Moral Side

Mainstream Media Bias in Reporting Combat Fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan

I keep track of the combat fatality reports for Iraq and Afghanistan.  I do so because I care about the young men and women who serve in these countries.  I support them, and I support the mission.

Do you remember when President Bush was commander-in-chief?  The mainstream media was constantly - even daily - reporting the combat fatalities (KIA) in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I supported this reporting that was usually done appropriately.

The political agenda and motivation of the mainstream media, however, is revealed in how the reporting of KIA in SWA (Killed-in-Action in Soutwest Asia) has stopped since President Obama has taken office.  The effort of the media, of course, was to undermine the Presidency of Mr. Bush - not to honor those who have served and died.

The effort of the press now seems to be to "cover up" anything that would discredit Mr. Obama in the eyes of his primary supporters.

I support the mission and I mourn the deaths.

Look at the numbers and decide for yourself.  My source is iCasualties.org.

When President Bush was Commander-in-Chief:  US KIA in Iraq = 4221 (2003-2008).  During the years that President Obama was Commander-in-Chief:  US KIA in Iraq = 164 (2009- Feb 2011).

When President Bush was Commander-in-Chief:  US KIA in Afghanistan = 630 (2001-2008).  During the years that President Obama was Commander-in-Chief:  US KIA in Afghanistan = 861 (2009- Feb 2011).

Where is the mainstream media? 

Coalition Fatalities in Iraq through February 2011

Year	US	UK	Other	Total
2003	486	53	41	580
2004	849	22	35	906
2005	846	23	28	897
2006	822	29	21	872
2007	904	47	10	961
2008	314	4	4	322
2009	149	1	0	150
2010	60	0	0	60
2011	9	0	0	9
Total	4439	179	139	4757

Coalition Fatalities in Afghanistan through February 2011

Year	US	UK	Other	Total
2001	12	0	0	12
2002	49	3	18	70
2003	48	0	10	58
2004	52	1	7	60
2005	99	1	31	131
2006	98	39	54	191
2007	117	42	73	232
2008	155	51	89	295
2009	317	108	96	521
2010	499	103	109	711
2011	45	10	16	71
Total	1491	358	503	2352

Doctors Save Afghan Child in Ghazni

Artur Weber
ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 4, 2010) –– Polish and American doctors from Task Force White Eagle saved the life of an 8-year-old Afghan girl wounded when insurgents attacked Afghan security guards in the south of Ghazni province Tuesday.

The girl’s brother took her to Forward Operating Base Warrior seeking medical care. According to the brother, she was injured when insurgents attacked a civilian convoy.

Polish medics from FOB Warrior first delivered medical care, but it soon became necessary to transport the child by helicopter to FOB Ghazni's field hospital to perform surgery. 

“As a result of wounds to her abdomen she required surgery on her intestines. Further, one bullet lodged in her sacrum bone,” said Dr. (Maj.) Robert Brzozowski, head of the field surgical team. 

Polish surgeons, assisted by an American anesthesiologist, operated for two-hours.

“The doctors managed to safely remove the bullet from girl’s body,” said Brzozowski. The operation was a success and shortly afterward the girl was transported to a provincial hospital in Ghazni City.

Manas Airmen Deliver $10k in Aid to Maevka Villagers

Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
376th Air Expeditionary Wing

Konstantin Aleksanrovich Kucherov, deputy director of potable water supply for Maevka Village, Kyrgyzstan (left), thanks Maj. Shane Hamacher, the humanitarian assistance director for the Transit Center at Manas, for ,000 worth of household goods Airmen purchased on the local economy June 7.

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan  (June 9, 2010) — Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, donated $10,000 worth of household goods purchased off the local economy June 7, 2010, to families of Maevka Village whose homes were damaged or destroyed during the revolution here April 7, 2010.

Among the items were staples like flour, pasta, and oil; bedding including sheets and blankets; children's clothing; and kitchen items like plates, silverware, and cookware.

"American people were not able to stay on the sidelines and watch the tragedy in this land, without helping the people who lost their homes," said Maj. Shane Hamacher, the humanitarian assistance director for the Transit Center.

Some homes were destroyed completely during the attack, he said. A few members were left without any homestead or any goods.

"We hope to provide help to you which in the future will ensure your success, make your life a little bit easier, and hopefully provide a little bit of comfort in your daily lives," the major said. "We really hope the events you had to live through will never happen here again. We wish on the people here and the people of Kyrgyzstan peace, order and wealth. We're all neighbors."

The villagers were extremely appreciative of the costly aid the Americans delivered.
"We feel like we are not alone; we feel like everyone feels our pain," said Konstantin Aleksanrovich Kucherov, deputy director of potable water supply for the village of 7,000. "We wish the United States to blossom, and we wish you all the best. To Kyrgyzstan right now, the most important thing is peace - peace and friendship."

About 13 homes were destroyed completely, and 21 were affected in some way by the rioting, looting, burning, and unrest during the government unrest, he said.

"This will help us a lot. Now we have blankets, now we have things to cover ourselves with. The Red Cross brought some mattresses, and now we have some glass to put in the windows," the deputy director said. "Every bit helps."

Marines Make Most of Life at FOB Edinburgh

Cpl. Ryan Rholes
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

 Sgt. Christopher Schaefer, a heavy equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, takes a break from searching gravel trucks here, June 17, to joke with the interpreter working with the unit. Schaefer controlled the entry control point, directing four Marines and making sure the right amount of trucks arrived at the base. Schaefer and his Marines searched more than 100 vehicles throughout the day.

(June 21, 2010) — Life here is austere and Spartan at best. Howling winds coat everything with a talcum-like dust, there are few escapes from the searing heat, electricity is scarce, hot meals are a rarity yet the morale is probably the highest I have seen in southern Afghanistan.

Albeit a rough place to live and nestled in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country – Edinburgh is a haven for the warriors of Marine Wing Support Squadron 274. Salaam Bazaar, Musa Qal'eh, and Now Zad ring the small forward operating base and Taliban strongholds are visible on the imposing mountains looming just a few miles from the base.

The support squadron, from Cherry Point, N.C., assumed responsibility for the FOB from the U.K. a few months ago and has since transformed the small compound into a functional and somewhat comfortable living space. The squadron introduced electricity provided by gas-fueled generators, set up laundry services, established a chow hall where Marines can eat two hot meals a day, built showers and began purifying water.

The squadron also expanded the borders of the small FOB, pushing the berm out hundreds of meters to accommodate an influx of Marines and to clear the way for its main project – an assault landing strip capable of hosting medical evacuation helicopters, assault support helicopters and attack helicopters. In addition to the assault strip, MWSS-274 has installed forward area refueling points capable of hot and cold refuels for all types of helicopters, including those used by other coalition forces.

Yet, even with these “amenities” and more than 200 inhabitants the base is quiet during the day, the silence occasionally split by an exploding improvised exploding device or the artillery battery here executing a fire mission. At night the place is almost serene. The view of the stars is entrancing and most nights you can find dozens of Marines sitting or laying outside star gazing, using one of the few satellite phones to make over-due calls to their families. The lack of light and the base’s seclusion provide a crisp, clear picture of the constellations.

The Marines and sailors have to use satellite phones because the other lines of communication on the FOB are somewhat unreliable. Although the morale center is receiving an upgrade that will allow Marines internet access, the only lines home now are two DSN phones in small, cage-like structures. But most of the Marines don't care-they talk to their families when they can and spend the rest of their time with their peers. The added element of seclusion bolsters the already strong camaraderie.

Mail for these warriors comes once a month if they are lucky. Convoys roll in with hundreds of packages that working parties separate into about a dozen different bins. Marines dig eagerly through the piles and often stagger off with their arms full of long-awaited packages. Sometimes they leave disappointed and empty-handed, but care packages here are often opened and left out so every Marine can take what they need. There is no hoarding or concept of excess here; the Marines share openly and willingly.

Every Marine on the FOB is expected to man guard posts or run entry control points in addition to their daily duties, which places many of the aviation Marines in unfamiliar roles. They trade their wrenches, cranials and heavy equipment for flares, night vision goggles and crew-served weapons to stand four-hour shifts at one of the crude security posts ringing the FOB. Although the base is not regularly attacked, there are constant signs that the Taliban is watching Edinburgh. Explosive ordnance technicians routinely dispose of IEDs placed within a few hundred yards of the FOB's perimeter.

The cooks aboard Edinburgh serve hot breakfast and dinner – lunch is always an MRE – dishing out about 400 meals every day. Although the food is heat-and-serve, it provides a great relief from the constant flow of MREs that were the main source of sustenance until about a month ago. The menus do not vary widely, but most of the Marines are thankful for hot food and a chance to relax in the air-conditioned dining tent, lit by plug-in lights hanging from the tent braces.

Supplies are scarce aboard the base. What Marines don't get from home in care packages they can purchase from a traveling post exchange that visits the FOB about every six weeks. It's like a holiday when the trucks arrive, laden with supplies. A line of dozens of Marines stretches away from the truck as shoppers scavenge the aisles for hygiene gear, energy drinks and tobacco. It usually takes several hours to get through the line.

Edinburgh is on the opposite end of the spectrum than sprawling combat metropolises like Kandahar Air Field. The life service members live at larger installations is vastly different than that aboard this barebones FOB. But the Marines here explained that comfort is relative; they feel they live a lavish life compared to their brothers sleeping in fighting holes outside the wire. These Marines love their little oasis, and most don't want to leave. Sacrificing running water, electricity, real food, sewage systems and other amenities is worth it to them if they can bring support a little closer to the fight.

Marines Volunteer at Afghan School

Sgt. Mark Fayloga

 

Wali Muhammad and other Afghan boys call out the letter their teacher points to during class at the Forward Operating Base Geronimo schoolhouse in Afghanistan, July 8. Most of the kids who attend school are younger than the current war. The children are taught by Marine, Navy and Afghan volunteers. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga)

OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan —Wali Muhammad doesn’t want to be a farmer.

This is a recent revelation for the eight-year-old Afghan boy. Wali’s father wished this for his son much earlier, which is why months ago he began ordering him to “go to school and learn something.”

At first Wali didn’t like it. The school is more than a mile away from where he lives in Helmand province. It’s not so bad in the morning, but in the afternoon the walk back home can occur in triple-digit heat. It could be worse though, some of the other kids travel from twice as far away.

Now Wali looks forward to school. Studying and learning are his favorite parts. He calls it school, all the kids do, but a more accurate description would be class. It’s only 90 minutes long, three days a week, but the children call it school because the volunteer-led program at Forward Operating Base Geronimo is the closest most of them have ever come to a formal education.

Some days as many as a dozen or more children join Wali on the walk to school. Other days as few as three walk with him. Wali almost never misses.

School doesn’t start until 10:30 in the morning, but the kids always show up early. They find shade where they can and wait for the teachers to arrive.

Excitement begins to creep up on Cpl. Mary Warren the nights before school. The 22-year-old water support technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 is stationed at Geronimo as support. She’s responsible for the base’s water and says the job is important, but not difficult. She spends most of her free time volunteering at the school. When she’s not teaching, she’s preparing lesson plans or organizing the many donations the school has received since her sergeant major and chaplain have begun helping support her efforts.

When Warren wakes up on school days her excitement has only grown from the night before. She does what she can to make time pass as quickly as possible until she can begin the walk toward the schoolhouse, which is no more than a few hundred yards outside of the base’s front gate.

As Warren makes her way down the dirt road tiny heads begin poking out of the shade and the kids run to meet her and the other teachers at the school’s entrance. It’s not clear who’s more excited.

“Seeing them makes my week,” said Warren, from Chicago Heights, Ill.

The children line up and welcome the teachers and the security detail, Marines from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, with handshakes and ask at least twice, “How are you?” The greeting is more a proud display of English skills than an inquiry.

After the security detail sweeps the schoolhouse the students and teachers file in. Two classes take place in the school, one for adults and one for children. There is a local national day laborer program at the base and as part of the program the men must attend school.

Chief Petty Officer Tyrek Alanos teaches the adult class. When he first started teaching in the last week of May, the children and adults were taught together. Splitting the students up made more sense. The children learn the basics — ABCs and 123s. Alanos teaches the adults more practical English, things they can use in conversation with coalition forces. Many of the adults say they enjoy the class and learning is helping them, but nobody is there who isn’t required to be.

With the exception of one or two kids whose parents make them go, the children are at school because they want to be.

When Warren teaches, she speaks about half English and half Pashtu. When she first started teaching she didn’t know any Pashtu. Now she feels comfortable enough to lead the class without an interpreter if need be, thanks to Waheed Mohammed.

Waheed, like Warren and Alanos, is a volunteer at the schoolhouse. He works with Information Operations on base as a radio DJ. The 28-year-old claims Philadelphia as his hometown, but he was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

When Waheed was four his family sent him to America because he said, “there was war all over.” His mother wanted him to get an education in America. Waheed lived with his uncles and went on to become a citizen and start a family.

When Waheed first heard about the schoolhouse he knew he wanted to be involved. Education played a huge role in changing his life and he thinks it’s important to his home country.

“Afghanistan will only change with education, not with a weapon,” Waheed said. “If it was going to change with a weapon, 30 years would have changed it.”

Every night Waheed teaches Pashtu to Warren and Alanos. They’re all volunteers. None of them need to teach at the school, yet they all feel compelled to. Since they’ve started teaching together they worked to make school happen three days a week as opposed to two. The kids began to retain the information easier after that. They hope to make school five days a week and maybe get actual teachers, but for now they’re doing as much as they can.

Alanos wants his students to be able to speak with and understand the Marines they work with. Waheed and Warren want the kids to realize the power of knowledge.

“I just want them to understand the importance of school, of education period,” Warren said. “I want them to be able to read and count so they don’t get cheated in life.”

Waheed has already seen a shift by some parents.

“They’re realizing there’s supposed to be school in a kid’s life,” Waheed said.

And the children’s attitudes have changed as well. Many would show up at first for the free stuff — pens, notebooks, snacks … But now students like Wali proudly rattle off half the alphabet and count to 13 with vigor before skipping ahead to 19.

Waheed is realistic with his goals. He said he sees a lot of potential in the kids and they’re quickly memorizing the alphabet, but they still don’t know what the letters are used for. He will be happy if the children remember that they enjoyed school and learning, and when they have children of their own they put an emphasis on education.

“It can change, but not overnight,” he said.

He’s having an impact already. When Waheed asks Wali what he wants to be when he grows up the young boy looks at him with wide eyes and without hesitation answers him.

“I want to be a teacher like you.”

The Downstream Media Reading from the Same Cue Card - or - Why We Need FOX News

Media reaction to President Obama's nomination of General Petraeus seem oddly similar.  Just remember, when General Petraeus served under President Bush, he was called General Betray Us.

President Obama Accepts General McChrystal's Resignation

President Barak Obama has accepted the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force and the Commander of United States Forces - Afghanistan.  I support the President's acceptance of the general's resignation.  It appears that not only has General McChrystal lost the President's confidence and trust, but that the general no longer confident of the American political and diplomatic leadership in Afghanistan.  The relationship is irreparable.  Again, I support the President's acceptance of the General's resignation.

In his public announcement the President was gracious to the general.  His brief public statement appropriately recognized General McChrystal's contributions to our country.  The statement also properly exerted the President's authority as Commander-in-Chief of the military.  President Obama is responsible for the conduct of the war.

The President's statement was the best speech of his presidency.  He restated his commitment to success in Afghanistan and the defeat of terrorism.  He did not mention a time line.  He was commanding and in command.

My support for the President's decision does not mean that I agree with the manner in which he has provided leadership in the war in Afghanistan to this point.  General McChrystal was his choice for this command.  The President's disengagement from the war and his lack of military experience - both in his own past and in closest advisers - has created a context in which the senior military and diplomatic/political leadership are in conflict.  The President should use this opportunity to address the friction between the two "camps" and get the right civilian leadership in Afghanistan.

President Obama relieved General David McKiernan and replaced him with General McChyrstal.  With the President's replacement of General McChrystal with General David Petraeus once again brings together the successful team (Secretary Robert Gates and General Petraeus) that President Bush tasked with the successful prosecution of the war in Iraq.

I agree with and support the President's appointment of General Petraeus.  I wonder if the President has taken a significant political risk.  After all, the general was mocked by the Left at General "Betray Us."

The change in commanders will provide an opportunity for an change in the Rules of Engagement on the battlefield.  The ROE has become a source of friction within the American military.

It is important that lessons be learned.  The President needs to become engaged in the prosecution of the war.  He must be the Commander-in-Chief more than just for a public statement.  He needs advisers with military experience.

I have read the article in Rolling Stone by Michael Hastings.  Mr. Hastings and Rolling Stone have an agenda.  They want to stop our involvement in Afghanistan.  It was a serious blunder allowing Mr. Hastings and the magazine access to the general and his staff.

It is obvious that Mr. Hastings has very little experience with the military.  For example, he writes that General McChrystal in his career "became a regimental commander of the 3rd Ranger Battalion."  This statement is factually impossible.

More importantly, though, Mr. Hastings has little understanding of military culture.  There are times when soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines gripe about their superiors.  This griping is done in a cone of privacy and never effects the loyalty to the mission or the superior.  General McChrystal's mistake was in being present in gripe sessions with subordinates, allowing his subordinates to hear him gripe, and allowing a reporter who did not understand the military culture to record and report his and his staff's observations.

What did Mr. Hastings report that General McChrystal himself said?

• McChrystal observed that President Obama looked "uncomfortable and intimidated" among high ranking military officers.
• General McChrystal confessed that he found the President's three month review of the war in Afghanistan "painful."

If these statements are the cause of the general's resignation, then the President is too thin-skinned to be a Commander-in-Chief.

We need to move forward.  We need the President to be engaged.  We need a President who will lead.

Marines Provide Care to Villagers in Naw Abad, Afghanistan

by Lance Cpl. Megan Sindelar, I MEF

NAW ABAD, Afghanistan (May 19, 2010) — Marines and medical officers from Brigade Headquarters Group and 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) and an Afghan national army medic from Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, set up a village medical outreach, May 15, outside the village of Naw Abad, to provide medical care to the people of that area.  The Marines and Sailors set up a medical tent and aided over 35 men and children who traveled from their homes down to the medical site.

Lt. Cmdr. Aaron R. Huber, 3rd LAAD Bn. medical officer said his team provided excellent health care and worked to their limits.  Huber, from Southaven, Miss., also said most illnesses were acute and were treated by the medical staff.  Locals were also given a short class on preventative medicine to encourage district well-being.  Before the villagers left to return home, they were given hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and lotion to take back to their families. Solar powered radios were also handed out so the villagers would be able to listen to their local radio station for information on upcoming village medial outreaches.  The Naw Abad village men have little access to health care, but as the women very rarely leave their compounds, most of them have never seen a physician.

Navy Lt. Michelle M. Lynch, medical officer with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, took a female engagement team and traveled inside each compound to give the village women needed health care.  "They are kept away from mainstream culture," said Lynch. "Their needs are easily overlooked."

Lynch noticed a lack of nutrition of pregnant and breast-feeding women while she was out on the last VMO, so this time she was able to bring and pass out Carnation Instant Breakfast to the women when she visited to help keep them and their children healthy.  She was able to look at 17 women, 18 children and two men while she traveled the compounds. The FET entertained the children and interacted with the women while they were waiting to be treated.  Lynch and members of the FET handed out toys, hygiene items and lotion to the children before leaving each compound.

After completing the medical outreach, Marines and members of the ANA distributed corn seed and fertilizer throughout the district.  Huber said that distributing the corn seed and fertilizer shows the local people that the International Security Assistance Force has an interest in what they do.  ISAF plans to provide medical help around Helmand province and continues to build good relations with the people of Afghanistan.

Signs of Progress in Central Helmand Province of Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (May 19, 2010) – Three months after the launch of Operation Moshtarak, clear signs of progress are evident throughout central Helmand. "There are many positive indicators, especially in the areas of development and economic growth," said Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, Regional Command-South commander. "We have roads being built, district centers being reconstructed, and a lot of minor infrastructure projects under way." Governance and education Freedom of movement is key to delivering governance – in the form of traditional shuras as well as in health services, education and the judiciary. Since the first day of the operation, shuras called by provincial and district leaders have brought local elders together with government and combined force representatives to provide participants opportunities to raise concerns and discuss local matters. Election shuras were held in Chah Anjir, the Nad-e Ali district center and the Bolan "T" junction between April 26 and 28. Attendance at the shuras was approximately 1,200, 400 and more than 1,200, respectively, indicating local nationals felt secure enough to begin to engage with their government in large numbers. Nearly 500 squatters from the Bolan "T" turned out to ensure they are represented. An election shura was held in Nad-e Ali, May 11, to choose new members for the district community council. More than 600 elders elected 45 members to represent the district and said they were happy with the district’s new representation. Governance is taking root throughout the region. A growing number of key government positions are being filled in the districts of Marjah and Nad-e Ali. Additional administrative offices are being built and enhanced services are being offered to residents, including new health care clinics and schools. Improvements in education have been seen in central Helmand with the opening of new schools and the hiring of new teachers. The first schools, held under tents or in the open air, were established within a week of the commencement of Operation Moshtarak. There are now 13 schools in Nad-e Ali and nine in Marjah with 150 government-licensed teachers providing instruction to an estimated 3,100 students. Approximately 425 of these students are girls.  Economic growth One of the most visible signs of economic growth is the re-opening of local markets. Many of them had been closed for years, especially during the time of Taliban rule. More than 20 markets are now open for business, attracting more vendors and shoppers than due to increased security, better freedom of movement and higher quality of goods. Nearly $400,000 has been spent refurbishing bazaars in Nad-e Ali and Marjah. There is a $1 million project getting underway to rehabilitate the Loy Chareh Bazaar, which will employ more than 100 laborers and benefit thousands of local and regional Afghans by improving the variety and amount of goods traded within the southeast Marjah area. "The basic point is that you’re seeing stability and prosperity begin to flourish in central Helmand and what you see is a consumer culture beginning to happen," said Carter. Programs such as the Governor’s Food Zone Program, Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Production in Agriculture (AVIPA) and the Marjah Accelerated Agricultural Transition Program (MAAT-P) help Helmand farmers move from growing poppy to cultivating legal crops. Without these alternatives, farmers find it difficult, if not impossible, to make this important change. At the end of the first week of May, the economic stimulus phase of MAAT-P came to a close, and 7,000 hectares of farm land were registered and verified, representing nearly half of the farmland the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated could be used for poppy. The provincial government’s seed distribution program has proven extremely successful. Seeds have been provided to 20,000 farmers in the area, most of whom were previously dependent on poppy cultivation for their livelihood. These programs have created the required combination of farm preparation and inputs for the next season that gives the farmer a chance to break the cycle of poppy. "Cash-for-work" programs are employing approximately 4,000 local residents per day, and nearly 80,000 "man-labor" days have been paid out for initiatives. Road construction and irrigation improvements, in particular, will enable farmers to get their products to market and help the Helmand valley reclaim its title as the "breadbasket of Afghanistan." Security and freedom of movement Despite notable successes in development and economic growth, there are still challenges to be faced in the region. Insurgents continue to be active in the area, particularly in Marjah, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remains a lethal threat to local residents, government officials and combined forces. Fortunately, the number of IED strikes in central Helmand is declining, while the number of IED finds is rising. This positive trend is attributed to effective partnering of combined forces and the growing number of local residents volunteering information to combined forces about the location of IEDs. While the decrease in IED strikes is a positive development, it has been accompanied by a troubling spike in small-arms engagements in Marjah. Using hit-and-run tactics that endanger both civilians and combined forces, insurgents have mounted an aggressive intimidation campaign. "We have been in large parts of Nad-e Ali for at least 15 months at the point at which we launched the Operation Moshtarak," said Carter, "so the project is at least a year further on than Marjah. The point is that by being a year further on and by adopting the approach and the amount of resources that have been applied to it, one will see what will happen in Marjah in due course." Freedom of movement in central Helmand continues to improve. A recent analysis revealed a dramatic increase in vehicle movements along the main traffic artery, Route 608, which runs from Nad-e Ali down through Marjah. Weekly vehicle flow numbers for local residents travelling this road increased by 440 percent between March 20 and May 8. The latest reports show nearly 40,000 vehicle trips along Route 608 in a one-week period. This is a very encouraging sign that people are more confident in the security situation. "There is still work to be done in both Marjah and Nad-e Ali," said Carter. "But the trends are positive, and my bet is we’re in a good place in terms of the resources available on the ground and in the way in which the campaign is progressing." Operation Moshtarak is an Afghan-led initiative to assert government authority in the center of Helmand province. Afghan and ISAF partners are engaging in this counter-insurgency operation at the request of the Afghan national government and the Helmand provincial government.

Farah Leaders Discuss Laws Eliminating Violence Against Women

ISAF Public Affairs Office

KABUL, Afghanistan (April 10, 2010) – More than 20 Farah province judges, prosecutors, members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and members of the Ministry of Justice participated in the first of a three-day seminar focusing on the Constitution of Afghanistan and the Elimination of Violence Against Women Law (EVAWL), April 3.  The seminar was conducted by Justice Sector Support Program (JSSP) personnel and hosted by the Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT).  The three-day seminar was aimed to equip Afghan’s who are working within the judicial system, to better understand the constitution and to implement rule of law in their designated career fields. Two of the three days were concentrated on EVAWL, a new law imposing strict penalties for women forced into marriage, marrying women under the age of 16, and for physical abuse towards women.  “A lot of times the community does not understand what the law is,” said Sheila Weirth, Justice Advisor for JSSP.  The seminar is an opportunity to raise awareness and shed light about EVAWL to the law makers and law enforcers in the province. The law also requires every ministry working for the Afghan government to promote awareness and educate the community about the law.  Participants were given verbal and visual lessons, a chance to share with each other experiences and lessons learned, and mock scenarios applicable to real life cases in Afghanistan.  Weirth’s hope is that participants in the seminar will share the information gained with their peers and colleagues, therefore spreading knowledge of EVAWL and the general laws under the GIROA constitution.  JSSP and the Farah PRT also visited with the Farah Provincial Chief Judge Abdul Hanif Ubiad and Chief Prosecutor Abdul Ghafar to assess the current judicial situation in the province.  The meeting with Ubiad and Ghafar was a key opportunity for JSSP and the PRT to observe the process of law in the province, and resulted in a stronger relationship between government officials and coalition forces.  ”We received a very warm reception,” said Weith, “The prosecutor (Ghafar) here is very impressive and is a well educated man.”  Maintaining security and prosecuting members of the Taliban has remained a top priority among judiciaries in the Farah Province. However, it is the day-to-day rule of law that has been a tough challenge for judges and prosecutors alike. According to Ubiad, most criminal activity in the city of Farah consists of land disputes, tribal disputes that often lead to revenge killings, and business deals gone badly. In other parts of the province, drug production and trafficking continues to be a significant hurdle for Afghan law enforcement officers.  In addition, appointing defense attorneys for suspects has been a struggle for the province. Currently there are no defense attorneys for the entire province. The suspect does have the opportunity to defend themselves, but witnesses and arresting officials are rarely available or present during the trial. Hiring defense attorneys has remained a high priority for Ubiad, and Weirth is very confident there will be more within the next few years.  Despite these obstacles, Ghafar is more than optimistic about the future security and stability of Farah.  “Compared to six months ago, security is much better,” Ghafar said, “We have no tensions regarding security at this time.”  To assist with the justice system, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Matt Schaefer, rule of law advisor to the PRT commander and a practicing lawyer in the commercial-sector, is committed to assisting in diagnosing problems within the legal system to establish a secure and developed justice system.  “The good news is they have a functioning framework. They have a foundation we can build on,” said Lieutenant Schaefer, “Rule of law is a critical aspect to their success and it is essential to the PRT’s mission.”  Support from the PRT and JSSP will continue to focus on sustainable solutions to the justice system in Farah. Continuing efforts of meetings, seminars, and training events for those working in the justice system will provide long-term successes, rather than temporary solutions.