UK Commander: Afghan Police Alienating Locals, Fueling Insurgency
Exit Strategy Depends on 'Credible, Trusted' Police
Given virtually every exit strategy from Afghanistan has rested in part on the creation of a “credible and trusted” national police force, it should come as no surprise that, nearly nine years after US invasion, there is no end in sight.
In fact, one of Britain’s top commanders Lt. Col. Roley Walker, says it is not only preventing a NATO exit, but is fueling the growth of the insurgency.
“We have had cases so often when captured Taliban mention the police for them joining the insurgency in the first place,” Walker noted, adding that people are becoming “disaffected” at the way they are treaty by police.
Walker also cautioned that “not withstanding the casualties we took at the hands of the Taliban I do not believe they were the greatest obstacle that we faced,” rather it was the continued inability to convince the locals to trust the NATO-backed government. It is an old problem in Afghanistan, and one which defies the normal NATO solution of additional funding.
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Lisa
June 4th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
"Police" – a term widely used world-wide – is misleading and inaccurate. What people and media are really talking about when they say "police" is "para-military enforcers of elite will". I'll call 'em PME (paramilitary enforcers)
Genuine police represent the will and sensibilities of the local people. They typically walk a beat at night, sweep the streets, help find lost dogs, pick up the trash, make sure the doors are locked, and so forth.
PME always create resistance. This is as true in Los Angeles as it is in the Swat Valley….
MvGuy
June 4th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I'm sure that the "O" crew will find some way to touch off this powder-keg