Now we learn that the mission of our troops in Afghanistan is not to free a nation from its repressive and despotic 8th century practices and mores but to preserve them in perpetuity.
Political correctness and multiculturalism are running amok, reports this week’s newspaper column available online at The Ely Times and the Elko Daily Free Press.
Afghanistan: ‘Green on blue’ attacks are the latest phrase in the Taliban’s war. (Photo: GETTY)
Some in the military seem to believe the escalating attacks on our soldiers by uniformed Afghani soldiers, who are supposed to be our allies, are due not to resentment over our conquest of their country, but due to our soldiers being a bunch of insensitive louts who are clueless about the delicate sensibilities and cultural differences of the people they are fighting beside.
A 75-page manual has been proposed, though not yet adopted, that would teach U.S. soldiers how to properly behave.
The manual suggests:
“Troops may experience social-cultural shock and/or discomfort when interacting with [Afghan security forces]. Better situational awareness/understanding of Afghan culture will help better prepare [coalition forces] to more effectively partner and to avoid cultural conflict that can lead towards green-on-blue violence.”
This sounds like an outgrowth from a May 2011 report with the unwieldy titled “A Crisis of Trust and Cultural Incompatibility: A Red Team Study of Mutual Perceptions of Afghan National Security Force Personnel and U.S. Soldiers in Understanding and Mitigating the Phenomena of ANSF(Afghan National Security Forces)-Committed Fratricide-Murders,” in which Afghani allies “often complained of the widespread cultural insensitivity and ignorance of U.S. Soldiers. They found many of them to be extremely arrogant, rude, bullying and prone to using profanities.”
As a result our soldiers are being told, lest they risk being shot, to avoid “taboo conversation topics”:
— Anything related to Islam.
— Mention of any other religion and/or spirituality.
— Debating the war.
— Making derogatory comments about the Taliban.
— Advocating women’s rights and equality.
— Mentioning homosexuality.
It’s also probably not a great idea to criticize stoning to death rape victims, child brides (pedophilia), beheadings and amputation as criminal punishment.
What would you suggest we do?
If I was an Afghan, I might understand why the U.S. invaded, but I might be getting a little perturbed that they’re still in Afghanistan 11 years later. That’s about a quarter of their lifespan. We violated Colin Powell’s guidelines for fighting a war and are paying for it as are the Afghans.
It’s always good training to avoid angering your allies, but the perpetrators are almost certainly enemy infiltrators.
With the fall of the Soviet Union the policing of that old empire fell on this one remaining empire, this actual Democracy. The USA.
“Actual democracy” wasn’t the plan of the founders and Colin Powell’s “guidelines” were predictions, not policy. I have a suggestion for nyp10025 but it’s overused, John Boehner used it and so did Dick Cheney, who am I to repeat a term used by two such august individuals?
Nyp is from the city, not upstate. That’s just how NYC people greet each other. I know cause I went to trainin’ in Rochester and one o’ the city folk kept apologizin’ to everyone for his inappropriate language. He was the instructor. I am told HR has continuing talks with him. I had to remind him I came from the town where George Carlin lived. We know all the words, are not bumpkins and also know when to use those words. Boehner used it at the most appropriate of times too.
“A Crisis of Trust and Cultural Incompatibility” wasn’t limited to ANSF’s criticisms of Americans. It also gave criticisms that Americans had of ANSF members.
Part of the conclusion of this document read: “ISAF’s emphasis on quantity over quality with regard to the ANSF’s buildup has been self-destructive. Such an approach has placed U.S. and other ISAF soldiers in profoundly difficult circumstances by having to train Afghans who are illiterate, unmotivated (with an annual attrition rate of 25% mostly due to desertion), often drug-addicted, very often come from the least desired segments of Afghan society, and are somewhat prone to turning on and murdering their Western trainers (ISAF host nations should be fully aware ofthe magnitude of the dangers their sons and daughters face when assigned to train, mentor and work with ANSF personnel). ISAF personnel are then expected to transform them into legitimate functional soldiers and policemen, all while having no authority to hold any of them accountable for their criminal behaviors and/or incompetence. ISAF soldiers engaged in training and ‘partnering’ must also work with deeply flawed Afghan institutions that are little more than organized crime syndicates and where accountability is almost unheard of. Dealing with such organizational cultures and operational working conditions and limitations cause great stress and exasperation for ISAF troops. Unless fundamental changes are made to ISAF’s ability to institute reform on profoundly dysfunctional Afghan governmental systems and key leaders, then any efforts in developing a legitimate, functional and trustworthy Afghan army and police force will continue to be futile.”
Obviously, ANSF isn’t going to change, the Afghan government isn’t going to change, nothing in Afghanistan is going to change. So all that’s left is to force the American military in Afghanistan to change, even though this will have no effect on the overall situation.
Fortunately, so far the commander in Afghanistan, USMC General Allen, has refused to endorse the proposed manual. It appears that his refusal to endorse the manual is what is holding up its release. The bad news is that General Allen is scheduled to depart Afghanistan soon, so we’ll have to wait and see what his successor (USMC General Dunford) thinks of the proposed manual.
(USMC General Dunford) thinks of the proposed (political) manual.
Very on topic. Check it out, nothing changes, history in photos.
http://englishrussia.com/2013/01/04/soviet-war-in-afghanistan-part-iii/#more-117012
I’d bomb the place back into the stone age.
Oops. Too late.
Pull the boys out, and let them kill each other. They’re good at it. 3000 years good. And they LIKE it.
I think the Russians finally figured that out, Milty. We’ve not yet.
Good point, Milty. Sounds like we were foolish to try. Either that or our approach was inadequate.
This is pure BS! Everyone knows it’s George Bush’s fault!