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Training for the civilian surge in Afghanistan Training for the civilian surge in Afghanistan
(3 days later)
By Kim Ghattas BBC News, Mascatatuck Urban Training Center, IndianaBy Kim Ghattas BBC News, Mascatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana
The Afghan governor walked down the main market street, chatting with US soldiers and civilians as an armoured personnel carrier stood guard on a corner.The Afghan governor walked down the main market street, chatting with US soldiers and civilians as an armoured personnel carrier stood guard on a corner.
I hope to make a difference one Afghan man child woman at a time Jerry Calhoun I hope to make a difference one Afghan man, child, woman at a time Jerry Calhoun
An explosion sent everybody ducking for cover before they calmly regrouped a bit further away to discuss what they had done right and what had gone wrong.An explosion sent everybody ducking for cover before they calmly regrouped a bit further away to discuss what they had done right and what had gone wrong.
The village and the explosion were mock, the Afghans were role playing. But the exercise was a very real preparation for the harsh reality of the jobs the civilians have signed up for on the front line of President Barack Obama's war in Afghanistan.The village and the explosion were mock, the Afghans were role playing. But the exercise was a very real preparation for the harsh reality of the jobs the civilians have signed up for on the front line of President Barack Obama's war in Afghanistan.
More than 900 state department officials, former NGO and UN workers, ex-Marines, agricultural experts and Treasury Department employees have been training at military facilities in Indiana before shipping out to the conflict zone.More than 900 state department officials, former NGO and UN workers, ex-Marines, agricultural experts and Treasury Department employees have been training at military facilities in Indiana before shipping out to the conflict zone.
They are part of the civilian surge, a key component of the administration's strategy in Afghanistan.They are part of the civilian surge, a key component of the administration's strategy in Afghanistan.
"I hope to make a difference one Afghan man, child, woman at a time," said Jerry Calhoun."I hope to make a difference one Afghan man, child, woman at a time," said Jerry Calhoun.
Experimental strategyExperimental strategy
Mr Calhoun has worked on reconstruction efforts in Iraq over the last few years. He has a wife and three grown children. When asked if it was worth risking his life, he answered calmly "Yes, I do, I think the consequences of me not going would be worse."Mr Calhoun has worked on reconstruction efforts in Iraq over the last few years. He has a wife and three grown children. When asked if it was worth risking his life, he answered calmly "Yes, I do, I think the consequences of me not going would be worse."
The focus may be mostly on the thousands of troops in Afghanistan, but Washington is counting on the civilians to help stabilise the country.The focus may be mostly on the thousands of troops in Afghanistan, but Washington is counting on the civilians to help stabilise the country.
They will be working with the Afghans on building governance, fighting corruption and generally establishing a government presence well outside the capital.They will be working with the Afghans on building governance, fighting corruption and generally establishing a government presence well outside the capital.
To function in such an insecure environment, they will have to work closely with the military.To function in such an insecure environment, they will have to work closely with the military.
But there are fears such close co-operation will turn the civilians into legitimate targets and taint all future aid efforts.But there are fears such close co-operation will turn the civilians into legitimate targets and taint all future aid efforts.
State Department official Dereck Hogan admitted that the civilians could be seen as targets.State Department official Dereck Hogan admitted that the civilians could be seen as targets.
The only way we can be succesful is with the military alongside us Jason Cha The only way we can be successful is with the military alongside us Jason Cha
But, he said, working alongside the military also helped protect them in difficult circumstances.But, he said, working alongside the military also helped protect them in difficult circumstances.
Jason Cha, who used to do development work for an NGO in Africa, said he had some misgivings about working alongside soldiers when he first joined the surge.Jason Cha, who used to do development work for an NGO in Africa, said he had some misgivings about working alongside soldiers when he first joined the surge.
"But given the security situation over there, I think we definitely need to be working with the military, and it's sort of a symbiotic relationship, the only way we can be successful is with them alongside us," he said."But given the security situation over there, I think we definitely need to be working with the military, and it's sort of a symbiotic relationship, the only way we can be successful is with them alongside us," he said.
Dubbed "civ-mil cooperation", the surge is an experiment for an administration seeking a way out of Afghanistan by building up the capacity of the Afghan government.Dubbed "civ-mil cooperation", the surge is an experiment for an administration seeking a way out of Afghanistan by building up the capacity of the Afghan government.
Criticism from withinCriticism from within
A report by the Office of the Inspector General of the State Department has already warned that the civilian surge is facing difficulties. The pace and scope of the build-up has made it difficult for the logistics to be in place in time.A report by the Office of the Inspector General of the State Department has already warned that the civilian surge is facing difficulties. The pace and scope of the build-up has made it difficult for the logistics to be in place in time.
The students come from a wide variety of backgrounds.The students come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
The list of problems is long. The role of the civilians is not always clear, co-ordination is lacking and security concerns hinder contact with the Afghans. Some of the training is inadequate and tours of duty are limited to one year, including a total of two months on rest and recuperation, limiting the build-up of knowledge and know-how.The list of problems is long. The role of the civilians is not always clear, co-ordination is lacking and security concerns hinder contact with the Afghans. Some of the training is inadequate and tours of duty are limited to one year, including a total of two months on rest and recuperation, limiting the build-up of knowledge and know-how.
"Even with the able leadership of senior officers, the best of intentions and the most dedicated efforts, Embassy Kabul faces serious challenges in meeting the administration's deadline for 'success' in Afghanistan" the report said."Even with the able leadership of senior officers, the best of intentions and the most dedicated efforts, Embassy Kabul faces serious challenges in meeting the administration's deadline for 'success' in Afghanistan" the report said.
Local customsLocal customs
For the civilians heading out to Afghanistan, the training takes a total of four weeks, including five days of at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana.For the civilians heading out to Afghanistan, the training takes a total of four weeks, including five days of at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana.
There, the civilians go through various exercises that will teach them how to interact with Afghans and understand some of the local customs.There, the civilians go through various exercises that will teach them how to interact with Afghans and understand some of the local customs.
They learn how to react to dangerous situations and adapt to working with soldiers. The military, for its part, learns how to deal with civilians in its midst.They learn how to react to dangerous situations and adapt to working with soldiers. The military, for its part, learns how to deal with civilians in its midst.
Soldiers have mostly welcomed this new way of fighting the war. Sgt Nick Seyes from the Indiana National Guard was at Mascatatuck learning to provide civilian recruits with the protection needed to operate in Afghanistan.Soldiers have mostly welcomed this new way of fighting the war. Sgt Nick Seyes from the Indiana National Guard was at Mascatatuck learning to provide civilian recruits with the protection needed to operate in Afghanistan.
"Us running down the bad guys and shooting at them isn't completing the job as we thought it was going to," he said."Us running down the bad guys and shooting at them isn't completing the job as we thought it was going to," he said.
"I think in this way we're making friends with the population again and we are in essence winning the hearts and minds of people. If this is the best way to go after bad guys, if this is the way to do it, we win, right?""I think in this way we're making friends with the population again and we are in essence winning the hearts and minds of people. If this is the best way to go after bad guys, if this is the way to do it, we win, right?"
In Washington, there's been very little outright criticism of the civilian surge. One of the few dissenters is Matthew Hoh. A former Marine, he worked for the US State Department in Afghanistan for a year until resigning in November to protest against President Obama's strategy.In Washington, there's been very little outright criticism of the civilian surge. One of the few dissenters is Matthew Hoh. A former Marine, he worked for the US State Department in Afghanistan for a year until resigning in November to protest against President Obama's strategy.
"I think in Afghanistan the civilian surge is a waste of time, effort and resources at this point," he said."I think in Afghanistan the civilian surge is a waste of time, effort and resources at this point," he said.
High aimsHigh aims
"In Iraq there was an actual government that used to deliver services, in Afghanistan you don't have that, so you're building everything from scratch," he added."In Iraq there was an actual government that used to deliver services, in Afghanistan you don't have that, so you're building everything from scratch," he added.
"You're going to have no political stability, which won't give you security, which won't give you development, so the civilian surge is going to be a continuous effort to build a government among people who don't want a government.""You're going to have no political stability, which won't give you security, which won't give you development, so the civilian surge is going to be a continuous effort to build a government among people who don't want a government."
The all-out effort in Afghanistan is an ambitious campaign, more ambitious than anything seen since the Vietnam war, according to US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke.The all-out effort in Afghanistan is an ambitious campaign, more ambitious than anything seen since the Vietnam war, according to US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke.
No-one is calling it nation building, even if it looks like it. But America's changing role and the promise of years of civilian involvement raises a wider question about how America views its role in the worldNo-one is calling it nation building, even if it looks like it. But America's changing role and the promise of years of civilian involvement raises a wider question about how America views its role in the world
Charles Kupchan from the Council on Foreign Relations says it would be a mistake for the US to read too much into the success of counter insurgency tactics in Iraq or that of civilian reconstruction in Afghanistan. Mr Kupchan says it cannot become "the imperial fixer of last resort".Charles Kupchan from the Council on Foreign Relations says it would be a mistake for the US to read too much into the success of counter insurgency tactics in Iraq or that of civilian reconstruction in Afghanistan. Mr Kupchan says it cannot become "the imperial fixer of last resort".
"I think the American public is tiring of wars in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and it would certainly be a bridge too far to believe that the United States can now move on and fix Yemen, or fix Sudan, or fix Somalia," he said."I think the American public is tiring of wars in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and it would certainly be a bridge too far to believe that the United States can now move on and fix Yemen, or fix Sudan, or fix Somalia," he said.