All in a Day's Work

Most of what I do in Afghanistan I simply cannot talk about for reasons of operational security or due to solicitor/client privilege. However, this week I would like to talk about some of the work I do in very general terms in order to give an understanding of some of the challenges that I face on an almost daily basis.

Although I am tasked to mentor Afghan military legal advisors in a number of specific areas, the majority of the work that I do is in the area of military justice. This is for a variety of reasons. First, it is the area that requires the most constant attention. Unlike other areas that I am tasked to mentor in, the military criminal justice system regularly deals with real people. Any inattention to the individual cases of accused suspects almost invariably results in lengthy pre-trial detention and works against the concept of the fair administration of justice. Second, the Afghan military has very little knowledge in areas of law outside of their justice system and so their legal advisors naturally tend to gravitate toward this area. Although long term plans will focus on other areas such as administrative law or the law of armed conflict, these concepts are simply too foreign at this point to attempt to engage in any meaningful discussion in these areas.

As a mentor, it is not for me to insert my view and form a part of the decision making process. My role in the process is much more subtle. Frequently, I am asked for my view or to assist in the interpretation of the law to help them reach their own decision. Were I to simply dictate what course of action to pursue, then I would be frustrating the long-term solution of making the Afghans self-sufficient. It is a tricky balance to achieve. As a mentor, you want to guide the Afghans towards making the proper decision but you have to be conscious not to influence them too much in order that it is them making the decision and not you.

So far the work has been fascinating. I regularly work with prosecutors, defence counsel as well as military judges and other legal advisors in order to administer justice to individuals accused of committing an offence. Other times, I work with the commanders of a suspect in order to ensure that the commander properly administers a just punishment that is in line with the offence. Accomplishing this goal can be frustrating. Many times, accused soldiers are not provided with the required procedural safeguards and many others are placed in pre-trial confinement for lengthy periods of time with no promise of an immediate or speedy resolution to their case.

The nature of the cases are extremely varied as well. Thus far, I have mentored on cases from offences that are minor in nature to various forms of assault, weapons violations, drug offences and even manslaughter and murder. Each case comes with its own unique set of circumstances and presents a new challenge. On several occasions I have visited the military detention facility and have spoken with the accused suspects in order to ensure that they are being treated in a just and humane manner, that they are aware of their legal rights and to ensure that they have had adequate occasion to speak with the legal representative. It is both an eye-opening and rewarding experience. It is all a part of advancing justice one day at a time.

The Great Jihad

Over the past few years the western media has often referred to the term “jihad” to signify the duty of Muslims to wage a holy war against western infidels in the name of Islam. Accordingly, we have come to believe that Muslims view jihad as a legitimate call to arms to protect Islam and its central tenets from any unjust oppression. This of course, provides westerners with a very distorted view of Islam and its followers. To us, it seems absurd and even hypocritical for so-called religious warriors to wage war and kill with impunity any who do not share their fundamental religious beliefs. We are left to wonder how those who profess to act in the name of god can hold such little regard for the lives of others, including other Muslims.

My first inclination was that our idea of jihad as a holy war must be a distortion of that term by the western media for their own purposes to sensationalize the current conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq. However, Muslims do believe in a jihad as a legitimate call to arms in the name of god for the defence of Islam. Such a concept is recognized in the Koran and is held as a belief by Muslims throughout the world.

Unfortunately, what the western media fails to teach is that this is only one interpretation of that term and does not provide a complete picture of what is meant by jihad. According to Islam there are various types of jihads. The Great Jihad, as taught but Islam, is a struggle with oneself to lead a life that is pure in thought and action. It is an internal battle with oneself to be righteous and of good moral character. It is forgiveness for those that have wronged you and seeking forgiveness from those you have wronged. It recognizes that as humans, we are imperfect, but that we should strive to live a life that is virtuous and honorable.

But sadly, it is not just the western media that provides a distorted view of the concept of jihad. Religious fanatics who have taken up the cause to oppose western intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq have also purposely misconstrued this concept to incite hatred and mislead impressionable followers that the fight against the west is a just cause in the name of Islam. By doing so, they convince others that this war is being fought in defence of Islam and that those who answer the call to arms are fighting for an honorable cause and will be rewarded in the life that follows. It is propaganda that has a tremendous effect on those who are uneducated and impressionable. Especially in a culture that holds religion in such high regard.

Within the next few days I will be reaching the halfway mark of my tour in Afghanistan. To date, it has been one that is extremely interesting and has exposed me to new cultures, new beliefs and a completely different outlook on life. There is little doubt in my mind that the second half of this adventure will be as rewarding as the first.

We Will Remember Them

Today is Remembrance Day. It is a day to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and have given their lives in the service of their country. Held on November 11th, it commemorates the ending of the First World War which took place at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Although Remembrance Day traditionally recognizes those who have fought in WWI, WWII and the Korean War, there are many others who have perished in other conflicts, including here in Afghanistan.

Today ceremonies are being held throughout the world to remember those who have fallen. Afghanistan is no exception. This morning at 11:00 am, many Canadians lined up next to the Canadian cenotaph at KAF to pay respect to those who have died in battle. From the outside the cenotaph is of a simple design and is easy to overlook for those who are unaware of its purpose. However, it is the inside of the memorial that causes one to pause and reflect on the nature of the structure. Here you will find numerous marble plaques lined on shelves, each one providing the details of a Canadian soldier who has lost their life in Afghanistan. Each of the faces of the soldiers are etched into the marble and look back at those come to pay their respects. It is the number of plaques lined on the shelves that causes one to pause and reflect.

For today’s ceremony, family members of five Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan were flown in from Canada to participate in the ceremony. They were seated next to the cenotaph throughout the ceremony as the warm mid-morning Afghan sun lit the memorial and the Canadian flag at half-mast in behind. In the course of the ceremony each family laid a wreath in remembrance for their fallen sons and husbands. Many fought to contain their emotions as they visited the land where their loved ones lost their lives. One can only imagine the thoughts that each had as they laid a wreath next to their son’s or husband’s plaque lined up on the shelf.

Since 2002 there have been 71 members of the Canadian Forces and one Canadian diplomat killed in Afghanistan:

Pte Nathan Smith
Sgt Marc D. Leger
Pte Richard Green
Cpl Ainsworth Dyer
Sgt Robert Alan Short
Cpl Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger
Cpl Jamie Brendan Murphy
Pte Braun Scott Woodfield
Diplomat Glyn Berry
MCpl Timothy Wilson
Cpl Paul Davis
Pte Robert Costall
Lt William Turner
Cpl Randy Payne
Bdr Myles Mansell
Cpl Matthew Dinning
Capt Nichola Goddard
Cpl Anthony Boneca
Cpl Jason Patrick Warren
Cpl Francisco Gomez
Cpl Christopher Jonathan Reid
Cpl Bryce Jeffrey Keller
Sgt Vaughn Ingram
Pte Kevin Dallaire
MCpl Raymond Arndt
MCpl Jeffrey Scott Walsh
Cpl Andrew James Eykelenboom
Cpl David Braun
Sgt Shane Stachnik
WO Richard Francis Nolan
WO Frank Robert Mellish
Pte William Jonathan James Cushley
Pte Mark Anthony Graham
Cpl Keith Morley
Cpl Shane Keating
Pte David Byers
Cpl Glen Arnold
Pte Josh Klukie
Cpl Robert Thomas James Mitchell
Sgt Craig Paul Gillam
Tpr Mark Andrew Wilson
Pte Blake Williamson
Sgt Darcy Tedford
Cpl Albert Storm
CWO Robert Girouard
Cpl Kevin Megeney
Cpl Aaron E. Williams
Cpl Christopher P. Stannix
Cpl Brent Poland
Sgt Donald Lucas
Pte Kevin Vincent Kennedy
Pte David Robert Greenslade
MCpl Allan Stewart
Tpr Patrick James Pentland
MCpl Anthony Klumpenhouwer
Cpl Matthew McCully
MCpl Darrell Priede
Tpr Darryl Caswell
Pte Joel Vincent Wiebe
Sgt Christos Karigiannis
Cpl Stephen Frederick Bouzane
Pte Lane Watkins
Capt Jefferson Francis
Capt Matthew Johnathan Dawe
MCpl Colin Bason
Cpl Cole Bartsch
Cpl Jordan Anderson
Pte Simon Longtin
MCpl Christian Duchesne
MWO Mario Mercier
Maj Raymond Ruckpaul
Cpl Nathan Hornburg

We Don’t Need No Education

The illiteracy rate in Afghanistan is astoundingly high. This makes mentoring the ANA a very challenging task. Most of the individuals that I work with are able to speak and write in two languages – Pashtun and Dari – yet many of the soldiers in the ANA cannot read or write at all. Many times have I seen formal documents signed only by a thumbprint. Although I do not have any official figures on the literacy rate for the ANA, estimates put it at about 50 percent. One can only imagine how difficult it can be to teach a military force that is 50 percent illiterate.

But, the problem is more pervasive that just the ANA. The soldiers that make up the ANA are, of course, Afghan citizens and so they are a reflection of the literacy rate of the rest of the population – with one marked difference. The ANA is comprised of all males. The literacy rates, and education in general, is much better for men than it is for women. Current estimates of literacy among the Afghan population are 50 to 70 percent for males and 20 to 40 percent for females. Although these figures may be surprising, they are much better than 2001 when the Taliban maintained power over Afghanistan. In 1996 the Taliban regime banned education for females, and the madrassa (mosque school) became the main source of primary and secondary education. At that time less than 50 percent of males and 20 percent of females were able to read and write.

Insofar as education is concerned, progress is being made. Today over six million children are enrolled in school – two million of them being female. In 2001 there were only 700, 000 enrolled in the education system – all male. Today, in southern Afghanistan alone, 4000 schools have been created that employ over 9000 teachers. Of those, 4000 are female. Further, programs are also being created to provide the adult population with literacy training as well. For example, in Kandahar literacy courses are provided for over 5600 adults – 5100 of which are female. Also, universities that were once open in Kabul are re-opening their doors and are offering a variety of programs.

These are direct signs of progress being made in Afghanistan in order to make life better for Afghan citizens. But the battle is not yet over. Although schools continue to be built, in some areas many children simply do not attend for fear of reprisal by the Taliban. And some schools in more outlying regions of the country are simply destroyed by the Taliban shortly after construction. As with most things here, it is something that will take time. Reconstruction projects and capacity building are not something that can be accomplished overnight. Nor can it be successful without adequate security to protect both the infrastructure as well as those who can benefit from it. But this is the unfortunate reality – not only is the war being fought on the frontlines, it is also being waged on the civilian population as well. The unfortunate result is that it is claiming the education of those who will one day lead this country.

This will be my last post for a few weeks as I begin my leave this coming week. It is my turn to take a bit of time off and visit some parts of the world that are a little less risky. My next post will be on the 9th of November. I hope you have a good few weeks and I’ll see you next month.

And the Rocket’s Red Glare

Rocket attacks on KAF are nothing new. In fact they happen on a relatively frequent basis and they eventually become a part of life here that you accept. At first it was something exciting and dangerous. A rocket flies through the sky and lands in some part of the base. After that, the alarm sounds and everyone runs for cover in the bunkers or puts on their protective vests and helmets. But, after a while, they become almost like background noise, a nuisance that we have all become accustomed to. Of course, we continue to seek cover for our own safety but the attacks have lost their novelty.

This week one such rocket attack took place and renewed my concern for attacks on the base. One evening as I was walking across the base and out in the open a rocket was sent in and flew almost directly over my head. The whistling sound of a rocket flying through the air is just like one would see in any Hollywood movie. My first instinct, probably the same as any other person, was to stop and look skyward. For that first half-second you wonder “What is that sound and where is it coming from?”. But once you realize what it is – again like most people – instead of ducking or running for cover, you freeze for just a moment. Unsure exactly where it is coming from gives you little incentive to run and take cover lest you run in the wrong direction. But by that point, it is probably too late anyhow. Then, I heard the distinctive sound of metal crashing into the ground but what was noticeably missing was the sound of an explosion that you suspect would follow. The rocket landed about 100 meters away from where I was standing but fortunately was a dud.

I have no specific knowledge about these rockets, but I would suspect that had the rocket not been a dud and had exploded as it most likely should have done, I still would have been at a safe distance. However, there still remains that uneasy feeling knowing that this one wasn’t one of those attacks where you find out the next day where it landed. This was one where you were an eyewitness to where it landed. It is that gentle reminder that you are no longer at home in Canada but you are in the midst of a fight – where the stakes are real. I won’t deny that it wasn’t a bit of excitement and that it gave me a little rush. Plus, it is now a good war story to pass on to friends back home. But, all excitement and war stories aside, Afghanistan remains a dangerous place and there are those individuals out there just beyond the wire who mean to cause us significant harm. It is a sobering reminder of the reality that we face each day.

I hope that things remain well on the home front. I continue to do well and remain positive about the goals that I am here to accomplish. I see progress being made and that serves as my source of inspiration to think that we can and are making a difference. Also over the past few weeks I have received a few emails from friends as well as complete strangers who pass on their wishes for a safe tour and ask questions about those things which interest them. I thank all of you for your interest and support. As I have said before, it is the support you receive from back home that makes it that much easier to do what you need to do so far from home. And as always, if you have any further questions or comments please send them to me at omltjag@hotmail.com