Akhtar Jan, a resident of Nangarhar’s Behsood District convicted of kidnapping and committing two murders, was sentenced to death in Jalalabad’s main courthouse Dec. 23.
The trial broke new ground for transparency and judicial procedure for Nangarhar Province’s legal system.
Because the defendant was sentenced to death, he will have an opportunity to appeal to the Astinaf Makhema, Nangarhar’s appellate court, and then Afghanistan’s supreme court. If his conviction is upheld, President Hamid Karzai will have to approve it, explained Shane Kelbley of Philadelphia, Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team senior rule of law advisor.
There was fair public attendance at the trial and extensive coverage in the Afghan media, a positive development in a country where justice is often meted out in private.
“This trial was very fair and very good for the people of Behsood,” said Mullah Niamat, an elder in the Behsood District. “If we had more trials open to the press and the public, then it would greatly reduce crime in Behsood.”
Notably, the prosecutor called two witnesses during the trial: the defendant’s brother and uncle.
“This was the first public trial in which we’ve had witnesses (in Nangarhar),” Kelbley said. “Previous public trials had all relied on the prosecutor’s statements and maybe some pictures, but they haven’t called witnesses.”
The trial was also remarkable in that a taped confession was presented as evidence.
“Oftentimes I think the National Directorate of Security is moving toward that because of unsubstantiated allegations that they’re using police brutality or torture to extract confessions,” said Kelbley. “It’s a common tool used by defendants to say they were tortured into confessing.”
Kelbley said the public nature of the trial also counters insurgent propaganda about the corrupt, inequitable nature of Afghanistan’s evolving legal system.
“The Afghan justice system gets better every day,” Niamat said. “People talk about corruption in the courthouse, but there isn’t really that much corruption.”
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Nangarhar PRT visits Lal Pur Bridge
Members of the Nangarhar Provisional Reconstruction Team visited the Lal Pur Bridge Dec. 6 to assess construction progress.
The bridge is being built over the Kabul River to connect the Lal Pur Village to the northeastern areas of Nangarhar.
The Lal Pur Bridge, scheduled for completion June 2011 by the Meraj Construction Company, will be 11 meters wide, allowing for two large lanes of traffic, and 300 meters long.
The foundation for each of the bridge’s piers runs deep into the riverbed of the Kabul River. It is being constructed near Afghanistan’s main thoroughfare, Highway 1.
“This bridge has a very solid structure and foundation,” said Gul Mohmmand, Meraj Construction chief engineer. “I’m honored my company was chosen to construct it and be a part of Afghanistan history.”
“This is the biggest deal for the Lal Pur District ever,” said Lal Pur Subgovernor Hija Zuhaq. “It will be good for the economy, trade and commerce.”
Presently, there are very limited ways of crossing the river, said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. James Elliott, Nangarhar PRT civil engineer from Richburg, S.C. There is a bridge located 50 km away, but it is a five-hour drive due to poor road conditions. There is also a ferry at the bridge’s location.
Both villages that border the Kabul River, Sarband on the east and Lal Pur on the west, are excited about the opportunities it will provide. Villagers on both sides expressed the same sentiment regarding the bridge; it is a dream come true.
The bridge will provide closer ties for the people of the Ghosta and Lal Pur districts to greater Nangarhar and Afghanistan as a whole, said Elliott.
There is no effective competition for the area separated by the Kabul River because of the large distances to markets, said Elliott. It will bring easy access to the northern agricultural plains between the Kabul and Kunar Rivers, allowing faster movement of agricultural products to the other side of the river and to the export route to Pakistan.
“The bridge which is costing an estimated $7 million will be the second largest in Afghanistan,” said Elliot. “Once completed, it will provide a permanent crossing for the Kama, Ghosta and Lal Pur districts, all of which are annually cut off during the high flood season.”
The bridge is being built over the Kabul River to connect the Lal Pur Village to the northeastern areas of Nangarhar.
The Lal Pur Bridge, scheduled for completion June 2011 by the Meraj Construction Company, will be 11 meters wide, allowing for two large lanes of traffic, and 300 meters long.
The foundation for each of the bridge’s piers runs deep into the riverbed of the Kabul River. It is being constructed near Afghanistan’s main thoroughfare, Highway 1.
“This bridge has a very solid structure and foundation,” said Gul Mohmmand, Meraj Construction chief engineer. “I’m honored my company was chosen to construct it and be a part of Afghanistan history.”
“This is the biggest deal for the Lal Pur District ever,” said Lal Pur Subgovernor Hija Zuhaq. “It will be good for the economy, trade and commerce.”
Presently, there are very limited ways of crossing the river, said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. James Elliott, Nangarhar PRT civil engineer from Richburg, S.C. There is a bridge located 50 km away, but it is a five-hour drive due to poor road conditions. There is also a ferry at the bridge’s location.
Both villages that border the Kabul River, Sarband on the east and Lal Pur on the west, are excited about the opportunities it will provide. Villagers on both sides expressed the same sentiment regarding the bridge; it is a dream come true.
The bridge will provide closer ties for the people of the Ghosta and Lal Pur districts to greater Nangarhar and Afghanistan as a whole, said Elliott.
There is no effective competition for the area separated by the Kabul River because of the large distances to markets, said Elliott. It will bring easy access to the northern agricultural plains between the Kabul and Kunar Rivers, allowing faster movement of agricultural products to the other side of the river and to the export route to Pakistan.
“The bridge which is costing an estimated $7 million will be the second largest in Afghanistan,” said Elliot. “Once completed, it will provide a permanent crossing for the Kama, Ghosta and Lal Pur districts, all of which are annually cut off during the high flood season.”
Monday, December 13, 2010
Nangarhar subgovernors, officials meet with PRT
Subgovernors from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts and officials from the Jalalabad municipality met with Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team senior staff on Forward Operating Base Finley-Shields Dec. 11 to discuss cooperation and transparency.
“We’re here to work; we’re committed to work,” said Jalalabad Deputy Mayor Engineer Hakim, “because if the Afghans do not build Afghanistan, nobody else will do it.”
The Nangarhar officials present vowed continued cooperation with the PRT and International Security Assistance Force, noting the extremely close bond that already existed between them.
“We’re friends, and we need to be able to talk upfront,” said Shinwar Subgovernor Haji Zalmay. “We know transparency, and we hope that we hear the same thing from you. If you think we have a problem, we are ready for any sort of accountability.”
“The Jalalabad municipality thanks the PRT for all the projects they have done,” said Hakim. “For example, the 26 roads you paved for us would have cost 10 years of income for the municipality.”
Officials did express some dissatisfaction with ISAF’s actions in the recent past. Many asserted that coalition forces had operated in their districts without informing them.
“If we do not have sovereignty ourselves, then we’re not going to be able to do anything,” said Zalmay. “If we’re not in the lead, and if we do not have an effective role, then how are we going to convince the people we have a democratic government in Afghanistan?”
The PRT members at the meeting recognized these concerns and assured the Afghans ISAF wanted to serve in a supportive role to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“The PRT’s here to help the government of Afghanistan; we’re not here to take over,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian from Oakton, Va.
“When your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s grandchildren go to school, they will not read about my name or Andrew’s, they will read about your names,” added U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Anderson, Nangarhar PRT commander from Dallas. “You are the leaders of Afghanistan.”
“We’re here to work; we’re committed to work,” said Jalalabad Deputy Mayor Engineer Hakim, “because if the Afghans do not build Afghanistan, nobody else will do it.”
The Nangarhar officials present vowed continued cooperation with the PRT and International Security Assistance Force, noting the extremely close bond that already existed between them.
“We’re friends, and we need to be able to talk upfront,” said Shinwar Subgovernor Haji Zalmay. “We know transparency, and we hope that we hear the same thing from you. If you think we have a problem, we are ready for any sort of accountability.”
“The Jalalabad municipality thanks the PRT for all the projects they have done,” said Hakim. “For example, the 26 roads you paved for us would have cost 10 years of income for the municipality.”
Officials did express some dissatisfaction with ISAF’s actions in the recent past. Many asserted that coalition forces had operated in their districts without informing them.
“If we do not have sovereignty ourselves, then we’re not going to be able to do anything,” said Zalmay. “If we’re not in the lead, and if we do not have an effective role, then how are we going to convince the people we have a democratic government in Afghanistan?”
The PRT members at the meeting recognized these concerns and assured the Afghans ISAF wanted to serve in a supportive role to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“The PRT’s here to help the government of Afghanistan; we’re not here to take over,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian from Oakton, Va.
“When your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s grandchildren go to school, they will not read about my name or Andrew’s, they will read about your names,” added U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Anderson, Nangarhar PRT commander from Dallas. “You are the leaders of Afghanistan.”
Sunday, December 5, 2010
NATO, British ambassadors visit Nangarhar
Ambassadors Mark Sedwill, NATO senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, and William Patey, British ambassador to Afghanistan, visited Nangarhar Dec. 2 to appraise various sites and discuss current issues with the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team and high-ranking officials in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“Nangarhar is one of the critical areas of the country, both for security and for prosperity,” Sedwill said.
Following a mission brief by PRT staff, the ambassadors toured an area of Jalalabad that sustained severe damage following floods this summer.
The heavy floods destroyed 18,000 homes in one of Jalalabad’s poorer neighborhoods, said Rodney Stubina, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Gainesville, Fla. Since then, 50 percent of the homes have been rebuilt by Cooperative Housing Foundation International, a United States Aid for International Development implementing partner. Many of the new homes are built using far superior materials than before to make them more resilient in case of future floods.
The team then proceeded to the Shishembagh Agricultural Research Station, a facility in Jalalabad designed to showcase innovative techniques intended to increase crop yield to the farmers in Nangarhar, said Robert Smith, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Media, Pa.
The Shishembagh facility hosts between 70 and 100 farmers every week, said Siraj, Afghanistan Water, Agriculture and Technology Transfer project director. One of the tools Shishembagh has on display is an innovative concrete irrigation ditch which cost $200 for installation, an investment that will be easily recouped within a year of installing the system.
“Farmers are lining up for this technology,” Siraj said.
The ambassadors joined Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, Nangarhar Provincial Council Chairman Nasratullah Arsalie and leaders from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts for a traditional Afghan lunch. The discussion focused on multiple issues across the province, most notably the process of reintegrating former insurgent fighters into Afghan society.
Arsalie was enthusiastic about moving forward with reintegration but expressed concern that fighters who lay down their arms may be arrested.
Sedwill explained reintegration is a crucial piece toward achieving a stable Afghanistan and individuals who choose to participate in the process will be treated justly. He stressed that major governance operations have to be led by GIRoA, not by coalition forces.
“What we want to see is Afghan programs, led by the Afghans, that we can provide money and expertise to,” Sedwill said. “That’s where our common interests lie.”
“You know better than us what will work,” Patey added.
The Afghan leaders also questioned the ambassadors about long-term plans for the country, particularly the anticipated troop reduction in 2014. Patey told all assembled that the international community would not simply leave Afghanistan without finishing its work.
“The one mistake we will not make is to leave Afghanistan and forget it,” Patey said.
After lunch, the group walked to a nearby United Nations compound where the ambassadors discussed the various concerns raised throughout the day.
Nahid Abuakar, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan head in Jalalabad, discussed UN work with Sherzai on the reintegration program, echoing many of the concerns the Afghan leaders voiced earlier. Sedwill and Patey both repeated their assurances, greatly increasing everyone’s confidence in the logistics and underlying foundation of the plan.
Leadership from PRT Nangarhar hailed the day as an outstanding success, noting the ambassadors were openly supportive of PRT projects.
"We were very fortunate to host Ambassadors Sedwill and Patey this week,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian representative from Oakton, Va. “They can help champion some of our issues with the government and international community in Kabul. That kind of support is critical if we are to successfully tackle issues like water management here in Nangarhar.”
“Nangarhar is one of the critical areas of the country, both for security and for prosperity,” Sedwill said.
Following a mission brief by PRT staff, the ambassadors toured an area of Jalalabad that sustained severe damage following floods this summer.
The heavy floods destroyed 18,000 homes in one of Jalalabad’s poorer neighborhoods, said Rodney Stubina, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Gainesville, Fla. Since then, 50 percent of the homes have been rebuilt by Cooperative Housing Foundation International, a United States Aid for International Development implementing partner. Many of the new homes are built using far superior materials than before to make them more resilient in case of future floods.
The team then proceeded to the Shishembagh Agricultural Research Station, a facility in Jalalabad designed to showcase innovative techniques intended to increase crop yield to the farmers in Nangarhar, said Robert Smith, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Media, Pa.
The Shishembagh facility hosts between 70 and 100 farmers every week, said Siraj, Afghanistan Water, Agriculture and Technology Transfer project director. One of the tools Shishembagh has on display is an innovative concrete irrigation ditch which cost $200 for installation, an investment that will be easily recouped within a year of installing the system.
“Farmers are lining up for this technology,” Siraj said.
The ambassadors joined Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, Nangarhar Provincial Council Chairman Nasratullah Arsalie and leaders from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts for a traditional Afghan lunch. The discussion focused on multiple issues across the province, most notably the process of reintegrating former insurgent fighters into Afghan society.
Arsalie was enthusiastic about moving forward with reintegration but expressed concern that fighters who lay down their arms may be arrested.
Sedwill explained reintegration is a crucial piece toward achieving a stable Afghanistan and individuals who choose to participate in the process will be treated justly. He stressed that major governance operations have to be led by GIRoA, not by coalition forces.
“What we want to see is Afghan programs, led by the Afghans, that we can provide money and expertise to,” Sedwill said. “That’s where our common interests lie.”
“You know better than us what will work,” Patey added.
The Afghan leaders also questioned the ambassadors about long-term plans for the country, particularly the anticipated troop reduction in 2014. Patey told all assembled that the international community would not simply leave Afghanistan without finishing its work.
“The one mistake we will not make is to leave Afghanistan and forget it,” Patey said.
After lunch, the group walked to a nearby United Nations compound where the ambassadors discussed the various concerns raised throughout the day.
Nahid Abuakar, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan head in Jalalabad, discussed UN work with Sherzai on the reintegration program, echoing many of the concerns the Afghan leaders voiced earlier. Sedwill and Patey both repeated their assurances, greatly increasing everyone’s confidence in the logistics and underlying foundation of the plan.
Leadership from PRT Nangarhar hailed the day as an outstanding success, noting the ambassadors were openly supportive of PRT projects.
"We were very fortunate to host Ambassadors Sedwill and Patey this week,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian representative from Oakton, Va. “They can help champion some of our issues with the government and international community in Kabul. That kind of support is critical if we are to successfully tackle issues like water management here in Nangarhar.”
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Nangarhar PRT completes ambitious first month.
Provincial Reconstruction Team Nangarhar had ambitious plans when they arrived at Forward Operating Base Finley-Shields on Oct. 31, and, by all accounts, they’ve moved at a break-neck speed during their first month that portends great accomplishments for their deployment.
In the short amount of time they’ve been at work, the PRT has already met multiple times with the governor of Nangarhar province, Gul Agha Sherzai, and seen two clinics open in the Dari Noor district, both of them worked on by previous PRT rotations.
In essence, the PRT’s mission focuses on advising and mentoring Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials in Nangarhar and helping rebuild the country through various construction jobs, said Army Sgt. John Mulhern, Shrewsbury, Mass., PRT Nangarhar operations NCO.
In the past 30 days, the PRT has run seven quality assurance and quality checks on development projects including schools, dams and prisons, as well as participated in 17 meetings with government officials from all across the province. These missions had been vital in giving the PRT the proper background information required to move forward with their mission.
Currently, the PRT has 26 ongoing construction projects, two projects recently awarded to contractors, and four projects awaiting solicitation, including clinics, schools, roads and other various civic undertakings, said Air Force Capt. Ed Dice, Pittsburgh, PRT Nangarhar civil engineer. Some of the current jobs are of vital importance to the future of Nangarhar; among the more high-visibility projects are the Lal Pur Bridge, which will be the second longest bridge in the country, and the Behsood District Center, which will serve the provincial capital’s district.
These ventures all originated with previous PRT rotations and, due to their bold scale, many will not be completed during this PRT’s rotation. Capt. Dice estimates 16 to 20 projects will be left outstanding at the conclusion of his rotation.
These projects are not built by the PRT, Capt. Dice said. Rather, the PRT’s civil engineers’ main purpose is to solicit contractors for any particular building and then quality check the work done to make sure the final product is safe and reliable.
“The work that they’re doing over here right now, the work that we’re having them do and that we’re holding them to, is better than the work that they’ve done in this country in the past,” Capt. Dice said.
There is a wide gamut of measures used to determine which organization the PRT awards the contract to, one of the most important being how much of a positive influence the company will have on the local Afghans.
“In almost all instances, we hire an Afghan contractor who will hire Afghan employees to help stimulate their economy,” Capt. Dice said. “That’s one of our criteria.”
As far as governance missions are concerned, Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Anderson, Dallas, PRT Nangarhar commander, has met face-to-face with the top government officials in Nangarhar, including Governor Sherzai and Provincial Council Chair Nasratullah Arsalie. Colonel Anderson has been pleased with his interactions thus far.
“The government is saying all the right things and setting the proper course for them to make Nangarhar flourish and that has my entire staff feeling confident in our mission,” Colonel Anderson said.
While Colonel Anderson is working with the big names in Nangarhar, the PRT’s civil affairs team has spent the majority of the first month building working relationships and gaining the trust of district-level officials, said Army Sgt. Oren Struck, St. Peter, Minn., PRT Nangarhar CA sergeant. The PRT has reached out aggressively to the District Development Assemblies, which are essentially councils consisting of village elders and key players from each district who have the ability to make important decision concerning their constituents.
From all of his interactions, Sgt. Struck is confident in the leaders around Nangarhar.
“It seems like they take pride, especially the people in the DDAs and the working groups, who know that they have been appointed as decision makers,” Sgt. Struck said. “They relish the fact that they’re able to help not only themselves but everybody else around them. I have a good feeling so far about how they’re willing to try and press forward; they aren’t just relying on us.”
Of course, while working on high-level projects like building roads and meeting the Governor are vital to the PRT’s mission, any successful counterinsurgency must focus on winning the population according to COIN guidance issued by U.S. Army General David Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force/United States Forces-Afghanistan commander. With that in mind, the PRT has taken every available opportunity to speak with the common people in Nangarhar.
Security is always an issue when dealing with the population, said Army Sgt. Maj. Billy Smith, Piney Creek, N.C., PRT Nangarhar senior enlisted advisor, but the potential rewards the Coalition stands to gain from dealing with the people necessitate taking on an acceptable level of risk. The entire PRT realizes that if they’re going to be successful, they need to get the message out to the people and let them know what it is their government can offer them.
“You’re not going to win every Afghan,” Sergeant Major Smith said, “but if you’re fair and impartial and generally show you’re here to help them take back their country and provide them a better way for their families, they will choose you.”
While most of the governmental meetings and project quality checks are performed by PRT officers and senior enlisted, the unit’s Army security forces, consisting of infantrymen, are the frontline in getting out with the Afghan people and acting as ambassadors for America.
“Growing up, living through 9/11, and knowing that this country is prevalent Taliban, it’s easy to form opinions and to think that all these people hate us, but it’s not like that,” said Spc. Mark Bastien, Spencer, Mass., PRT Nangarhar infantryman. “It seems like, most of the place we’ve been, the people are pretty welcoming. It’s a good thing that we’re doing for them.”
The PRT officers do get to work with the people from time to time, though, often with spectacular results. One notable interaction occurred when the PRT visited two schools under construction in the Surkh Rod district. As the majority of the team looked over the schools to ensure the contractors building them were living up to their commitments, Capt. Dice saw an opportunity to engage with the population in a unique and positive manner. As a group of kids gathered around one of the PRT’s mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, Capt. Dice reached inside and pulled out a Cookie Monster hand puppet. He then proceeded to entertain the children and tell them why the Americans were in their town and how they were helping the Afghan people.
“I just explained to them that he was a Cookie Monster, he likes cookies, he likes candy, he just likes to eat and have fun,” Capt. Dice said. “He’s from America and he’s over here working with the government here, the Americans here, to help all the kids smile and have fun, because that’s what a kid should do: have fun.”
While it still is too early to paint an accurate picture of the situation on the ground, PRT members of all ranks are incredibly pleased with their experiences thus far.
“I am much more optimistic about Nangarhar now than I was when we were preparing for this deployment,” said Colonel Anderson.
“There haven’t been many places we’ve been where people haven’t been waving,” said Specialist Bastien, reflecting on the past month’s operations. “It seems like we’re welcomed.”
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Titanic was an Amusing Ship
Commentary by Lt. Col. Michael Anderson, PRT Nangarhar commander
"Titanic was an amusing ship, which had a fascinating life, but
a very tragic end. Jack and Rose two lovers whose hearts were full of
love and were passengers of the thousand others in the ship." Thus
begins one of the stories in an English-language magazine titled
"Sherzai" we received at a recent shura hosted by Governor Sherzai. It
is not clear whether it was intended to be a movie review or a factual
history. As I've stated before, nuances like that get lost in the
translation. Still, the existence of a glossy color magazine named
after the Governor and proclaiming itself to be "Impartial,
Non-political and Academic" raised our eyebrows. Who, if not us, is the
audience for such a magazine? How could we expect a magazine named
after the Governor handed out at the Governor's shura to be impartial
and non-political? We were the only five native English speakers of the
100+ in attendance at the shura. Why is Sherzai investing money that
should go to governing on self-aggrandizing propaganda?
Like the iceberg that sunk that amusing ship Titanic, there was
much more to this story under the surface.
As I later thumbed through the magazine looking for other things
to laugh at, I learned something about this magazine that wasn't visible
above the surface of the water. This magazine was not created by
Governor Sherzai but by the students at a school named after him: the
Sherzai English Language and Computer Center. This is a magazine
written and created by the school's adult students. Sherzai is a school
where adult men and women can learn various skills, such as English as a
second language and computing courses. Tuition is free, funded by
Sherzai.
A few years ago, I participated in a Spelling Bee fundraiser for
the Academy of Hope in Washington DC. (My team misspelled the word
'rhododendron' despite Tove having quizzed me on that word multiple
times.) I remembered hearing the stories of parents who worked all day
and attended classes in the evening to get their GEDs. They improved
their self-confidence and self-image. They found better jobs, and they
became more involved in their children's education. It's a great
program, and the graduates have reason to be proud of their
achievements. And then, reading this magazine, I realized how hard it
must be for the Afghans at Sherzai. The literacy rate in Nangarhar in
Pashto is probably around 30%. Unemployment is still a significant
hurdle. Even many of those with jobs survive below the poverty line;
yet here are young men and women bettering themselves, developing
English and computer skills. I admittedly don't know anything about
these students. Like that iceberg, this program seems to exist just
below the consciousness of the Western world and our development
programs and the coalition's public affairs stories.
It seems everywhere we go in Nangarhar, if there is development
or aid, there are a coalition or NGO fingerprints all over it. Yet in
the middle of concrete jungles, those little WALL-E weeds still sprout
up. They exist. An excerpt from the magazine's first page: "Due to
Afghans are faced with many problems and the affected of wars in past
three decades brought them far away from the world of technology.
Access to English Language and Computer can bring them to the right
track." It's not English, it's the thirst to learn and the facilities
that enable learning that are putting Afghans on the right track.
It's funny to laugh at the execution sometimes. Perhaps the
Titanic wasn't so amusing. Maybe the English teachers of the world
would turn up their noses at the mistakes, but something else is
happening here. This magazine wasn't created for the reader. This
magazine is a testament to those that created it. Amidst the chaos and
IEDs and extremists outlawing education and American political debates,
sometimes those little seeds sprout. Whether it is enough to save the
country, I can't say. But for today, Titanic was indeed an amusing
ship.
"Titanic was an amusing ship, which had a fascinating life, but
a very tragic end. Jack and Rose two lovers whose hearts were full of
love and were passengers of the thousand others in the ship." Thus
begins one of the stories in an English-language magazine titled
"Sherzai" we received at a recent shura hosted by Governor Sherzai. It
is not clear whether it was intended to be a movie review or a factual
history. As I've stated before, nuances like that get lost in the
translation. Still, the existence of a glossy color magazine named
after the Governor and proclaiming itself to be "Impartial,
Non-political and Academic" raised our eyebrows. Who, if not us, is the
audience for such a magazine? How could we expect a magazine named
after the Governor handed out at the Governor's shura to be impartial
and non-political? We were the only five native English speakers of the
100+ in attendance at the shura. Why is Sherzai investing money that
should go to governing on self-aggrandizing propaganda?
Like the iceberg that sunk that amusing ship Titanic, there was
much more to this story under the surface.
As I later thumbed through the magazine looking for other things
to laugh at, I learned something about this magazine that wasn't visible
above the surface of the water. This magazine was not created by
Governor Sherzai but by the students at a school named after him: the
Sherzai English Language and Computer Center. This is a magazine
written and created by the school's adult students. Sherzai is a school
where adult men and women can learn various skills, such as English as a
second language and computing courses. Tuition is free, funded by
Sherzai.
A few years ago, I participated in a Spelling Bee fundraiser for
the Academy of Hope in Washington DC. (My team misspelled the word
'rhododendron' despite Tove having quizzed me on that word multiple
times.) I remembered hearing the stories of parents who worked all day
and attended classes in the evening to get their GEDs. They improved
their self-confidence and self-image. They found better jobs, and they
became more involved in their children's education. It's a great
program, and the graduates have reason to be proud of their
achievements. And then, reading this magazine, I realized how hard it
must be for the Afghans at Sherzai. The literacy rate in Nangarhar in
Pashto is probably around 30%. Unemployment is still a significant
hurdle. Even many of those with jobs survive below the poverty line;
yet here are young men and women bettering themselves, developing
English and computer skills. I admittedly don't know anything about
these students. Like that iceberg, this program seems to exist just
below the consciousness of the Western world and our development
programs and the coalition's public affairs stories.
It seems everywhere we go in Nangarhar, if there is development
or aid, there are a coalition or NGO fingerprints all over it. Yet in
the middle of concrete jungles, those little WALL-E weeds still sprout
up. They exist. An excerpt from the magazine's first page: "Due to
Afghans are faced with many problems and the affected of wars in past
three decades brought them far away from the world of technology.
Access to English Language and Computer can bring them to the right
track." It's not English, it's the thirst to learn and the facilities
that enable learning that are putting Afghans on the right track.
It's funny to laugh at the execution sometimes. Perhaps the
Titanic wasn't so amusing. Maybe the English teachers of the world
would turn up their noses at the mistakes, but something else is
happening here. This magazine wasn't created for the reader. This
magazine is a testament to those that created it. Amidst the chaos and
IEDs and extremists outlawing education and American political debates,
sometimes those little seeds sprout. Whether it is enough to save the
country, I can't say. But for today, Titanic was indeed an amusing
ship.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
New PRT commander arrives in Nangarhar
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brent Grometer of Los Altos, Calif., relinquished command of Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team to U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Anderson of Dallas, during a ceremony here, Nov. 5.
The PRT is a unique military unit, centered on assisting the Afghan government in meeting the needs of its people and stabilizing the country for the benefit of all Afghans.
The incoming commander, Anderson, is an operations research scientist by trade with 15 years experience in the Air Force. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Anderson has worked extensively in analyzing the political, military, economic, social, infrastructure and information environment of United States Central Command.
“We have spent American tax dollars on a number of development programs in order to increase the Afghan standard of living,” said Anderson. “I want to make sure that money was well spent and is still helping the people of Afghanistan out as we intended.”
“It is rewarding to know that much has been accomplished, but very sad to leave the day-to-day friendships and personal relationships we have built with our Afghan friends and partners” said Grometer, reflecting on his time as commander.
During his tenure as the PRT commander, Grometer oversaw a number of ambitious undertakings. His team spent more than $287 million on 235 projects across the region, including graduating 2,500 new members of the Afghan National Police, facilitating the first provincial-level women’s shura in Nangarhar, and creating programs for young Afghan boys and girls modeled after the Boy and Girl Scouts.
The incoming commander, Anderson, is an operations research scientist by trade with 15 years experience in the Air Force. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Anderson has worked extensively in analyzing the political, military, economic, social, infrastructure and information environment of United States Central Command.
Anderson has set an ambitious course for the PRT during his time as commander. He intends to revisit the old projects initiated by past PRTs and ensuring they are accomplishing their intended goal.
“We have spent American tax dollars on a number of development programs in order to increase the Afghan standard of living,” said Anderson. “I want to make sure that money was well spent and is still helping the people of Afghanistan out as we intended.”
In the end, Anderson is ready to get to work with his team. After three intense months of preparation for this deployment, the entire PRT is anxious to start doing what they were trained to do.
“We’re all looking forward to getting out there with the people, listening to their needs, and connecting their government to them,” Anderson said.
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