Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Posts tagged: US Special Forces

US Special Forces

The A-Team Killings [in Wardak]

AAN •

The Rolling Stone, 6 November 2013 A must-read: Matt Aikins' latest scoop on killings of civilians by US special forces in Wardak province, in a district from which Karzai later forced US troops to withdraw. Matt has found evidence on 18 cases of such killings.

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NATO Reduces Scope of Its Afghanistan Plans

AAN •

The New York Times, 27 October 2013 An excellent summary of the dilemmas facing the post-ISAF NATO mission in Afghanistan, including the differing views in oart of the military (more troops on the ground, better oversight, also financially) and the politicians (keep numbers and risks small). It also delineates how the new mission would look […]

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Winding Down or in for the Long Haul? The emergence of a new US counter-terrorism strategy

Kate Clark •

The great behemoth of US counter-terrorism strategy is shifting. President Barack Obama has said he wants to end the war, not just in Afghanistan, but also, ultimately against al-Qaida. Congress has also been making its first attempts to claw back some of the unprecedented powers it gave the president to wage war when, just after […]

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Trying to Control the Uncontrolled: the NSC’s decision on Wardak

Martine van Bijlert •

Months of reported abuses in Wardak by armed groups and individuals apparently linked to a US Special Operations base, and the failure of ISAF to take responsibility or to adequately respond, has led the National Security Council to announce that all US Special Operations Forces are to be removed from Wardak within two weeks. Although […]

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Handing over Night Raids

Kate Clark •

Afghanistan and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ‘Special Operations’, ensuring that night raids will continue – with Afghans ordering and conducting them and US forces acting only in support. The agreement is a victory for President Karzai who has long insisted – up till now in vain – that […]

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Kill or Capture 3: When the International Military Says ‘Sorry’

Kate Clark •

President Karzai has said he will no longer allow NATO airstrikes on houses because they are causing too many civilian casualties. The president’s ultimatum follows the pictures shown on Afghan TV on 29 May of distraught villagers in Helmand carrying the bruised and dusty corpses of their small children who had been killed in an […]

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Building for Eternity? The Issue of the US Afghan Bases (amended)

Thomas Ruttig •

Will the US really withdraw (most of its) its troops – those who will not be rebranded ‘trainers’ and advisors’ like in Iraq – by 2014? Is general Petraeus following his own timeline? For sure, the US is planning to keep (some of) its bases in Afghanistan, and it is expanding them rapidly. A US […]

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For a Handful of Dollars: Taleban allowed to join ALP

Kate Clark •

It’s official: reintegrated Taleban will be able to join the Afghan Local Police (ALP) – referred to more commonly by civilians as militias or arbaki. This is according to the head of ISAF’s Regional Command North (who also said such Taleban might become teachers). In flat contradiction, the MoI told AAN today that Taleban will […]

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