Any one read his book yet ......Thoughts ?? "Back in 2008 Captain Mike Martin pioneered the role of cultural adviser for the MoD in Helmand province. Learning Pushtu to sit down with Afghans and find out how they saw foreign forces, he realised we had completely misunderstood the country and its conflicts. After the UK’s command of Helmand ended quietly last month, another step in the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, Martin’s controversial new book, An Intimate War – An Oral History of the Helmand Conflict, shines a light on the truth of Britain’s Afghan campaign." Did the Taliban ever really exist? | Big Issue
The cultural advisor job was a spot often filled by ineffective managers, terrible linguists and in my opinion was a bit of a waste of time. Although there were a couple of good ones. I trained with these people for 2 years and have a very thorough understanding of the job, the type of officer it attracts and the usefulness of them in theatre. I suspect this book, especially with a title like that, will be a pile of sh!te. A quick google of the guy shows he was in the TA at a time when the TA were a bit of a joke. He also talks about an area where I have personally fought, 2 years after he went there and I can tell you that the Taliban did and still do exist and he's talking tripe in order to make some money.
The link raises some interesting points, mainly that the situation in Afghanistan is complex with a hierarchy of loyalties amongst the population. It is right to question why we went in, what we expected to achieve and what we actually achieved. Ultimately it is an Afghan problem that can only be sorted by the Afghans.
The afghan problem is one that will only be solved by mass education which can only happen under an umbrella of national security. If peace lasts for 15 years (personally I think it'll be lucky to last 15 months) then it'll be a lasting peace. The generation that are currently children will grow, with a good education and no war, in to a free, just and fine society according to afghan values. No security = no education. No education = no future. In this regard, having seen the establishment of and development of an Afghan organised army, the mission should be judged a success. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has been given the tools and training it needs to protect and educate by the West. Now we can see how well they utilise what they have. If at all.
Given that you think the peace will be lucky to last 15 months the outlook isn't very good then. The region has no history of, or understanding of, democracy. I suspect that the idea we can go in, establish an elected government (who chose who would stand?), leave and expect it to thrive seems hopelessly optimistic. The old tribal loyalties will probably reemerge and those we refer to as the 'Taliban' will reimpose their gangster state dressed up as Islam. I hope I am wrong, but I wouldn't bet on it.
You can't run their country for them forever, so if it goes to sh!t it'll be by their own hand. As things stand right now, as we are leaving, it's better than it's been for nearly 40 years. Half of the regions trouble was initiated by colonialist competition between Britain and Russia in the 1800's. It's somewhat fitting that we return 200 years later to try an effect change. In my opinion, and I can say this now I'm not working for my previous employer, Pakistan is the root of many of the regions issues and while it exists as a state then the problems will continue. Again, a British mistake.
Pakistan is a rogue state that supports, trains and encourages terrorism And extremism. The ISI are actively trying to destabilise Afghanistan and India. It's an unstable nuclear power, a fundamentalist state run by the military. It's a bad place for the world.
ISIS is not related to the ISI, which is the Pakistani not-so-secret service. I don't know about any links with ISIS, a group which currently focuses on Iraq and Syria.
