There has been a successful spring here. Part of it is because we changed direction from the last year. NATO is out mixing it up with the enemy more. Early in the year you would read reports about troops staying in their bases, and calling in artillery or air strikes on one or two insurgents they would see moving around outside the wire. That’s using a very inaccurate hammer to kill a gnat. Now you read about patrols dismounting and engaging the enemy and killing them by the dozens. I understand that it’s easy for me to say we need to be more aggressive, I’m sitting in the middle of the headquarters, but it does need be done for two reasons.

First is that getting out is the only way to really hurt the enemy. Take away their sense of security, and keep them looking over their shoulder for a patrol and it is that much harder for them to get organized, it also helps the locals to know that the cavalry may just arrive in time. Second reason is it helps our reputation. Afghans, especially Pustuns have a warrior culture. They don’t mind us using the heavy weapons as long as we mix it up man to man. Staying in the bases makes them view us as cowards. If they don’t respect you, then they don’t tip you off when the insurgents are in the area, or when someone buries and IED.

Now I’ve talked a lot about how much I like the Afghans I’ve met, and the other NATO folks I work with. However one thing I always keep in mind is that the last two US soldiers killed in Kabul were killed by an Afghan soldier who was actually a member of the Taliban. I’ve got three or four references from the staff for every guy I deal with at the bazaar, and I never go alone, but I don’t know enough about the society here to ever drop my guard. As the saying goes, I am polite, I am professional, and I have a plan to kill everyone I meet.

Not much to tell really, the Commander makes his decision tomorrow as to whether we stay or we go. Until then we are in a holding pattern.

These missives are a little stale - but still offer that window into the day to day life of being deployed in Afghanistan, from a staff officer's perspective.