Title: A New Direction: $11.8 Billion
1 Global Security and Afghanistan The Crossroad
of Civilizations and Invasions Ambassador Said
T. Jawad Queen Victoria 2008 Maiden World Cruise
April 2008
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7Overview
- NATO Summit in Bucharest
- Land and People
- Security Situation
- Escalation of Violence
- Who are the Taliban?
- Profile of a Suicide Bomber
- Our Strategy
- Building Afghanistans Security Forces
- Problem of Narcotics
- Regional Instability
- A Dangerous Neighborhood
- Global Security
- International Cooperation
- Role of NATO
- Challenges of Coordination
- Public Opinion in Afghanistan
8Land and People
- Area 647,500 sq. km. (France)
- Population 26 mil
- 5000 years of history
- Strategic location
- Crossroad of civilizations and invasions
- Mosaic of cultures
- Original Front The Cold War and the War on Terror
9Security Situation
10Escalation of Terrorist Attacks
11Escalation of Terrorist Attacks
12Escalation of Violence in 2007
- 160 suicide attacks
- 30 increase in terrorist attacks Civilians
are the prime target - 566 security incidents per month vs. 425 average
in 2006 - 8,000 conflict related deaths (7500 civilians)
- Attacks on Schools 133
- 384 of the total 721 schools in the southern
provinces are closed - Attacks on Soft Targets
- Over 130 attacks against humanitarian programs,
40 aid workers killed, 89 abducted - Sophisticated and more lethal attacks
- IEDs, VBIEDs, EFPs
- Al Qaeda influence and modus operandi
135, 700 civilian victims of conflict
Source Cordesman, Anthony. The
Afghan-Pakistan WarA Status Report CSIS
12.04.2007
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15Where are we?
- Tipping point or Turning point?
- Historic accomplishments risk being overshadowed
- 6 years after the start of Operation Enduring
Freedom - Afghans do not feel safe
- Lack resources to provide protection to our
people - Shortage of national and international troops,
equipment and resources - Limited respect for Afghan priorities and plans
- Lack of coordination and proper sequencing
- Our partners talk about coordination, but no one
wants to be coordinated - Erosion of Patience (10 in extreme poverty)
- The good will of the Afghan people is our most
important asset.
16Who is Responsible?
- Taliban
- Are the Taliban an alternative?
- Terrorize population into submission
- Xenophobic terrorists with a history of
oppression - No political vision
- No charismatic leaders or ideological coherence
- Aim to derail reconstruction
- Capitalize on public frustration
- Foreign ideological, financial and logistical
support - Links to Al Qaeda The Commander and the Foot
Soldiers - Al Qaeda
- IEDs, EFPs and Suicide Bombs
- Propaganda Media, DVDs, recruitment websites
- Criminals, Warlords and spoilers
- Narco-Traffickers
17Profile of a Suicide Bomber
- 1st wave Foreigners
- 2nd wave Local
- Who are the new recruits?
- Few hardcore Jihadis
- Taliban and Al Qaeda capitalizing on Ignorance,
Poverty and Physical Handicaps - Radical madrassa networks are brainwashing young
people
18Our Strategy for Fighting Terror
- Fighting terrorism as a phenomenon,
- not just terrorists as individuals.
- CLEAR
- Large scale, periodic military operations
- Prevent Collateral Damage and Harm to Civilians
- HOLD
- NATO/ANA and ANP sequencing - do not abandon
people - Deliver services Court System, Police, Schools,
Clinics - BUILD
- No security without development
- Nati0nal ownership Afghan face, not Afghan pace
- Demand driven reconstruction in support of our
National Strategy not prescriptive aid and pet
projects
19Our Strategy Training Afghan Security Forces
- Success of Afghan National Army
- 48,000 troops Target 80,000
- Professional Training
- National Military Academy established modeled on
West Point - 300 graduates per year - Challenges of Afghan National Police
- 21 countries are helping
- Low level of accomplishment
- Challenges
20Global Security NATO
- NATO Summit in Romania
- 44,000 troops from 26 NATO countries, including
18,500 U.S. soldiers - 38 countries are putting troops and their
credibility on the line - 41 countries are training the ANA
- 60 countries are providing reconstruction
resources
21Global Security
- International Consensus
- ISAF 26 NATO members plus 11 partner nations
- Challenge of coordination, troops and equipment
- Need unity of effort, joint priorities and agreed
sequencing - Shortage of Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams
(OMLTs) - Challenges of NATO transformation to meet a new
threat - National caveats 102 as of October 2007
- We have not fully been able to live up to the
promises. - NATO Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer,
October 2007
22International Consensus26 Provincial
Reconstruction Teams from 13 countries
23Challenges in Striking Back
- Perceptions
- Public confidence in government is eroding
- Corruption
- Government is still large and interfering rather
than efficient and enabling - Police reform The battle for public opinion
- Solution
- Build the capacity of the Afghan Government to
deliver - Anti-corruption strategy, Justice Sector,
Salaries - Balancing tribal leaders with good managers
- Expand pockets of competence within Government
- Channel more funding through Government and Trust
Funds
24Challenges of Striking Back
- Fatal Error of Civilian Casualties
- Civilian casualties are unacceptable to the
Afghan government and people - Not only a fatal tragedy, but a strategic misstep
- Fuels enemy propaganda
- Use of human shields by terrorists
- Solution
- Improve quality of ground troops
- Surgical Operations Precision and human
intelligence - Rapid-Response units that can deal with
emergencies More international special forces - Rebuild Afghan air force
- The power of a quick apology - Jalalabad
25Challenges of Striking BackFatal Error of
Civilian Casualties
Source Cordesman, Anthony. The
Afghan-Pakistan WarA Status Report CSIS
12.04.2007
26Regional PowersA Dangerous Neighborhood
27Regional Powers A Volatile Region
- Far from Heaven
- Good partner in a strategic region
- Ring Road will turn Afghanistan into a roundabout
for the region - Relation with Pakistan
- Better than it sounds Mark Twain
- Elections in Pakistan A Step Forward
- Trade with Pakistan 500 increase
- New opportunities vs. old phobias and designs
- Central Asia
- Under-utilized potential of cooperation
- Iran Still constructive?
- India and China
- Our policy of seeking regional cooperation
28Measuring Progress
29Transition to Pluralism
- Tyranny that ruled through fear
- Absence of women from political and public life
- Devastated economy
- Largest refugee population in world
- No formal banking system
- School enrollment 900,000
- 8 of population has access to basic health care
- Few modern roads
- Repressive political climate,
- Elected President, Elected Parliament,
Progressive Constitution - 74 Women Elected to the Afghan Legislature
- Economy is Booming Continuous double digit
Economic Growth - 4.7 million refugees have returned home
- Independent Central Bank with 32 Branches
- School Enrollment 6 million
- 65-80 has access to health care
- 10,000 km of new roads
- Vibrant Political Process, hundreds of
publications and radio stations, 6 independent TV
stations
30Why is it important to stay engaged?
- Historic Lesson Being in Afghanistan is
Dangerous Not being in Afghanistan is more
Dangerous - Investing in Afghanistan is a down payment for
regional stability and tied to global security. - NATO International credibility on the line
- Afghanistan should not remain the most
under-resourced nation-building operation of the
postwar era - Need Marshall Plan and strategic commitment
- South Korea as a model
31What Can You Do?
- Learn more about Afghans
- Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns
- Buy Afghan products and give your home a touch of
Afghanistan - Rugs, Handicrafts
- People-to-People Diplomacy
- Help Educate the Next Generation of Afghan
Leaders - Travel See Afghanistan with your own eyes
- Help Heal the Wounds of War Doctors needed for
volunteer work - Celebrate Afghan Culture
- Hidden Treasures on tour in Europe and USA
32Grateful for your Support
- Your sons and daughters are fighting for global
security - The good will of the Afghan people is an asset
- Public Opinion in Afghanistan
- 90 of Afghans support the Afghan National Army
- President Karzais approval rating is 63
(compare against other world leaders) - 70 hold favorable views of the US military
- Afghans prefer current government to the Taliban
by 84-4 - December 2007 ABC/BBC Poll
- and October 2007 Asia Foundation Poll
33Thank You
- www.embassyofafghanistan.org