - Voice of America
Bomb Hits Parade in Kurdish-Majority City in Iran - New York Times
Bomb Attack at Iranian Parade Kills at Least 11 - Washington Post
Dissident Iranian Journalist Is Jailed in a Continued Crackdown - New York Times
U.S. Department of Defense
McChrystal Article Inquiry Leaves Questions Open - New York Times
DADT Working Group Unaffected by Senate Vote, Spokesman Says - AFPS
Activists Look to Courts to End Military's DADT - Washington Post
United Nations
U.N. Members Meet for Annual General Assembly - BBC News
U.N. Launches $40 Billion Campaign to Improve Women, Children's Health - VOA
Obama Makes Case for Foreign Aid to Poor Nations - Washington Post
Obama Seeks Accountability on Foreign Aid - Los Angeles Times
Foreign Aid Revamp Rewards Economic Gain - Washington Times
At the U.N., Turkey Asserts Itself - New York Times
United States
Risk of Small-scale Attacks by al-Qaeda and Allies Rising - Washington Post
White House Doesn't Dispute Woodward's Portrayal of Obama - Washington Post
Benchmarks to Measure Obama Year after U.N. Address - Washington Post
A Claim of Pro-Islam Bias in Textbooks - New York Times
World
Clinton Global Initiative Addresses Major and Minor Problems - VOA
Africa
S. Sudan in Cease-Fire Talks With Rebel Commander - Associated Press
South Sudan Starts Talks With Renegade Militia Chief - Reuters
Kiir Pledges Safety For Sudan Northerners In South - Reuters
19 Killed in Fighting in Somalia's Capital City - Associated Press
Nigerian Voters, Politicians Debate Commission Call for More Time - VOA
France Says Nigeria Kidnapping Looks Like Piracy - Associated Press
France Asks al-Qaeda for Demands over Niger Hostages - BBC News
Americas and Caribbean
Juarez Editorial Ignites a Beleaguered Mexico - Associated Press
Mexico Prepares Plan to Protect Journalists - Associated Press
Venezuela Captures Soldier Sought in Base Killing - Associated Press
Asia Pacific
Obama to Meet With ASEAN Leaders as Territorial Tensions Flare - VOA
China's Disputes in Asia Buttress Influence of U.S. - New York Times
Tensions Between China, Japan Escalate - Los Angeles Times
China Takes a Sharper Tone in Dispute With Japan - New York Times
Amid Tension, China Blocks Crucial Exports to Japan - New York Times
N. Korea Promotes 3 Key Diplomats in Reshuffle - Associated Press
North Korea's Top Nuclear Diplomat Promoted to Vice Premier - Reuters
Gunmen Storm Indonesian Police Station - New York Times
Former Indonesia Policeman Admits Ties to al-Qaida - Associated Press
Two Killed In Latest Violence In Restive Thai South - Reuters
Europe
Europe Faces Higher Threat from al Qaeda - Washington Times
Middle East
Obama Presses Mideast Peace in U.N. Address - Associated Press
Obama to Tell U.N. Mideast Talks Need World's Support - Reuters
Palestinians, Israelis Clash at Jerusalem Holy Site - Voice of America
Clashes in Jerusalem as Negotiations Snag - New York Times
Clashes Erupt after Shooting of Palestinian in E. Jerusalem - Washington Post
Violence in East Jerusalem Clouds Peace Efforts - Associated Press
Hamas Absent From Negotiations, but Looms Large - Voice of America
Yemeni Soldiers Killed in Offensive Against Suspected al-Qaida Members - VOA
Faceoff over Hariri Tribunal Could Drag Lebanon into Conflict - Los Angeles Times
South Asia
India Braces for Babri Masjid Ruling - Los Angeles Times
Indian Court Delays Verdict on Holy Site Dispute - Associated Press
India Floods Kill 17 as Millions Flee Rising Water - Associated Press
India Top Court Orders Mosque Verdict Postponed - Reuters
India: More Nations Postpone Arrivals to Commonwealth Game - Reuters
NZ Adds to India's Games Pressure - BBC News
Quality improved, as well. The instructor to trainee ratio decreased from 1:76 to 1:29, greatly increasing the ability of trainers to give attention to individuals. Improvements like this led to an improved basic rifle qualification rate; increasing from an embarrassing 35% to 97%. To truly professionalize the force, however, will require even more attention to quality in the force -- and trainers with specialized skills are required to accomplish this.
In order to develop the systems and institutions that are required to continue to professionalize and grow the ANSF, specialty training is required. Schools that teach skills like acquisitions, logistics, maintenance, intelligence, and even field artillery are needed to balance a currently infantry-centric force. Additionally, leader development courses like the police staff college, police and army officer candidate schools, and various non-commissioned officer development courses are needed. All of these specialty skills require trainers with the requisite skills -- trainers that can only be found in the international community. Over the next ten months, our requirement for these trainers will double, with needed skill sets ranging from Mi-17 helicopter pilots and maintainers to doctors, police trainers to instructors at the signal school.
The impacts of not sourcing our trainer requirements are that training base expansions to increase capacity are hindered, specialty school development will be delayed, pace of specialty skills development will be slowed, and the professionalization of the ANSF will be hampered. Essentially, the process of transition to the ANSF will be delayed; as the Secretary General of NATO said recently, "no trainers, no transition."
If we do not resource the training mission in Afghanistan, we will not be able to achieve our goals for increased quantity and improved quality. We must not allow that to happen. We need to sustain the momentum we have achieved in the past ten months so that we capitalize on our achievements thus far. To create Afghan capacity that is enduring and self-sustaining we must professionalize the police, army, and air forces; create viable logistics and medical systems; and improve the infrastructure and the institutions that train and educate them...above all, we MUST have the trainers to develop them.
Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell, IV is Commander of NATO Training Mission Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan. You can access LTG Caldwell's NTM-A / CSTC-A speeches, interviews, videos, and blog entries here.
