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On the ground in Konar Province
June 22, 2009 | Posted by Abu Muqawama - 8:45am | 13 Comments
I spoke with Greg Jaffe last week, and though he had just returned from Afghanistan a few hours earlier, he couldn't wait to tell me about this young shalwar qameez-wearing company commander who had really impressed him in Konar Province. Captain Harrison's story is in today's Washington Post.
Paging Foust and Christian:
Paging Foust and Christian: Pressing a soggy 20 dollar bill into the hands of a father who just lost his child. Is that good politeness? Because it seems really rude to me to not wait a few days, and recompensate after the grief has carried over. Admitted I may be overlooking something cultural, but is this standard procedure?
Well, I think it mattered
Well, I think it mattered that the Americans were not the ones responsible for the death and indeed tried to treat her. If the Americans were the ones who killed her, yeah, that would not have been cricket.Agreed, but still? At the
Agreed, but still? At the moment of telling him she had died? I dont mean to dis the person in question, just to make a cultural question.
"Were sorry the bad guys killed your daughter, heres 20 bucks and call us if you need anything, byeeee"?
Gesture came from the heart.
Gesture came from the heart. That can be seen and understood, whether in Afghanistan or anyplace else. Harrison displays great empathy, a factor that is critical in counterinsurgency but is awfully seldom studied or commented upon.
Fine story, but the question
Fine story, but the question that comes to my mind is, how often are CPT Harrison's actions repeated across time and space in Afghanistan by others? What haunts me about this story is its reflection of Vietnam. Those of us who served in Vietnam and/or served in the post-Vietnam years ask, "has anything fundamentally changed in the way the US Army does business?" Looking at the big picture, I myself don't see it.
I see that Stan has issued new restrictions on the use of firepower for the obvious reason. However, need I ask how the Taliban will respond to this change of policy?
Quite frankly, I'll be interested to see how the exit strategy from Afghanistan is finessed.
fnord, The $20 bill doesn't
fnord,
The $20 bill doesn't strike me as any sort of major violation of cultural norms. But it is an "awkward" time and place for that, to say the least. And that 20 likely more to help the Captain feel better than the father.
But to contradict the article, funerals for children in rural areas are not expensive ceremonies (based on anecdotes).
And a caveat, this is Kunar, and it's quite diverse as far as culture goes. So I'm really just guessing here.
But to contradict the
But to contradict the article, funerals for children in rural areas are not expensive ceremonies (based on anecdotes).
I don't think this contradicts an assertion made by the writer, but rather a statement from CPT Harrison. And that statement seemed to me to be a face-saving way of suggesting a reparations payment, since it's going to be easier for this guy to accept "funds for your daughter's funeral" than thinly-diguised charity from the Americans.
I should correct myself:
I should correct myself: it's not a "reparations" payment in any sense, since US forces weren't responsible for the death. I guess a better way to put it would be a "bereavement gift" or something like that.
Based on my experience, that
Based on my experience, that $20 was probably from CPT Harrison's own pocket. Will it have strategic effects? Will the father become an Afghan government supporter, or an insurgent based on it? I don't know and don't care. It was probably the best that he could do given the toolset he has been provided with by ISAF. I'm optimistic about the success of 10th Mountain's efforts in this area, because they seem to care a lot more and be more resourceful than their predecessors.
10th Mountain has had a huge
10th Mountain has had a huge impact on the area just by being there. 10th Mountain replaced a company sized element out there. Just by being there they have given a new look for Taliban forces to deal with. Helps cut off supply lines to the main problem areas in the Kunar (ie the Pesh, Korengal, Chapadara, Watapur, and Wanat Valleys.) Although nothing helps as much as Pakistan going after militants in their AO.
This was a really great
This was a really great article -- I read it on the Metro this morning wondering what AM would have to say about it. I'm not sure why he had to start off my informing us that Greg Jaffe contacted him as soon as he got home, and "couldn't wait to tell him about it." It was a great story and a great discussion for the AM community, but AM's comments sound overly vain. I don't doubt his street cred with anyone writing about COIN -- there's no need to strut it.
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