Sean M. Maloney - Confronting the Chaos: A Rogue Historian Returns to Afghanistan

Naval Institute Press

291 Wood Road

Annapolis, MD 21402

2009 by Sean M. Maloney

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-61251-784-1 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Maloney, Sean M., 1967-

Confronting the chaos : a rogue military historian returns to Afghanistan / Sean M. Maloney.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Afghan War, 2001-2. Afghan War, 2001Civilian relief. 3. Postwar reconstructionAfghanistan. 4. Humanitarian assistanceAfghanistan. I. Title.

DS371.412.M34 2009

958.1047dc22

2009009078

14 13 12 11 10 09 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

First printing

All photos were taken by the author except where otherwise credited.

Dr. Shawn Cafferky, friend, colleague, and fellow motorcyclist, died the day I submitted the final manuscript for publication.

This ones for you, Shawn.

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

contents

I ll skip the usual and predictable intro to this section whereby the author humbly acknowledges debts both great and small and begs forgiveness for any potential misunderstandings. Of all the people who assisted, I would like to thank Lieutenant General Andy Leslie for the unstinting support he has given me over the past five years in my quest to document the latest war in Afghanistan and the role of coalition forces in it. He and his staff(s) overcame numerous bureaucratic and personality-based obstacles time and again on my behalf, and I thank them for their efforts, which led to this book and its sequel. They understood what I was trying to accomplish and accommodated how I do businessespecially when it came to fieldwork. I would also like to acknowledge Major General Doug Dempster and Major General Mike Ward in this regard, who also assisted in numerous ways and means.

For the 2004 trip, some of those obstacles could not be overcome, particularly when a skittish LEGAD at Camp Julien insisted that civilians couldnt go on patrol with Canadianseven though I was a Department of National Defence employee and the Ombudsman and the Minister of National Defence, who are incidentally also civilians, accompanied Canadian troops in Kabul. There were other obstacles/people at Camp Julien who arent worth mentioning. As a result, I directed my efforts into examining the German PRT contribution instead of the Canadian ISAF contribution in Kabul. I would like to thank in particular Lieutenant General Johann-Georg Dora for approving of my trip to RC (North) and my alt Kamarad Oberst Uli Scholtz for facilitating that approval. Others who enthusiastically helped bypass the stupidity I encountered in Kabul (in many cases, with some relish) included Ambassador Chris Alexander; Colonel Dave Banks; Dr. Nipa Bannerjee; Colonel Randy Brooks; Lieutenant Colonel Scotty Macdougal; Major Jim Fitzgerald; Major Brian Hynes and his ETTs; Major Trevor MacCauley; Captain Eghtedar Manouchehri; Captain Brian Roach; Captain John Cochrane; and last, but not least, our American driver/bodyguard, Cpl. Billy Groseclose. At ISAF HQ, Id also like to thank Major P. Mireaux and Colonel Jacques Pierquin, both of the French army.

The German contingents in Konduz and Feyzabad were most hospitable, again in complete contrast to the staff at Camp Julien. Vielen Danke to Oberst Reinhardt Barz; Oberstleutnant Bokelman; Oberstabsfeldwebel Christian Kaiser; Thomas Shultze; Oberstleutnant Michael Meyer; Hauptmann Helmar Koch; and Oberstleutnant Rainer Stadelmann. It was a pleasure to encounter Oberstleutnant Matthias Reibold again, this time leading his men in the field.

I experienced no obstacles when visiting Task Force Kandahar and the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar in 2005. Lieutenant Colonel Dave Anderson and Colonel Steve Noonan at TFK and Colonel Steve Bowes and their staffs afforded me willing and open access into all activities down south, and I remain duly impressed with their interest in my activities and their assistance.

The list of people at the PRT who need to be thanked is a long one and in no particular order: Captain Derek Gilchrist; Niki Palmer; Lieutenant Colonel Steve Borland; Warrant Officer Dan Hitchcock; Regimental Sergeant Major Ward Brown; Company Sergeant Major Billy Boland; Corporal Adam de Bartok; Corporal Tim Northcotte; Sergeant Sue Coupal; Corporal Loralai Corsiato; Glyn Berry; Erin Doregan; Phoenix from USAID; Matthijs Toot; Michael Callan; Major Sanchez King; Sergeant Chuck Cote; Sergeant Chris Thombs; Master Corporal Keith Smith; Private Dan Cote; Sergeant Reg Obas; Yusuf Zoi; Lieutenant Andy Bone; Master Corporal Keith Porteus; Private Sarah Keller; Private Dutch Vandermeulan; Sergeant Jamie Bradley; Captain A. J. Lutes; Sergeant Clayton Schoepp; Superintendent Wayne Martin and Corporal Bob Hart of the RCMP; Master Corporal Joe Dupuy; Sergeant Ken Lockie; and Warrant Officer Gavley.

I would especially like to thank all of our interpreters, including Habib, Niaz, Sammi, Aktar, and The Mullah. We couldnt do it without you.

Too many authors overuse the phrase I would be remiss if... Forget it. Colonel Mike Capstick: you had an awesomely talented and hospitable team at SAT-A during your tenure in Kabul, and it was an enlightening experience learning about the ins and outs of the Kabuli political scene from them. Thanks to all, particularly Lieutenant Colonel Christian Drouin; Major Duart Townshend; Lieutenant Commander Albert Wong; Commander Mark Chupik; Major James McKay; Dr. Elizabeth Speed; Andy Tamas; and Wu-Tan. I need to thank D.T. and J.M. once again for driving me to the doc in the dark of the night down Route Violence. Why was the road trafficless at that hour of the morning, exactly? And what was that car doing on its side in the middle of the road surrounded by what looked like police? They both deserve the Medal of Clueless Heroism (we found out about the IED THREATWARN much, much later... ). I would also like to thank Ahmad for introducing me to the haunting music of Ahmad Zahir.

I would also like to thank a number of people from the Canadian OGDs who provided me with extremely frank commentary on their parent agencies failings in Kabul and in Ottawathey must remain anonymous to avoid bureaucratic retaliation and harassment by superior but lesser individuals.

Similarly there are numerous members of the intelligence and special operations communities that helped me from time to time by providing insights into the shadow world. They obviously cannot be named, but their labors have not been in vain.

As usual, all opinions I express herein are my own and dont necessarily represent the opinions of the Canadian government or the Department of National Defence. Blah, blah, blah. They definitely dont represent the opinions of any national government, other government department or agency of the Canadian government, or NATO, etc., etc.

Why are your governments, especially those of Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Germany, and Australia, allying themselves with America in its attacks against us in Afghanistan?

OSAMA BIN LADEN