I read something you wrote today – it hit a chord with me and I would like to share something with you that I don’t want to post…if you could send a work email or whatever to spartan16@hotmail.com I will contact you.

Passion…everything that is great…is in one way or another tied up in passion. It is the difference between good and great.

I enjoyed reading your article on-line today!

STRENGTH AND HONOR

Jim

Thanks for posting on the blog.

I thought I had made it very clear that “tribal engagement” in any form would not be a “cookie cutter” event. What works with one tribe may not work with another. I will take that one step further and say, just because it worked yesterday with tribe X doesn’t mean it will work today. There will be cases where the success of the TET is completly related to how well the team leader and the tribal chief can get a true relationship. In other words TET #1 may fail at tribe a but TET#2 may come in and be extremely successful.

Also as I point out in my paper, “warlordism” is a problem…however, we need to be careful about using that word with every individual who has power and guns that we don’t like. Is the person an “environmentally induced leader” in other words someone who is filling a vacuum for some service or need, for instance – security.

There is corruption everywhere, but once again…define that for me. Define that for Malik Noorafzhal. Define that for President Karzai. Define that for Mullah Omar. I will agree that it is extremely difficult at this point to try and tie very much into the central government, however, it is being done with varying levels of success throughout Afghanistan right now. I have also recently read that “we” are going to take more steps to ensure corruption is not taking place…I don’t know what that means…

We have very smart, savvy people out on the ground right now who we can trust to work this…and determine “who is who”…in the difficult environment that is Afghanistan. Because remember – it’s always about relationships

Thanks again for posting.

STRENGTH AND HONOR

Jim Gant

He assumes that the old tribal structures exist the same throughout Afghanistan. Unfortunately, they do not. There are several areas where the local strongmen (or warlord/commander – whatever you want to call them), instead of the tribal hierarchy exist. This type of one on one engagement is impossible with the strongmen. In many districts, the issue is with the local strongmen and not really the Taliban/Al Qaeda. The locals cooperate with the Taliban because they offer protection from the local strongman. Check out some of the reports by TLO, Asia Foundation’s recent survey and CAPs

We have this same problem with jirgas and shuras in the judicial sector. Jirgas and Shuras are not inherently bad but the problem is the corrupt actors within them who do not want justice.

This is the same with engaging or re-arming tribes. Most of the corrupt actors were not disarmed in the first place and have little inclination or incentive to assist in stabilization activities. Giving them more power, access to guns and authority will not make these strongmen (or their followers) more helpful or willing to assist in stabilization.

I think this may be a good idea in some places but am concerned that the U.S. Government and allied forces do not understand that this project cannot be applied everywhere. The lack of involvement of credible and just local counterparts are integral to the success of these types of projects.

I’ve seen numerous instances of good projects being manipulated by smart local counterparts who really just want to use the authority (gained from being allied with the westerners) to get bribes and make themselves stronger.

I speak as one without the military experience but one who has significant on the ground experience in Afghanistan (and as an Afghan-American).

I wanted to know if you have worked with CJSOTF-A on the CDI/TES at all. Also, does the small CDI meet your vision of how the TES will be implemented early on?

Regards,
Andy

I am currently in transit…I am going to answer your post in detail…but for now, know this: It is all about relationships…Seek first to understand and then to be understood…Yes, it is true that sometimes in our (the military) world, it is a gun that determines the outcome. However, when we begin to truly analyze what is happening and why…sometimes, the answer is far removed from what we believe it to be. There are a lot of bad people in this world who need killing. There are just as many who need to be listened to and understood. And for the record, that is not an easy thing to do.

I will answer you in more detail soon.

Thank you for your post and kind words…

STRENGTH AND HONOR

Jim Gant

Until your book and now reading this blog, I have always felt hopeless about anything to do with the middle east conflicts, – Afghanistan in particular as Canada has some role there. I am one of the masses who shrugs off that part of the news as too removed from me. However, you changed that with your publication. I now actually listen with great interest to that part of the news when Afghanistan is mentioned.

Your perspective is encouraging as it appeals to my belief in an interconnected world, a world view that ours is not the only way; and that through a mutual respect for each others cultures integrated in our actions, we all benefit. It’s so easy to have that philosophy but another to live it within the container of a western approach. To carry this most integral perspective of ‘One Tribe At A Time’ and balancing it with the culture and values of the west and it military approaches is most heroic of you. You have given me a way to be interested in, care about and understand what is going on and I thank you. My hope is that like me, the masses catch on to your ideas, and our collective thinking helps all of us ‘over there’ accomplish peaceful outcomes.

With appreciation

Carolyn Winter