Afghanistan

[sanjuro_ronin]

- I'm here for a year

- Nothing I can talk about

- I am really just trying to keep people alive long enough for them to change things, and giving them what they need to know to act against the threat (which is EVERYWHERE)


It's a very dangerous place here, and there are a lot of moving pieces by other "players".

It's a **** hole, always has been and probably always will be.

[Syn7]

- I'm here for a year

- Nothing I can talk about

- I am really just trying to keep people alive long enough for them to change things, and giving them what they need to know to act against the threat (which is EVERYWHERE)


It's a very dangerous place here, and there are a lot of moving pieces by other "players".

was restrepo an accurate portrayal of what its like there??? way diff than iraq huh???

[Drake]

was restrepo an accurate portrayal of what its like there??? way diff than iraq huh???

I just spent the last week living down at the city police headquarters. No, no movie will EVER get this crap down right.

[Syn7]

I just spent the last week living down at the city police headquarters. No, no movie will EVER get this crap down right.

wasnt a movie... you guys abandoned that valley right??? do you know the camp restrepo story?

[sanjuro_ronin]

I just spent the last week living down at the city police headquarters. No, no movie will EVER get this crap down right.

I understand where you are coming from.
No movie or documentary ever got Bosnia right.
Watch your six bro.

[David Jamieson]

Drake are you doing logistics on the withdrawal for the year?

[Drake]

Drake are you doing logistics on the withdrawal for the year?

I don't touch logistics. I have a much different job.

[SanHeChuan]

- I am really just trying to keep people alive long enough for them to change things,

What changes do you think are being made that wont be swept away as soon as we leave?

[David Jamieson]

What changes do you think are being made that wont be swept away as soon as we leave?

who says we're leaving?

I don't doubt there will be mercs/private contractors present for the foreseeable future.

[Drake]

who says we're leaving?

I don't doubt there will be mercs/private contractors present for the foreseeable future.

What are you talking about? I've been in town every day... not a single "merc" in sight. It's all Afghan-led here. This isn't Iraq. The ABP, ANA, and ANP are holding their own, and then some. Sad that the amazing things they do never make the news, and instead we get overinflated, pretty much lies about what really happened. Guess tragedy sells better than triumph.

[SimonM]

The SEO fully intends to step into Afghanistan the second the NATO types leave. Considering the two biggest motives of the SEO are regional stability and profit I expect they'll try to keep a lid on things.

[Drake]

Everyone here is thinking western-style...what western entities will do, and how western entities will profit. It isn't going to work like that, unless of course, some key Afghan players get a cut.

Everyone is forgetting that these Afghan powerbrokers have their own plans for the country, and most of them have international, and VERY powerful connections. Even NATO is getting punched in the pee pee when they go against the flow. That includes US forces.

[David Jamieson]

What are you talking about? I've been in town every day... not a single "merc" in sight. It's all Afghan-led here. This isn't Iraq. The ABP, ANA, and ANP are holding their own, and then some. Sad that the amazing things they do never make the news, and instead we get overinflated, pretty much lies about what really happened. Guess tragedy sells better than triumph.

You saying Xe isn't in there? Karzai got kiboshed on kickin them out in March of this year, they are still there.

I have no doubt we are fed steaming piles of crap from our western propo machines.

Not to mention, Xe aren't the only merc org there. there are others, some have been disbanded due to nepotism etc.

this is recent:

Karzai had already conceded that embassies and Nato, which rely on private guards to protect supply convoys, could continue to use security companies. But questions remained over development projects, such as road construction, that the US regard as essential for winning over ordinary Afghans.

Under the new plan companies guarding reconstruction projects will be able to have 500 of their own guards, or up to 1,000 if they pay a one-off fine.

For contracts requiring more than that the companies will be expected to recruit, train, arm and pay new APPF guards who will then take control of the contract after 12 months.

If the APPF proves not up to the job the private company will continue to be in control, according to the draft proposal. Many officials think that is likely.

Is APPF just a safe blanket for a lot of mercs?

[SimonM]

Everyone here is thinking western-style...what western entities will do, and how western entities will profit. It isn't going to work like that, unless of course, some key Afghan players get a cut.

Um... You do know who the SEO are right?

You know that Afghanistan asked for observer status in the SEO this year right? And that most predictions is that it'll be a gimmie for them to get that status.

[Drake]

I don't care what the news says. At all. Convoy security? What convoys? NATO hangs out on KAF, spending most of their days on the Boardwalk.

If there is a private security firm making $$, it's more PAK than AFG. Every contractor here is either for training or for logistical support. They are making a ton of money, but it isn't through security.

Again... I don't care what the news says. I only see ABP, ANA, and ANP. And I see them everywhere. And it's cheaper to get local security here anyway... ie what we use for KAF.

Really... don't trust the news. They are wrong.