'Ineffective, Unprofessional, And Corrupt: The Afghan National Police Challenge', Foreign Policy Research Institute, 24 June 2009
EXCERPT: "'Going forward, we will not blindly stay the course' were the stirring words President Obama used to unveil his new Afghanistan strategy on March 27. The sentiment should have been much welcomed, both in Afghanistan and elsewhere abroad. Eight years after the U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom, its own intelligence agencies have concluded that Afghanistan is caught in a downward spiral, confronted by warlordism, a weak and corrupt government, a resurgent Taliban, and a narco-dominated economy. Afghanistan’s last ranking on the UN’s Human Development Index was a derisory 174th out of roughly 180 countries. Overlooked but at the heart of both the problem and the solution is policing. Security is essential for socioeconomic development, while upholding the rule of law and contributing to the provision of justice engenders faith and legitimacy in national government institutions. It was therefore positive that Obama stressed the centrality of the Afghan National Police (ANP) to the war effort. Nonetheless, Obama’s 'new' strategy, far from going forward, is actually looking back."
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See also:
'Afghanistan's failing forces', The New York Times, 22 June 2009
'As election looms, few Afghan police "adequately" trained: UN', The Vancouver Sun, 11 June 2009
'Erratic Afghan forces pose challenge to US goals', Tehran Times, 10 June 2009
'Corruption undermines Afghan self-governance', NPR, 3 June 2009
Related posts:
'Afghan police face critical tasks', 29 April 2009
'Afghanistan's national security forces', 16 April 2009
'Top commander says Afghan handoff "years away"', 6 April 2009
'Policing in Afghanistan: Still searching for a strategy', 18 December 2008
'Afghanistan's future threatened by poor police', 10 June 2008
