108th CAV Engages Afghan Tribal Leaders

02.15.2010

Story by Sgt. Tracy Smith 

48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

ACHIN DISTRICT, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan — Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 108th Regiment and their Afghan national army partners recently bedded down for the night at the Afghan national police Achin District Center in preparation for a meeting with local Shinwari tribal elders and Afghan security personnel. The meeting at the compound managed by the local Afghan national police was something that had never been done before and it would prove historic for the Georgia-based Soldiers.

Maj. Andrew McDonald, the 'Rough Rider's' operations officer met with a group of tribal elders, or Maliks, to discuss the border tribes' ongoing efforts to thwart the insurgency, notably the Taliban.

Shinwari tribesmen had been successful in routing disruptive factions by taking up arms themselves, and took great risk to meet with the U.S. military, the local governor and Afghan security forces. Attempts on the Maliks' lives and kidnappings are not uncommon when insurgents discover they've been sharing information and taking steps to defend their country.

Rudyard Kipling once wrote of these people, "you can never tame the heart of a Shinwari," and McDonald recognizes the necessity to capitalize on this spirit.

"This is the first time in the history of this country since the ouster of the Taliban that a group of villagers have defeated the Taliban repeatedly without government help," McDonald said.
The officials of each group collectively decided that it was time to up the ante and introduce what will be a stronger tribal-government union while maintaining the traditions of daily life. In addition, the plan creates a stepping stone to unionizing other tribes with the Shinwaris, allowing them to find a common goal in defeating Afghanistan's insurgent enemies.

Working in and among the people is a central tenet of the Army's counterinsurgency doctrine, and has been at the forefront of the 'Rough Riders' mission. "They do counterinsurgency very well," said Ed Vowell the U.S. State Department's District Support Team Advisor embedded with the 108th Cavalry Regiment. These young guys are in the more remote areas every day engaging the people. We've already seen positive effects."

• Date Taken: 02.15.2010
• Date Posted: 02.15.2010 00:40
• Story ID: 45353