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FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan – The Afghan national army and police have grown by leaps and bounds from their humble but determined origins more than six years ago to create an emerging force of capable, passionate troops ready and willing to destroy those who would oppress their fledgling democracy.
The Afghan government and military, along with U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces routinely meet and work in cooperation to develop new and effective ways to obliterate the enemy and earn the confidence and respect of the population.
One such meeting brought together the minds of some of the top leaders of the Ghazni province to discuss details of operations aimed at instilling trust of the government into the local residents.
Gov. Marijadeen Pataan, governor of the Ghazni province has a vision of what the province could be.
"Ghazni has a great potential for growth," he said. "Expanding cities by building roads, shopping centers and thousands of houses will make the province a great place."
Unfortunately, there are security issues, namely the presence of the Taliban and their shadow governments in certain areas, that must be dealt with in order for Pataan's vision to reach fruition.
Hence the meeting at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, bringing Pataan, Afghan national army and police generals and the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team and Task Force Fury together to hash out the details of an upcoming operation.
"We must remove shadow governments from Ghazni," said Col. Martin Schweitzer, commander, Task Force Fury, 4th BCT. "We have worked together to form a plan to separate the enemy from the population and allow the government to move freely throughout the area."
Schweitzer reminisced on past instances where he has personally seen local Afghans support their government after key leaders made the effort to get personally involved with their citizens.
However, the governor's part is but one piece of the puzzle.
Each organization is essential to the success of operations in Ghazni. The government must work with the people by attending Shuras (meetings of local elders). The ANA must lead operations, the ANP must have a strong local presence to ensure security and the U.S. and ISAF must be there for support, Schweitzer said.
"We are one muscle," he continued. "The U.S. will follow behind the ANA and ANP to plant the governmental seeds so the people have a choice."
Pataan, who alluded to his fighting against the soviets, reiterated the need for a permanent force to be present to deter any attempts by the Taliban to reoccupy areas that will be cleared during the upcoming events.
On top of the presence of ANA and ANP troops to secure the area following the operation, an element of U.S. Soldiers are being moved to Ghazni, Schweitzer said reassuringly.
The formation, and already successful employment, of an all-Afghan counterinsurgency force added to the depth of the mission allowing for the pursuit of high-value targets.
With multiple agencies at work to provide a secure future for Ghazni, Pataan is determined to make sure there is 'no chance' for the enemy to re-establish themselves in his province.
"This year will be a very bad year for the Taliban," Pataan said grinningly.
"This year has already been a bad year for the Taliban," Schweitzer was quick to respond referencing off the top of his head numerous failed attempts by the enemy to cause destruction and casualties.
But he was swift to note he did not expect this operation to be a triumph over all the Taliban in Ghazni.
"I'm not going to pretend this mission will declare victory," he said. "But it will buy time for the government to establish a presence in the area."
Schweitzer compared what he saw of Afghan forces in 2002 to what he sees now and is certain the ANA and ANP possess the passion and dedication to sacrifice whatever they must to provide a secure future.
One of the biggest reasons for the overwhelming level of confidence Schweitzer has in the success of the upcoming operation is the organization of the plan.
"It is an Afghan solution to an Afghan problem," he explained, noting the plan was the brainchild of an Afghan general, not a U.S. commander.
As the meeting ended, Pataan somberly thanked Schweitzer for his help and issued his confidence in the ANA and ANP taking the lead role in this operation.
"I do not want to see a single American killed on our fields," he said. "We will use our own guys and I know we will have the upper hand.
"The Taliban kills teachers and burns schools," he continued. "They are not only the enemy of us, they are the enemy of civilization."
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.05.2007 10:03 |
| Story ID: | 11133 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, AF |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 283 |
This work, Fury Commander, Afghan Governer, Police, Army Work Together to Unite Afghanistan, by SGT Matthew Clifton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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