DOCSLIB.ORG

EASO Country of Origin Information Report Afghanistan Security Situation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
EASO Country of Origin Information Report Afghanistan Security Situation European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Afghanistan Security Situation December 2017 SuppORt IS OuR mISSIOn European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Afghanistan Security situation December 2017 Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00800 numbers or these calls may be billed. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). ISBN: 978-92-9494-837-3 doi: 10.2847/574136 © European Asylum Support Office 2017 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated. For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights statements of the respective third parties. Cover photo: © DVIDSHUB (Flickr) Afghan Convoy Attacked Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained herein. EASO COI REPORT AFGHANISTAN: SECURITY SITUATION — 3 Acknowledgements EASO would like to acknowledge the following national asylum and migration departments as the co-authors of this report: Belgium, Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Cedoca (Center for Documentation and Research) France, Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless persons (OFPRA), Information, Documentation and Research Division Poland, Country of Origin Information Unit, Department for Refugee Procedures, Office for Foreigners ACCORD – Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation Slovakia, Migration Office, Department of Documentation and Foreign Cooperation Finland, Finnish Immigration Service, Country Information Service Furthermore, the following cooperated in reviewing and commenting on the report: Austria, Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum, Country of Origin Information Department The Netherlands, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, Office for Country Information and Language Analysis (OCILA) UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), RSD Section It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations contributes to the overall quality of the report, but does not necessarily imply their formal endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO. 4 — EASO COI REPORT AFGHANISTAN: SECURITY SITUATION Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 3 Contents .................................................................................................................................... 4 Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................. 9 Glossary and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... 10 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 16 Map.......................................................................................................................................... 20 1. General description of the security situation in Afghanistan .............................................. 21 1.1 Overview of recent conflicts in Afghanistan ................................................................. 21 1.2 Political landscape ......................................................................................................... 22 1.3 Peace talks ..................................................................................................................... 23 1.4 International context .................................................................................................... 24 1.5 Actors in the conflict ..................................................................................................... 25 1.5.1 Pro-Government Forces (PGF) ............................................................................... 25 1.5.2 Anti-Government Elements (AGEs) ....................................................................... 32 1.5.3 Other forces ........................................................................................................... 40 1.6 Recent security trends and armed confrontations ....................................................... 41 1.6.1 Armed clashes and assaults ................................................................................... 43 1.6.2 Improvised Explosive Devices ................................................................................ 44 1.6.3 High-profile attacks ................................................................................................ 45 1.6.4 Targeted killings and conflict-related abduction ................................................... 46 1.6.5 Aerial attacks and bombings .................................................................................. 47 1.7 State ability to secure law and order ............................................................................ 48 1.8 Impact of the violence on the civilian population ........................................................ 49 1.8.1 Civilian casualties ................................................................................................... 49 1.8.2 Socio-economic life ................................................................................................ 50 1.8.3 Refugees, IDPs and returnees ................................................................................ 51 1.8.4 Children .................................................................................................................. 55 1.8.5 Health facilities ...................................................................................................... 57 1.9 Geographical overview of the security situation .......................................................... 58 1.9.1 Urban/rural divide ................................................................................................. 58 1.9.2 Regional differences .............................................................................................. 59 1.9.3 Government versus Taliban control ...................................................................... 63 1.9.4 Road security ......................................................................................................... 67 2. Regional description of the security situation in Afghanistan ............................................ 69 2.1 Kabul City ...................................................................................................................... 69 General description of the city ....................................................................................... 69 Background on the conflict and actors in Kabul City ...................................................... 70 Recent security trends in Kabul City ............................................................................... 71 Displacement .................................................................................................................. 73 2.2 Badakhshan ................................................................................................................... 74 General description of the province ............................................................................... 74 Background on the conflict and actors in Badakhshan .................................................. 75 Recent security trends .................................................................................................... 76 Displacement .................................................................................................................. 78 2.3 Badghis .......................................................................................................................... 78 General description of the province ............................................................................... 78 Background on the conflict and actors in Badghis ......................................................... 79 EASO COI REPORT AFGHANISTAN: SECURITY SITUATION — 5 Recent security trends .................................................................................................... 81 Displacement .................................................................................................................. 82 2.4 Baghlan .......................................................................................................................... 83 General description of the province ............................................................................... 83 Background on the conflict and actors in Baghlan ......................................................... 84 Recent Security trends .................................................................................................... 85 Displacement .................................................................................................................. 87 2.5 Balkh .............................................................................................................................. 88 General description of the province ..............................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Update Conflict Displacement Faryab Province 22 May 2013
    Update conflict displacement Faryab Province 22 May 2013 Background On 22 April, Anti-Government Elements (AGE) launched a major attack in Qaysar district, making Faryab province one of their key targets of the spring offensive. The fighting later spread to Almar district of Faryab province and Ghormach of Badghis Province, displacing approximately 2,500 people. The attack in Qaysar was well organized, involving several hundred AGE fighters. According to Shah Farokh Shah, commander of 300 Afghan local policemen in Khoja Kinti, some of the insurgents were identified as ‘Chechens and Pakistani Taliban’1. The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) has regained control of the Qaysar police checkpoints. The plan is to place 60 Afghan local policemen (ALPs) at the various checkpoints in the Khoja Kinti area. Quick Response Forces with 40 ALPs have already been posted. ANSF is regaining control in Ghormach district. Similar efforts are made in Almar and Pashtun Kot. Faryab OCCT has decided to replace ALP and ANP, originally coming from Almar district, with staff from other districts. Reportedly the original ALP and ANP forces have sided with the AGE. Security along the Shiberghan - Andkhoy road has improved. The new problem area is the Andkhoy - Maymana road part. 200 highway policemen are being recruited to secure the Maymana - Shibergan highway. According to local media reports the Taliban forces have not been defeated and they are still present in the area. There may be further displacement in view of the coming ANSF operations. Since the start of this operation on 22 April, UNAMA documented 18 civilian casualties in Qaysar district from ground engagements between AGEs and ANSF, IED incidents targeting ANP and targeted killings.
    [Show full text]
  • Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Kunduz Province
    [Compa ny name] Assessment Report- Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Kunduz Province Dr. Noor Ahmad “Ahmad” Dr. Mirza Jan Hafiz Akbar Ahmadi Vijay Raghavan Final Report Acknowledgements The study team thank representatives of the following institutions who have met us in both Kabul and Kunduz during the assessment. WHO – Kabul and Kunduz; UNOCHA – Kunduz; MSF (Kunduz); UNHCR- Kunduz; Handicap International Kunduz; Provincial Health Directorate, Kunduz; Regional Hospital, Kunduz; Afghanistan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), Kunduz; DoRR, Kunduz; Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, Kunduz; JACK BPHS team in Kunduz Thanks of INSO for conducting the assessment of the field locations and also for field movements Special thanks to the communities and their representatives – Thanks to CHNE and CME staff and students District Hospital staff of Imam Sahib Our sincere thanks to the District wise focal points, health facility staff and all support staff of JACK, Kunduz who tirelessly supported in the field assessment and arrangement of necessary logistics for the assessment team. Thanks to Health and Protection Clusters for their constant inputs and support. Thanks to OCHA-HFU team for their feedback on our previous programme and that helped in refining our assessment focus and added the components of additional issues like operations, logistics and quality of supplies which were discussed elaborately with the field team of JACK. Thanks to Access and Security team in OCHA for their feedback on access and security sections. Page 2 of 102 Final
    [Show full text]
  • Briefing Notes KW24 2021
    Briefing Notes Group 62 – Information Centre for Asylum and Migration 14 June 2021 Afghanistan Taliban cooperate with al-Qaeda / ISKP still active in the country As reported by LongWarJournal on 07.06.21, the UN Sanctions Monitoring Team published a new report on insurgents/Islamists in Afghanistan on 01.06.21. According to the report, the Taliban still maintain good connections to al-Qaeda in the country, especially through the Haqqani network, whose members have married into al-Qaeda families, amongst other things. In addition, Sirajuddin Haqqani is a leading figure within al-Qaeda, but not of the al Qaeda core leadership (the Hattin Shura), the report says. Al-Qaeda is active in 15 Afghan provinces, despite the Taliban's claims to the contrary, and is led by its Jahbat al-Nasr wing, the report continues. Both the al- Qaeda leadership and that of al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS), including the leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, are based in the border region with Pakistan. Besides, the Taliban are in control of 280 mining locations across 26 provinces (government control: 281 locations across 16 provinces; warlord control: 148 location across 12 provinces) and had gained about $450 million profit from them last year, the report continues. Despite its defeats in Kunar and Nangarhar, the ISKP also remains a threat, being still active in small cells (about 1,500-2,200 fighters) in the two provinces; other fighters (Tajiks, Uzbeks) are also active in Badakhshan, Kunduz, Balkh and Sar-e Pul, the report says. Taliban: more districts captured Reports of 09.06.21 say that the Afghan parliament has confirmed the capture of several districts by the Taliban in the last two months: Jond district in Badghis, Barka in Baghlan, Nerkh and Jalrez in Maidan Wardak, Dawlat Shah in Laghman, Qaisar in Faryab, Gizab in Uruzgan, and Sharak in Ghor.
    [Show full text]
  • State-Based Compensation for Victims of Armed Conflict
    STATE-BASED COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF ARMED CONFLICT: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PRACTICE Alexandra Lian Fowler, B.Sc (Hons), LLB (Hons), MA A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Juridical Studies School of Law University of Sydney 2018 STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. I give consent to this copy of my thesis, when deposited in the University Library, being made available for loan and photocopying subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act (1968) (Cth). ________Alexandra Fowler________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to acknowledge the support of the professional staff of Sydney Law School and of Sydney University Library regarding research technique, as well as of the Australian Postgraduate Awards for vital financial support throughout the years researching and writing this thesis. Sincere gratitude goes to my supervisors at Sydney Law School - Professor Ben Saul, Associate Professor Emily Crawford, and in the initial stages, Professor Gillian Triggs. I am deeply grateful for their extremely helpful insight and advice, for the patience they have shown in evaluating and guiding repeated iterations of this work, and for keeping me focused and on track. It would simply not have been possible to complete this thesis without their expertise and support. My late father, Emeritus Professor (UNSW) Robert Thomas Fowler BSc PhD DSc (Eng), has been an immense source of inspiration.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan: the Situation of Christian Converts
    +*-/ !"#)$./) # .$/0/$*)*!#-$./$)*)1 -/. 7 April 2021 © Landinfo 2021 The material in this report is covered by copyright law. Any reproduction or publication of this report or any extract thereof other than as permitted by current Norwegian copyright law requires the explicit written consent of Landinfo. For information on all of the reports published by Landinfo, please contact: Landinfo Country of Origin Information Centre Storgata 33 A P.O. Box 2098 Vika NO-0125 Oslo Tel.: (+47) 23 30 94 70 Ema il: [email protected] www.landinfo.no *0/ )$)!*ҁ. - +*-/. The Norwegian Country of Origin Information Centre, Landinfo, is an independent body within the Norwegian Immigration Authorities. Landinfo provides country of origin information (COI) to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (Utlendingsdirektoratet – UDI), the Immigration Appeals Board (Utlendingsnemnda – UNE) and the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Reports produced by Landinfo are based on information from carefully selected sources. The informa tion is collected a nd analysed in accordance with common methodology for processing COI and Landinfo’s internal guidelines on source and information analysis. To ensure balanced reports, efforts are made to obtain information from a wide range of sources. Many of our reports draw on findings and interviews conducted on fact-finding missions. All sources used are referenced. Sources hesitant to provide information to be cited in a public report have retained anonymity. The reports do not provide exhaustive overviews of topics or themes but cover aspects relevant for the processing of asylum and residency cases. Country of Origin Information presented in Landinfo’s reports does not contain policy recommendations nor does it reflect official Norwegian views.
    [Show full text]
  • “TELLING the STORY” Sources of Tension in Afghanistan & Pakistan: a Regional Perspective (2011-2016)
    “TELLING THE STORY” Sources of Tension in Afghanistan & Pakistan: A Regional Perspective (2011-2016) Emma Hooper (ed.) This monograph has been produced with the financial assistance of the Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the position of the Ministry. © 2016 CIDOB This monograph has been produced with the financial assistance of the Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the position of the Ministry. CIDOB edicions Elisabets, 12 08001 Barcelona Tel.: 933 026 495 www.cidob.org [email protected] D.L.: B 17561 - 2016 Barcelona, September 2016 CONTENTS CONTRIBUTOR BIOGRAPHIES 5 FOREWORD 11 Tine Mørch Smith INTRODUCTION 13 Emma Hooper CHAPTER ONE: MAPPING THE SOURCES OF TENSION WITH REGIONAL DIMENSIONS 17 Sources of Tension in Afghanistan & Pakistan: A Regional Perspective .......... 19 Zahid Hussain Mapping the Sources of Tension and the Interests of Regional Powers in Afghanistan and Pakistan ............................................................................................. 35 Emma Hooper & Juan Garrigues CHAPTER TWO: KEY PHENOMENA: THE TALIBAN, REFUGEES , & THE BRAIN DRAIN, GOVERNANCE 57 THE TALIBAN Preamble: Third Party Roles and Insurgencies in South Asia ............................... 61 Moeed Yusuf The Pakistan Taliban Movement: An Appraisal ......................................................... 65 Michael Semple The Taliban Movement in Afghanistan .......................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Winning Hearts and Minds? Examining the Relationship Between Aid and Security in Afghanistan’S Faryab Province Geert Gompelman ©2010 Feinstein International Center
    JANUARY 2011 Strengthening the humanity and dignity of people in crisis through knowledge and practice Winning Hearts and Minds? Examining the Relationship between Aid and Security in Afghanistan’s Faryab Province Geert Gompelman ©2010 Feinstein International Center. All Rights Reserved. Fair use of this copyrighted material includes its use for non-commercial educational purposes, such as teaching, scholarship, research, criticism, commentary, and news reporting. Unless otherwise noted, those who wish to reproduce text and image files from this publication for such uses may do so without the Feinstein International Center’s express permission. However, all commercial use of this material and/or reproduction that alters its meaning or intent, without the express permission of the Feinstein International Center, is prohibited. Feinstein International Center Tufts University 200 Boston Ave., Suite 4800 Medford, MA 02155 USA tel: +1 617.627.3423 fax: +1 617.627.3428 fic.tufts.edu Author Geert Gompelman (MSc.) is a graduate in Development Studies from the Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN) at Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands). He has worked as a development practitioner and research consultant in Afghanistan since 2007. Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank his research colleagues Ahmad Hakeem (“Shajay”) and Kanishka Haya for their assistance and insights as well as companionship in the field. Gratitude is also due to Antonio Giustozzi, Arne Strand, Petter Bauck, and Hans Dieset for their substantive comments and suggestions on a draft version. The author is indebted to Mervyn Patterson for his significant contribution to the historical and background sections. Thanks go to Joyce Maxwell for her editorial guidance and for helping to clarify unclear passages and to Bridget Snow for her efficient and patient work on the production of the final document.
    [Show full text]
  • “Poppy Free” Provinces: a Measure Or a Target?
    Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit Case Study Series WATER MANAGEMENT, LIVESTOCK AND THE OPIUM ECONOMY “Poppy Free” Provinces: A Measure or a Target? This report is one of seven multi-site case studies undertaken during the second stage of AREU’s three-year study “Applied Thematic Research into Water Management, Livestock and the Opium Economy” (WOL). David Mansfield Funding for this research was provided by the European Commission. May 2009 Editor: Emily Winterbotham Layout: AREU Publications Team © 2009 Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher, the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Permission can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by calling (+93)(0)799 608 548. “Poppy Free” Provinces: A Measure or a Target? About the Author David Mansfield is a specialist on development in drugs-producing environments. He has spent 17 years working in coca- and opium-producing countries, with over ten years experience conducting research into the role of opium in rural livelihood strategies in Afghanistan. About the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent research organisation based in Kabul. AREU’s mission is to conduct high-quality research that informs and influences policy and practice. AREU also actively promotes a culture of research and learning by strengthening analytical capacity in Afghanistan and facilitating reflection and debate. Fundamental to AREU’s vision is that its work should improve Afghan lives.
    [Show full text]
  • Left in the Dark
    LEFT IN THE DARK FAILURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CIVILIAN CASUALTIES CAUSED BY INTERNATIONAL MILITARY OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. First published in 2014 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW United Kingdom © Amnesty International 2014 Index: ASA 11/006/2014 Original language: English Printed by Amnesty International, International Secretariat, United Kingdom All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. To request permission, or for any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] Cover photo: Bodies of women who were killed in a September 2012 US airstrike are brought to a hospital in the Alingar district of Laghman province. © ASSOCIATED PRESS/Khalid Khan amnesty.org CONTENTS MAP OF AFGHANISTAN .......................................................................................... 6 1. SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... 7 Methodology ..........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Five Provinces (Jawzjan, Balkh, Baghlan, Kunduz and Badakhshan) of Afghanistan
    ITB NO. 9152 For the Rehabilitation of justice facilities at 10 districts in 5 provinces (Jawzjan, Balkh, Baghlan, Kunduz and Badakhshan,) INVITATION TO BID FOR THE REHABILITATION OF JUSTICE FACILITES AT TEN DISTRICTS OF FIVE PROVINCES (JAWZJAN, BALKH, BAGHLAN, KUNDUZ AND BADAKHSHAN) OF AFGHANISTAN COUNTRY: ............................... ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN PROJECT NAME:………………….. JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN-DISTRICT LEVEL COMPONENT PROJECT NUMBER: ................................................................ 00071252 ISSUE DATE: 07 OCTOBER 2009 Section 1 – Instruction to Bidders Page 1 of 104 ITB NO. 9152 For the Rehabilitation of justice facilities at 10 districts in 5 provinces (Jawzjan, Balkh, Baghlan, Kunduz and Badakhshan,) PLEASE READ CAREFULLY CHECK LIST FOR COMPLETE BID SUBMISSION BID SUBMISSION FORM (SECTION 7, PAGE 100) OF THIS DOCUMENT); PROJECT LIST; This must describe at least five rehabilitation/construction projects valued at over $ 500,000.00 completed in the past five years and must also include the names and contact details (telephone numbers and email addresses) of clients; CLIENT REFERENCES (IF ANY) STAFF LIST; This must clearly identify the Senior Manager/Company Director, Senior Civil Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Senior Site Engineer and two Junior Site Engineers. STAFF CURRICULUM VITAES; This must include CVs for the Senior Manager/Company Director, Senior Civil Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Senior Site Engineer and two Junior Site Engineers. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY LIST
    [Show full text]
  • Individuals and Organisations
    Designated individuals and organisations Listed below are all individuals and organisations currently designated in New Zealand as terrorist entities under the provisions of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002. It includes those listed with the United Nations (UN), pursuant to relevant Security Council Resolutions, at the time of the enactment of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 and which were automatically designated as terrorist entities within New Zealand by virtue of the Acts transitional provisions, and those subsequently added by virtue of Section 22 of the Act. The list currently comprises 7 parts: 1. A list of individuals belonging to or associated with the Taliban By family name: • A • B,C,D,E • F, G, H, I, J • K, L • M • N, O, P, Q • R, S • T, U, V • W, X, Y, Z 2. A list of organisations belonging to or associated with the Taliban 3. A list of individuals belonging to or associated with ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida By family name: • A • B • C, D, E • F, G, H • I, J, K, L • M, N, O, P • Q, R, S, T • U, V, W, X, Y, Z 4. A list of organisations belonging to or associated with ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida 5. A list of entities where the designations have been deleted or consolidated • Individuals • Entities 6. A list of entities where the designation is pursuant to UNSCR 1373 1 7. A list of entities where the designation was pursuant to UNSCR 1373 but has since expired or been revoked Several identifiers are used throughout to categorise the information provided.
    [Show full text]
  • The Coils of the Anaconda: America's
    THE COILS OF THE ANACONDA: AMERICA’S FIRST CONVENTIONAL BATTLE IN AFGHANISTAN BY C2009 Lester W. Grau Submitted to the graduate degree program in Military History and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ____________________________ Dr. Theodore A Wilson, Chairperson ____________________________ Dr. James J. Willbanks, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Robert F. Baumann, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Maria Carlson, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Jacob W. Kipp, Committee Member Date defended: April 27, 2009 The Dissertation Committee for Lester W. Grau certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: THE COILS OF THE ANACONDA: AMERICA’S FIRST CONVENTIONAL BATTLE IN AFGHANISTAN Committee: ____________________________ Dr. Theodore A Wilson, Chairperson ____________________________ Dr. James J. Willbanks, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Robert F. Baumann, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Maria Carlson, Committee Member ____________________________ Dr. Jacob W. Kipp, Committee Member Date approved: April 27, 2009 ii PREFACE Generals have often been reproached with preparing for the last war instead of for the next–an easy gibe when their fellow-countrymen and their political leaders, too frequently, have prepared for no war at all. Preparation for war is an expensive, burdensome business, yet there is one important part of it that costs little–study. However changed and strange the new conditions of war may be, not only generals, but politicians and ordinary citizens, may find there is much to be learned from the past that can be applied to the future and, in their search for it, that some campaigns have more than others foreshadowed the coming pattern of modern war.1 — Field Marshall Viscount William Slim.
    [Show full text]