David Martin Notebook
September 24, 2009 8:27 AM
60 Minutes correspondent David Martin spoke about his upcoming story about the challenges that face U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
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1. Is it true that AFTER we train Afghan military and they are told they will be assigned to southern provinces where fighting is most intense, that they desert in large numbers?
2. During David Martin's interview, he reported yet again that it will take "years" to dramatically increase the size of the Afghan military.
WHY is that?
In our country, we train an FBI Special Agent in about 12 weeks and that training includes all kinds of specialized subjects.
What, exactly, does "training" a foreign military entail? How long is the typical "training" class?
Why can't they learn enough basic skills within 12 weeks or perhaps 18 weeks so that THEY can patrol and maintain a presence in Afghan cities and villages?
Perhaps our real problem is that we have a totally mistaken notion about what type of "training" we should provide and, consequently, we greatly exceed the length of time required to bring Afghanis up to some minimal level of competence so that they can handle their own country's security? Maybe we are trying to replicate U.S. Army standards instead of standards more applicable to the immediate needs within Afghanistan?
Let me put it another way:
(1) HOW LONG is the "training" period for new Taliban recruits?
(2) What, specifically, are THEY taught?