[NYTr] After 6 Years... Afghan Army Allegedly Executes 1st "Big Op"

Tue Jul 3 15:50:32 EDT 2007

AP via Yahoo - Jul 3, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070703/ap_on_re_as/afghan_army_operation

Afghan army executes first big operation

By JASON STRAZIUSO, 
Associated Press Writer

Two Black Hawk helicopters swooped down into the makeshift base in the
middle of a Taliban hotbed, and U.S. soldiers snapped salutes to the
mission's top general — an Afghan, not an American.

Afghan officers, with a big assist from U.S. counterparts, planned and
executed their first major operation as part of a monthlong offensive,
taking a key step forward in the U.S. effort to build up Afghanistan's
army so it can secure the country on its own and let foreign troops
leave.

Operation Maiwand, which officially ended Tuesday, did not see heavy
fighting. But Afghan and U.S. soldiers held some of their first
meetings with tribal elders and opened schools and markets in Andar
district, which is a Taliban stronghold in the southern province of
Ghazni.

About 800 Afghan soldiers, 400 American soldiers and 200 Afghan
policemen took part in the operation. Afghan soldiers raided houses of
suspected militants, something U.S. troops can't do without a cultural
uproar.

"We bring a lot of skills to the table and they have a lot of expertise
on the human terrain, the people, and when you put that together it's a
powerful combination," said Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of
U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Col. Martin P. Schweitzer, the lead American officer during Operation
Maiwand, said the Afghan army would take even greater control of
operations in the next several months and that U.S. soldiers were
training their way out of a job.

But he cautioned: "I do not want you to think this operation is totally
theirs, though. If we unplugged, it wouldn't work."

The Afghan army does not yet have a reliable air force. Its medical
units are subpar, and it can't make sure its soldiers down the line get
food or fuel.

But the army is growing in size and respectability. Its intelligence
units are strong, and some of its soldiers look well trained and
unafraid to fight. An added bonus: Taliban fighters have a hard time
blending in with villagers when Afghan soldiers work alongside U.S.
forces.

The Afghan army says it has 50,000 soldiers. Lt. Col. David Johnson, a
spokesman for the U.S. units responsible for training the Afghans, says
35,400 are on duty and 10,000 more are in training.

Gen. Abdul Khaliq, the Afghan commander for Operation Maiwand, said the
mission taught his staff techniques needed for effective command and
control of troops in the field.

"It is the first step, but I hope we continue these sort of
operations," he said in fluent English. "The ANA (Afghan National Army)
is newly established and we're going to progress with the help of the
U.S. government."

When Khaliq walked into the command center, American soldiers saluted
and addressed him as "sir." Before taking any action, they directed
comments to the commander with phrases like "With your permission, Gen.
Khaliq, we will ... ."

Battle briefings were given first in Dari, the dominant Afghan
language, then in English. Afghan officers nervously studied computer
screens showing troop positions and recent attacks before briefing the
group.

Schweitzer said the Afghans and Americans shared responsibilities in
intelligence and logistics for this operation, but said the Afghan army
would increasingly take over more of those duties.

"We're not going to defeat the Taliban. (Afghan forces) are going to
defeat the Taliban," he said.

Later, an Afghan convoy, escorted by two U.S. Humvees, pulled into
Sultan Bagh, a village of mud-brick homes. Dozens of children and
Afghan men soon surrounded the soldiers, who passed out soap, clothes
and medical supplies. Afghan soldiers stood guard on rooftops and in
alleys.

"They're good at combat operations. They just need help with
logistics," said Capt. Brian Hayes, 42, of Hanover, Mass., who is
helping train Afghan soldiers. "We don't have to tell them what to do.
As you can see they immediately put out a security perimeter."

Afghan police are a different story.

American officers said policemen will sometimes "borrow" food or goods
from village markets and not pay the shop owners back. The police are
also known to shake down civilians for money.

"The people fear the police more than they do the Taliban, and until we
can get that fixed it's going to be a long road," said Capt. Erin
Weaver, 35, of Canton, Ill.

Back in the operations center, Afghan Col. Yar Mohammad Sayed, 57,
studied computer screens displaying troops positions. He's only
recently learned how to use computers.

"We need these things, so I've been studying them," he said. "When
America or NATO leaves Afghanistan, I will be in this position. It's
very important to see what things we need."