Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration in Afghanistan
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Freedom Or Theocracy?: Constitutionalism in Afghanistan and Iraq Hannibal Travis
Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights Volume 3 | Issue 1 Article 4 Spring 2005 Freedom or Theocracy?: Constitutionalism in Afghanistan and Iraq Hannibal Travis Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/njihr Recommended Citation Hannibal Travis, Freedom or Theocracy?: Constitutionalism in Afghanistan and Iraq, 3 Nw. J. Int'l Hum. Rts. 1 (2005). http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/njihr/vol3/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights by an authorized administrator of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. Copyright 2005 Northwestern University School of Law Volume 3 (Spring 2005) Northwestern University Journal of International Human Rights FREEDOM OR THEOCRACY?: CONSTITUTIONALISM IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ By Hannibal Travis* “Afghans are victims of the games superpowers once played: their war was once our war, and collectively we bear responsibility.”1 “In the approved version of the [Afghan] constitution, Article 3 was amended to read, ‘In Afghanistan, no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.’ … This very significant clause basically gives the official and nonofficial religious leaders in Afghanistan sway over every action that they might deem contrary to their beliefs, which by extension and within the Afghan cultural context, could be regarded as -
Conflict in Afghanistan I
Conflict in Afghanistan I 92 Number 880 December 2010 Volume Volume 92 Number 880 December 2010 Volume 92 Number 880 December 2010 Part 1: Socio-political and humanitarian environment Interview with Dr Sima Samar Chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission Afghanistan: an historical and geographical appraisal William Maley Dynamic interplay between religion and armed conflict in Afghanistan Ken Guest Transnational Islamic networks Imtiaz Gul Impunity and insurgency: a deadly combination in Afghanistan Norah Niland The right to counsel as a safeguard of justice in Afghanistan: the contribution of the International Legal Foundation Jennifer Smith, Natalie Rea, and Shabir Ahmad Kamawal State-building in Afghanistan: a case showing the limits? Lucy Morgan Edwards The future of Afghanistan: an Afghan responsibility Conflict I in Afghanistan Taiba Rahim Humanitarian debate: Law, policy, action www.icrc.org/eng/review Conflict in Cambridge Journals Online For further information about this journal please go to the journal web site at: ISSN 1816-3831 http://www.journals.cambridge.org/irc Afghanistan I Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Vincent Bernard The Review is printed in English and is Editorial assistant: Michael Siegrist published four times a year, in March, Publication assistant: June, September and December. Claire Franc Abbas Annual selections of articles are also International Review of the Red Cross published on a regional level in Arabic, Aim and scope 19, Avenue de la Paix Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. The International Review of the Red Cross is a periodical CH - 1202 Geneva, Switzerland published by the ICRC. Its aim is to promote reflection on t +41 22 734 60 01 Published in association with humanitarian law, policy and action in armed conflict and f +41 22 733 20 57 Cambridge University Press. -
The Politics of Disarmament and Rearmament in Afghanistan
[PEACEW RKS [ THE POLITICS OF DISARMAMENT AND REARMAMENT IN AFGHANISTAN Deedee Derksen ABOUT THE REPORT This report examines why internationally funded programs to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate militias since 2001 have not made Afghanistan more secure and why its society has instead become more militarized. Supported by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as part of its broader program of study on the intersection of political, economic, and conflict dynamics in Afghanistan, the report is based on some 250 interviews with Afghan and Western officials, tribal leaders, villagers, Afghan National Security Force and militia commanders, and insurgent commanders and fighters, conducted primarily between 2011 and 2014. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Deedee Derksen has conducted research into Afghan militias since 2006. A former correspondent for the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, she has since 2011 pursued a PhD on the politics of disarmament and rearmament of militias at the War Studies Department of King’s College London. She is grateful to Patricia Gossman, Anatol Lieven, Mike Martin, Joanna Nathan, Scott Smith, and several anonymous reviewers for their comments and to everyone who agreed to be interviewed or helped in other ways. Cover photo: Former Taliban fighters line up to handover their rifles to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan during a reintegration ceremony at the pro- vincial governor’s compound. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j. g. Joe Painter/RELEASED). Defense video and imagery dis- tribution system. The views expressed in this report are those of the author alone. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Institute of Peace. -
Cultural Intelligence in Covert Operatives
OVERT ACCEPTANCE: CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE IN COVERT OPERATIVES CHIP MICHAEL BUCKLEY A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Mercyhurst University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED INTELLIGENCE RIDGE SCHOOL FOR INTELLIGENCE STUDIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA JANUARY 2015 RIDGE SCHOOL FOR INTELLIGENCE STUDIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA OVERT ACCEPTANCE: CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE IN COVERT OPERATIVES A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Mercyhurst University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED INTELLIGENCE Submitted By: CHIP MICHAEL BUCKLEY Certificate of Approval: ___________________________________ Stephen Zidek, M.A. Assistant Professor The Ridge School of Intelligence Studies and Information Science ___________________________________ James G. Breckenridge, Ph.D. Associate Professor The Ridge School of Intelligence Studies and Information Science ___________________________________ Phillip J. Belfiore, Ph.D. Vice President Office of Academic Affairs January 2015 Copyright © 2015 by Chip Michael Buckley All rights reserved. iii DEDICATION To my father. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge a number of important individuals who have provided an extraordinary amount of support throughout this process. The faculty at Mercyhurst University, particularly Professor Stephen Zidek, provided invaluable guidance when researching and developing this thesis. My friends and classmates also volunteered important ideas and guidance throughout this time. Lastly, my family’s support, patience, and persistent inquiries regarding my progress cannot be overlooked. v ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS Overt Acceptance: Cultural Intelligence in Covert Operatives A Critical Examination By Chip Michael Buckley Master of Science in Applied Intelligence Mercyhurst University, 2014 Professor S. -
Democratization in Afghanistan by Chris Rowe
H UMAN R IGHTS & H UMAN W ELFARE Democratization in Afghanistan by Chris Rowe What determines whether a specific country embarks on the road to democracy, if it completes that voyage successfully, and finally consolidates democratic values, practices, and institutions? Analysts have debated these issues for decades and have identified a number of historical, structural, and cultural variables that help account for the establishment of successful democracies in some countries and its absence in others. Frequently cited prerequisites for democracy include social and economic modernization; a large and vibrant middle class; and cultural norms and values relating to politics. Yet whatever its determinants, operational democracies normally include contested elections, a free press, and the separation of powers. Although these characteristics have been identified as vital features of a democracy, emerging democracies also need to address serious social and economic injustices that threaten democratic consolidation. Afghanistan is a case in point in this regard. As a burgeoning democracy directly influenced by U.S.-led nation-building efforts, Afghanistan presents a unique and challenging case for democratization. Afghanistan has been ruled by warlords since the era of Taliban rule, and to an extent still is. Informal rule combined with the heroin trade and severe gender inequalities have created a frail foundation on which to promote democratic reforms. Although international human rights, judicial and national assembly commissions have presented significant mandates for change, all have met with problematic results. In order for democracy to take hold in Afghanistan, the fruits of warlord economy–opium production, smuggling, and illicit taxation of trade–must be wrested away from regional power brokers and replaced with socially stable economic incentives. -
Research Paper N°12 August 2014
Centre Français de Recherche sur le Renseignement OPERATION CYCLONE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES Research Paper n°12 August 2014 21 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris - France Tél. : 33 1 53 43 92 44 Fax : 33 1 53 43 92 92 www.cf2r.org Association régie par la loi du 1er juillet 1901 SIRET n° 453 441 602 000 19 ! Centre!Français!de!Recherche!sur!le!Renseignement! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! OPERATION!CYCLONE! AND!ITS!CONSEQUENCES! % % % ! ! Dr%FARHAN%ZAHID%% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % Research!Paper!n°12!<!August!2014! _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________% 21%Boulevard%Haussmann,%75009%Paris%<%France% Tél.%:%33%1%53%43%92%44%%%%%Fax%:%33%1%53%43%92%92%%%%%www.cF2r.orG% Association%réGie%par%la%loi%du%1er%juillet%1901%%%%%SIRET%n°%453%441%602%000%19% % 2 ! ! ! ! PRESENTATION%OF% % ! ! ! ! Founded!in!2000,!the!FRENCH!CENTRE!FOR!INTELLIGENCE!RESEARCH!(CF2R)! is! an! independent! Think& Tank,! regulated! by! the! French! Association! Law! of! 1901,! and! specialised! in! the! study! of! intelligence! and! international! security.! Its! missions! are! as! follows:! M! development! of! academic! research! and! publications! on! intelligence! and! international!security,! M!provision!of!expertise!for!public!policy!stakeholders!(decisionMmakers,!government,! lawmakers,!media,!etc.),! M!dispelling!of!myths!surrounding!intelligence!and!explaining!the!role!of!intelligence! to!the!general!public.! ! ! !%ORGANISATION% ! ! The! FRENCH! CENTER! FOR! INTELLIGENCE! RESEARCH! (CF2R)! -
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom The War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) began in October, 2001 in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 and the fall of the Afghan Communist government in 1992, a protracted civil war raged on between the various factions of anti-Communist Afghan fighters, who called themselves the Mujahadeen. Mullah Mohammed Omar, a Mullah (Islamic religious leader) and a member of the Pashtun ethnic group led a new armed group called the Taliban. The word Taliban means "student", and they attracted the support of Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida organization. In 1994, the Taliban attacked and defeated local warlords and acquired a reputation for order and military success. From that point onward, until they seized Kabul in September, 1996, the Taliban fought against several militias and warlords, eventually defeating them all. Moscow feared the Taliban as a source of aid and support for the rebels it has fought in Chechnya and Tajikistan. Iran, dominated by Shiite Islamic fundamentalists, was at odds with the Sunni Muslim Taliban, largely over the treatment of the Afghan Shiite minority called the Hazaris. Pakistan's role in the Taliban success is controversial, as it is generally believed that several Taliban military victories are directly attributable to armed Pakistani intervention. After seizing Mazar-i Sharif, the Taliban provoked the hostility of the area's Shiite Hazari minority, and the warlord, General Malik, ended his relationship with the Taliban. The result was the execution of at least 3,000 captured Taliban soldiers by Malik and the Hazaris. -
Taliban History of War and Peace in Afghanistan
Taliban history of war and peace in Afghanistan Felix Kuehn Felix Kuehn is the co-editor of My Life with the Taliban, the poetry written by Taliban members; and co-editor of The Taliban autobiography of the former Taliban envoy to Pakistan, Mullah Reader (Hurst, forthcoming). Kuehn holds a degree from the School Abdul Salam Zaeef (Hurst, 2010); co-author of An enemy we created: of Oriental and African Studies in London and will defend his PhD The myth of the Taliban/Al-Qaeda merger, 1970–2010 (Hurst, 2012); thesis submitted to King’s College London Department of War co-editor of Poetry of the Taliban (Hurst 2012), a volume of Studies later in 2018. ABSTRACT What does conflict in Afghanistan look like to the The movement sees itself as inclusive – not aligned Taliban and how can greater knowledge of how the with any group nor based on ethnicity or a political movement functions inform better peace policy? programme but following Islam alone. The Taliban’s resurgence in the 2000s mirrored their initial rise to Misconceptions of the Taliban have complicated power, facilitated by widespread public discontent efforts to end the war in Afghanistan. A key example with the new government. They see themselves and is the extent to which the movement represents the the US as the real stakeholders in the conflict and so grievances of a significant section of Afghan society. likewise in any reconciliation process. The Taliban are not unified. From inception the movement The Taliban are perhaps less exceptional in Afghanistan has included distinct groups with different views on national than many people would prefer to believe, as they and international policy. -
Title Page Us Military Operations, Governance
i TITLE PAGE US MILITARY OPERATIONS, GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY IN AFGHANISTAN, 2001-2010 BY OKAFOR, IFEANYICHUKWU PG/MSC/09/50976 A PROJECT REPORT SUMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS). DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA JANUARY, 2011 ii APPROVAL PAGE THIS PROJECT REPORT HAS BEEN APPROVED ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA. BY ------------------- ------- ---------------------------- DR KEN IFESINACHI PROF. OBASI IGWE (PROJECT SUPERVISOR) (HEAD OF DEPARTMENT) -------------------------- ------------------------------ PROF. E.O. EZEANI EXTERNAL EXAMINER DEAN OF FACULTY iii DEDICATION THIS WORK IS DEDICATED TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT To successfully complete this research work, I have inevitably incurred innumerable intellectual debt worthy of proper acknowledgement. First, I wish to register my unalloyed gratitude to God Almighty for His blessings and protection throughout the period of my academic sojourn in this great citadel of learning. Second, I wish to gratefully appreciate the intellectual inputs of both academic and non academic staff of Political Science Department especially my humane and brilliant supervisor – Dr. Ken Ifesinachi who patiently and dexterously guided me throughout this research work. I thank him. I also thank other lecturers like Dr. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, Prof. Jonah Onouha, Prof. Obasi Igwe, Prof. Ikejiani Clark, Dr. I. Abada and others. Third, I wish to say a big thank you to my big brother and mentor Mr. Chilaka Francis who has consistently shown me that a sincere friend is better than uncaring brother. -
Strange Victory: a Critical Appraisal of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Afghanistan War
Strange Victory: A critical appraisal of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Afghanistan war Carl Conetta Project on Defense Alternatives Research Monograph 6 30 January 2002 Project on Defense Alternatives Commonwealth Institute 186 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Telephone: 617-547-4474 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.comw.org/pda © Commonwealth Foundation ISBN: 1-881677-10-9 Citation: Carl Conetta, "Strange Victory: A critical appraisal of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Afghanistan war", Cambridge, MA: Commonwealth Institute Project on Defense Alternatives Research Monograph #6, 30 January 2002. URL: http://www.comw.org/pda/0201strangevic.pdf Contents Introduction 3 1. What has Operation Enduring Freedom accomplished? 4 1.1 The fruits of victory 4 1.1.1 Secondary goals 5 1.2 The costs of the war 6 1.2.1 The humanitarian cost of the war 7 1.2.2 Stability costs 7 2. Avoidable costs: the road not taken 9 3. War in search of a strategy 10 3.1 The Taliban become the target 10 3.2 Initial war strategy: split the Taliban 12 3.2.1 Romancing the Taliban 13 3.2.2 Pakistan: between the devil and the red, white, and blue 14 3.3 The first phase of the air campaign: a lever without a fulcrum 15 3.3.1 Strategic bombardment: alienating hearts and minds 15 3.4 A shift in strategy -- unleashing the dogs of war 17 4. A theater redefined 18 4.1 Reshuffling Afghanistan 19 4.2 Regional winners and losers 20 4.3 The structure of post-war Afghan instability 21 4.3.1 The Bonn agreement: nation-building or “cut and paste”? 22 4.3.2 Peacekeepers for Afghanistan: too little, too late 24 4.4 A new game: US and Afghan interests diverge 25 4.4.1 A failure to adjust 26 5. -
Afghanistan and the Future of Warfare: Implications for Army and Defense Policy
AFGHANISTAN AND THE FUTURE OF WARFARE: IMPLICATIONS FOR ARMY AND DEFENSE POLICY Stephen Biddle November 2002 ***** The author would like to thank the many individuals whose comments on previous drafts or briefings have improved the final monograph, and particularly Dr. Conrad Crane, Colonel Michael Hiemstra, Professor Douglas Lovelace, Colonel Douglas MacGregor, Colonel John R. Martin, Mr. Timothy Muchmore, and Dr. Kalev Sepp. The author would also like to thank Dr. Dale Andrade, Colonel Al Aycock, Dr. Chuck Briscoe, Brigadier General John S. Brown, Major Mack Brown, Colonel John R. Martin, Mr. Timothy Muchmore, Major John Warsinske, and Mr. Anthony Williams for their invaluable assistance in gaining access to key people, places, and information. Finally, the author would like to thank the forty-six soldiers, airmen, and analysts whose interviews form the basis of the analysis presented here, and without whose generous contributions of time and cooperation this analysis would not have been possible. Any errors of fact or interpretation, of course, are the responsibility of the author. ***** The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This report is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited. ***** Comments pertaining to this report are invited and should be forwarded to: Director, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 122 Forbes Ave., Carlisle, PA 17013-5244. Copies of this report may be obtained from the Publications Office by calling (717) 245-4133, FAX (717) 245-3820, or via the Internet at [email protected] ***** Most 1993, 1994, and all later Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) monographs are available on the SSI Homepage for electronic dissemination. -
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs January 21, 2011 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RS21922 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Summary The limited capacity and widespread corruption of all levels of Afghan governance are growing factors in debate over the effectiveness of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, as expressed in an Administration assessment of policy released December 16, 2010. A competent, respected, and effective Afghan government is considered a major prerequisite for a transition to Afghan lead that is to take place by 2014, a timeframe agreed by the United States, its international partners, and the Afghan government. Afghan governing capacity has increased significantly since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001, but many positions, particularly at the local level, are unfilled or the governing function performed by unaccountable power brokers. On corruption, the issue that perhaps most divides the United States from the government of President Hamid Karzai, the Afghan leadership is accepting U.S. help to build emerging anti-corruption institutions, but these same institutions have sometimes caused a Karzai backlash when they have targeted his allies or relatives. Some of the effects of corruption burst into public view in August 2010 when major losses were announced by the large Kabul Bank, in part due to large loans to major shareholders, many of whom are close to Karzai. Some in Congress have sought to link further U.S. aid to clearer progress on the corruption issue.