Archive for the 'Afghanistan' Category

AFGHANISTAN: TRUTH AND LIES

Published November 16, 2012 Afghan War , Afghanistan , British Defence , British Politics 4 Comments
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This is what Kabul has to look forward to whether we stay or not.

It is at least six years late, but finally a senior political figure has found the courage to call for an immediate withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.  Lord Ashdown pulled few punches in his impassioned plea in The Times, criticising Britain’s early military strategy and accusing the government of becoming distracted by adventures in Iraq when it should have been focused on Afghanistan.

All true, but while Ashdown called out the government for its political failings, he neglected to mention the string of lies senior ministers have perpetuated about Afghanistan, or point the finger at senior military figures who’ve been more than willing to support that deceit. How any politician can say with a straight face that we are in Afghanistan to keep the streets of Britain safe is beyond me, when everyone knows our involvement has fuelled the flames of home grown terrorism.  Then there’s the lie of the moment—that Afghan troops can somehow be vetted to stop ‘rogue’ recruits from turning their weapons on their NATO mentors.  As I argued on BBC Radio 5 Live earlier this week, nothing can be done to stop green on blue attacks because an element of the men we’re trying to train up have viewed us as the enemy since we entered Afghanistan back in 2001.

I’ve been screaming it from the rafters since I started this blog and I’ll scream it again.  AFGHANISTAN IS NOT AN INSURGENCY. IT’S A CIVIL WAR AND WE’VE TAKEN ONE SIDE IN IT.  Since 2006 when British troops entered Helmand Province, they’ve been trying to win over the people on the other side of that conflict—a futile, senseless task presided over by sloping shouldered generals and senior military brass who care more about pleasing politicians than they do the lives of their troops.  These senior officers know who they are, and they should hang their heads in shame.  I really don’t know how they or their chums in government can sleep at night knowing how many brave British troops they have and continue to put in harm’s way for no other reason than to justify past mistakes.

Why is it taking our government so long to act in the best interest of our troops when our Canadian, Dutch and French NATO allies have found the political will to bring their forces home? There is no justification for Britain’s continued presence in Afghanistan. None. Continue reading ‘AFGHANISTAN: TRUTH AND LIES’

Private Security: A Bad Deal for British Tax Payers

Published October 1, 2012 Private Security , Private Security Reform , UK Politics 3 Comments
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Aiming for External Regulation

A no holds barred BBC Scotland Investigates documentary revealing how former British servicemen are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan while on UK government contracts paid for by British tax payers is currently playing on BBC iPlayer

I urge anyone who reads this post to please help get the word out about this very important, long overdue documentary. When a security contractor enters the public consciousness, it’s usually due to a tragic scandal that reinforces the image of a gun totting mercenary with no love for his nation and no moral foundation.

The reality is very different.

It may not sell newspapers, but the truth is the overwhelming majority of British private security contractors working in hostile environments are competent professionals who strive to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.  They are decent men and women, many of them ex-military, trying to earn an honest day’s wage for an honest day’s work.  Their attitudes and motives are no different from professional soldiers. In fact many of them are doing military jobs outsourced by Britain and its allies.  When it comes to recognition and support however, private contractors couldn’t be further from their armed forces counterparts.  Continue reading ‘Private Security: A Bad Deal for British Tax Payers’

AFGHANISTAN: AN HONORABLE MP CALLS BRITAIN’S DEFENCE SECRETARY TO ACCOUNT

Published September 18, 2012 Afghan War , Afghanistan , British Defence , British Politics 3 Comments
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Spot the Rogue Soldier

The government was scrambling to save face this morning after getting blindsided by ISAF’s decision to severely restrict joint operations between NATO forces and Afghan Army and Police.  By the time Defence Secretary Philip Hammond appeared before Parliament to explain himself, he had donned his denial armour, claiming that Britain’s military operations in Afghanistan would be “substantially unchanged” by ISAF’s new policy.  He even went so far as to say he has “every confidence” in Britain’s strategy to train Afghan security forces to take over when Britain ends major combat operations in 2014.

How is that possible when this year alone more than 50 NATO soldiers including 9 Brits have been killed by Afghans they were tasked with training and mentoring? And those are the deaths we’ve heard about.  So called “rogue Afghan” security forces (AKA Taliban infiltrators) are also turning their weapons on well-intentioned Afghan Army and Police recruits as well as private security contractors working for the coalition—deaths that are all swept under the rug.

So why is Hammond refusing to acknowledge reality?  I can only conclude that the Government is placing its ego above the lives of our brave troops serving in Afghanistan.  It’s despicable. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Thankfully, there was an MP in the Commons today who had the guts to call Hammond out.  Labour MP Paul Flynn accused the Defence Secretary of being a liar and blasted the Government for using our soldiers as “human shields” to protect ministers’ reputations.  I couldn’t agree more.

Paul Flynn was expelled for his trouble, but that won’t silence the truth. The Government’s Afghan policy has been thoroughly discredited in the eyes of the public. Few people buy the excuse anymore that we’re there to protect Britain against terrorism or that the mission will produce a more stable country.   Afghanistan was in civil war long before we committed troops to the conflict and it will continue long after we’ve withdrawn them.   There is no justification for forcing our soldiers to pick up the tab for a policy that is doomed to failure.  Bring our troops home now. Ministers’ reputations be damned.

AFGHANISTAN 2014: THE BIGGEST MYTH OF ALL

Published September 6, 2012 Afghanistan , AfPak Politics , NATO 6 Comments
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Friend or Foe?

Only the most diehard ostrich believes official pronouncements on Afghanistan anymore.  The latest fiction in this endless, senseless, victor-less war involves the vetting of Afghan local police recruits. Following a spate of “green on blue” incidents (NATO’s sanitized shorthand for Afghan security forces gunning down or blowing up their ISAF mentors), General Adrian Bradshaw, the British deputy commander of ISAF, announced that the training of around a thousand Afghan Local police recruits had been suspended to allow for re-vetting.

The idea that Afghan recruits can be effectively vetted is ludicrous.  Putting aside the logistical challenges of deploying NATO staff to remote, often hostile villages to perform background checks, the lack of official records, the nation’s sky-high illiteracy rate, and the basic distrust of Afghans toward westerners in general, the fact is, the central government will never top the Afghan hierarchy of loyalties.  After thirty plus years of civil war, Afghans have learned how to prioritize their allegiances in order to survive.  Family comes first, then tribe.  Beyond that, nothing matters.   Continue reading ‘AFGHANISTAN 2014: THE BIGGEST MYTH OF ALL’

The Infidel Now Available on Kindle & Nook USA!

Published May 1, 2012 Afghan War , Afghanistan , Books 7 Comments
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I’m pleased to announce that The Infidel is now availabe for download on Kindle and Nook USA for the introductory price of only US$2.99  A modern-day Afghan war epic inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale The Man Who Would Be King, The Infidel was influenced by my work as a security advisor to media and diplomats in Kabul, Kunar, and Nuristan Provinces, Afghanisan.  My goal: create a cracking good page turner that would reveal the true nature of one of the deadliest conflicts of our time.

I am able to offer a substantial discount to readers in North America because I have published The Infidel myself in those territories and eliminated the premium associated with going through a traditional publishing house.  You can only take advantage of this special offer if you hold an Amazon or B&N account in North America or change your Kindle country settings to these territories.  Otherwise, you can purchase the ebook through Kindle UK, iBooks UK, and Waterstones UK.   And of course, the paperback is available to order through Amazon.co.uk and other UK and Commonwealth retailers.

Praise for The Infidel…

“The Infidel is an intelligent can’t-put-it-down adventure story written by an author who knows the heart and guts of NATO’s war in Afghanistan. If you want to know what we’re up against, read this book.”  — Karl Marlantes, Author, Matterhorn

“Shepherd’s boots on the ground experience exposes the raw and rugged beauty of Afghanistan and its people. His high intensity narrative is as bone jarring as it is gripping and provides valuable insight in to this complex country.”  — Nic Robertson, Sr. International Correspondent, CNN

“An old Afghan hand, Bob’s fingertips drip with the detail readers devour – from weapons and tactics to people and places. However, his knowledge is bang up to date and his insight into the political and social effects of military campaigns rival any Newsnight commentator.

More than that, Bob’s a great soldier who’s also a great storyteller. His characters are believable, his plot is epic in scale and his style blends muscle with understanding. This book is as comfortable on a shelf beside Kipling, Conan Doyle and Conrad as it is beside McNab, Ryan or Lee Child.”

—Stephen Armstrong, Sunday Times journalist

Want to Stop Foreign Aid Fraud? Scrap Foreign Aid.

Published October 20, 2011 Afghanistan , British Politics 6 Comments
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Boy and girl outside bombed out school, Afghanistan
No School Today

Another week, another scandal concerning the misuse of British aid in Afghanistan.  This time, the self-serving bureaucrats at DFID are accused of handing more than £3.2 million in British tax payer funds to a dodgy, third party German aid agency contracted to re-settle failed Afghan asylum seekers returning from Britain.  Even more appalling; DFID continued to throw money at the German outfit after evidence of fraud had been uncovered.

This is hardly news to anyone whose seen aid agencies operating in Afghanistan.   During my time as a security advisor in the country, I saw DFID, USAID, the UN and US Military Provincial Reconstruction Teams show charts to the media detailing how much money was being spent on development projects and where.   They would roll out a graph and the press would write stories about all the good work being done.  Never once did I hear a journalist ask what all that spending had actually achieved.

Had they bothered, I’m sure a very different picture would have emerged.  Continue reading ‘Want to Stop Foreign Aid Fraud? Scrap Foreign Aid.’

Afghanistan: 10 Years On For British Forces

Published October 7, 2011 Afghan War , Afghanistan , British Defence , British Politics 6 Comments
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Afghanistan, Graveyard of Empires

In 2004, two years before British troops were deployed to Helmand, I escorted two television journalists from Kabul to Lashkar Gah by road.  Operating outside the security bubble of Kabul and military embeds was a real eye opener.   It was obvious that the locals did not support the coalition. I encountered a group of young Taliban down by the Helmand River who told me that should western troops ever attempt to set up bases in their province, there would be blood; an ominous prediction which indeed proved true.

Over the years, unilateral media excursions in Afghanistan became increasingly risky due to the deteriorating security situation.   The Taliban were regrouping effectively, targeting NATO troops and anyone believed to be associated with the coalition.  The evidence was indisputable. NATO casualties were steadily increasing year after year as were deaths of NGO personnel, the lynchpin of NATO’s hearts and minds strategy. Conditions outside Kabul became so dangerous for aid organizations that many were forced to abandon their projects or contract them out to local third parties whose progress, not to mention use of foreign aid funds, was impossible to monitor.  Sadly though, the British public was largely unaware of what was really happening in Afghanistan because our military and political leaders insisted the campaign was going swimmingly.

One of the greatest misperceptions about the Afghan conflict is that the Taliban is waging an insurgency against NATO.   There is no insurgency in Afghanistan; it’s a civil war in which NATO has taken sides.  The distinction is crucial for understanding the limits of what can be achieved.    The coalition backs the tribes of the former Northern Alliance which has been engaged in a festering 30-year civil war with the Pashtoon tribes of the southern and eastern provinces.   Against this context, it is easy to see why British, American and other NATO forces have and continue to encounter such fierce resistance in Helmand. As far as the local Pashtoon are concerned, NATO has sided with their mortal enemies. Continue reading ‘Afghanistan: 10 Years On For British Forces’

Introducing The Photo Gallery

Published June 20, 2011 Afghanistan , media , Pakistan Leave a Comment
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The Photo Gallery

Taking photographs in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 2004

I’ve snapped over a thousand images in hostile environments over the past decade, some of which I’ve used as visuals in talks for my books. Many people who’ve attended those presentations have suggested afterward that I post my photographs online. Well, at long last, I’m acting on their advice and launching an online  Photo Gallery.

I’m kicking off with a selection of images that have influenced my fiction books including my debut novel, The Infidel, a modern day military thriller inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s The Man Who Would Be King, and my forthcoming novel, The Good Jihadist, an action thriller set against the duplicitous landscape of modern-day Pakistan that follows ex-SAS Sergeant Matt Logan’s hunt for a Pakistani Taliban leader.

My subject matter is as diverse as the places I’ve operated in.  This first batch of images includes an Apache helicopter, Russian attack helis, a US artillery gun, US army operating on the ground in Afghanistan, Afghan security forces training at the KMTC, children’s war art, Pakistani jihadists, riot police in Islamabad, a tank graveyard,  landscapes, villages and a winding mountain pass just to name a few.

I’m not a professional photographer.  All of my photographs were taken either on the move or during time outs whilst looking after clients in hostile environments (my camera allowed me to maintain a lower profile with media clients and not stick out as “the security man”.  It also served as an ice breaker in tense situations).

I hope you enjoy the Photo Gallery. For those of you who have read The Infidel and who plan to read The Good Jihadist when it is released this August, I hope it enhances your enjoyment of both novels.  If you like the gallery, please do check back, as I will be adding to it regularly. Next up is a selection of photographs from The Circuit, my non-fiction account of the private security industry.

NATO’s Afghan Exit Plan…One Year On

Published November 21, 2010 Afghanistan 1 Comment

Last November, when I first started blogging, I published a two part post titled Afghan Security Forces: The Weak Link in NATO’s Exit Strategy.  As I contemplated what to write in response to this week’s news out of Lisbon it struck me that NATO has done virtually nothing to address the fundamental flaw in the Afghan exit plan it first conceived of a year ago.  So I’m republishing my original critique because sadly, the points I raised then are just as applicable now.  Continue reading ‘NATO’s Afghan Exit Plan…One Year On’

Should Aid Workers Leave Afghanistan?

Published October 11, 2010 Afghanistan , Kidnap & Ransom 2 Comments
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No place for aid workers

The death of kidnapped British aid worker Linda Norgrove during a rescue attempt by US Special Forces in Kunar has prompted much debate, especially after it was revealed that she may have been killed by a US grenade and not a Taliban suicide bomber as initially reported.   Some are asking if the US military should have exercised more restraint or whether the operation was even necessary.

 If the goal of such questions is to prevent more aid workers from dying in future, this line of inquiry is  counter-productive at this stage.  I sincerely doubt the British government would have green-lighted the military option had Ms. Norgrove’s life not been in extreme danger. Hostage rescue is extremely high risk and there is always a possibility that the person or persons you are attempting to free could be killed during an operation, especially in a dangerous location like Kunar (parts of which are so untameable that US forces withdrew from them earlier this year).  Instead of pinning blame on the rescuing party, a more useful question is why are aid workers being encouraged to come to Afghanistan when they are such obvious targets? Continue reading ‘Should Aid Workers Leave Afghanistan?’

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