Chamblee54

The US Gummint wrote a draft of the objectives for the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. If you do not recall a declaration of war against Pakistan, you are not alone. The good news is that the five stan countries in the former Soviet Union are not on the enemies list. Yet. That we know of.
There are seven objectives for this war. With the exception of number one, there are lists of “metrics”, to be used for measuring progress. There will be a report issued on March 10, 2010, and at regular intervals after that. Rumors that the troops will be home for Christmas are still true, if you mean Christmas 2025.
In the spirit of fun, we have decided to look at these metrics, and apply them to the United States. Pretend that a foreign power blamed us for a tragedy, and decided to get revenge by killing women and children with unmanned aircraft. No wait, the drone attacks are primarily in Pakistan, the addon to the original Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lets say that the foreigners blamed Mexico for this tragedy, and the war somehow spread north of the Rio Grande. This foreign power…lets call them Zorlock Independent Territory, or ZIT… has a set of metrics for America, and promises to …well they haven’t promised to do anything. Darn those Zorlocks, you just can’t trust them.
Just imagine if these metrics were applied to the USA. We will give each Metric a score, as it would apply to the USA. There are four choices…Yes, we meet the requirement, or No, we don’t. The other two are DNA, or does not apply, and ?, for a fuzzy metric that makes no sense. Remember, this list is a draft, and the final version may make a bit more sense.
Also, there is no third world style insurgency in America today. For purposes of this exercise, we will consider urban gangs to the terrorists and insurgents. The original metrics will be in blue, and the grades will be in purple.

The goal of the United States is to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qa’ida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future. DNA, unless you mean the Republican party is Al Qa’ida America.
Objective 1. Disrupt terrorist networks in Afghanistan and especially Pakistan to degrade any ability they have to plan and launch international terrorist attacks.
Metrics: Please see the attached classified annex. ? We didn’t get the memo.
Objective 2a. Assist efforts to enhance civilian control and stable constitutional government in Pakistan.
1. Progress towards Pakistan’s civilian government and judicial system becoming stable and free of military involvement no. We need to dismantle the military industrial complex .
2. Pakistan’s actions to take necessary steps to ensure economic and financial stability, job creation, and growth yes
3. Support for human rights yes Although some would argue, overall the USA has a good record here. There are a few problems to be worked out.
4. Development of an enduring, strategic partnership between the U.S. and Pakistan dna
5. Pakistani public opinion of government performance no witness the tea baggers
6. Demonstrable action by government against corruption, resulting in incrwased trust and confidence of the Pakistani public no the health care plan is being taken over by the big money interests.
Objective 2b. Develop Pakistan’s counterinsurgency (COIN) capabilities; continue to support Pakistan’s efforts to defeat terrorist and insurgent groups. For purposes of this exercise, urban gangs in the USA will be considered in place of terrorists and insurgents.
1. Effectiveness of Pakistani civilian, intelligence and military in conducting counterinsurgency operations across the clear-hold-build phases to defeat insurgent groups no
2. Level of militant-initiated violence no
3. Extent of militant-controlled areas in Pakistan no
4. Effectiveness of Pakistani border security efforts no The US Mexican border is porous.
Objective 2c. Involve the international community more actively to forge an international consensus to stabilize Pakistan.
1. Effectiveness of security, governance, and development assistance dna
2. Support from allies, international organizations, and other key players, including China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and UAE yes China lends us money, Saudi Arabia sells us oil, and Turkey lets us fight in Iraq while they fight the Kurds.
3. Coordination of international efforts by the U.N. dna
4. Status of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan no The US and Mexico have a troubled relationship. Ten percent, or more, of Mexico is living north of the border.
5. Pakistani policies and resources committed to maintaining international support no The war in Babylon was fought with disregard to the objections of much of the world.

Objective 3a. Defeat the extremist insurgency, secure the Afghan populace, and develop increasingly self-reliant Afghan security forces that can lead the counterinsurgency and counterterrorism fight with reduced U.S. assistance. For this exercise, we will consider urban gangs to be the terrorists and insurgents.
1. Degree to which security operations are integrated into the overall COIN campaign no
2. Level of insurgent-related violence no
3. Public perceptions of security no
4. Percent of population living in districts/areas under insurgent control no
5. Percent of population living in districts/areas undergoing clearing operations no
6. Percent of populations living in districts/areas “held” by coalition and/or ANSF ( Afghan military and police) and where “build” activities are ongoing no
7. Percent of key lines of communication under government control no
8. Effectiveness of Afghan border security efforts no
9. Level of trust and confidence by the Afghan people in the ANSF’s ability to provide sustained security no
10. Capability, to include size, of the ANA and ANP ?
11. Effectiveness of ANSF-ISAF partnered counterinsurgency operations no
12. Ability of the ANSF to assume lead security responsibility no
13. Level of corruption within the ANSF no
14. Ability of the ANSF to handle their own logistics needs no
Objective 3b. Promote a more capable, accountable, and effective government in Afghanistan that serves the Afghan people and can eventually function, especially regarding internal security, with limited international support.
1. Afghan Government’s institutions at the national, provincial, and local level, including ability to hold credible elections in 2009 and 2010 yes
2. Effectiveness of the Afghan Government in collecting revenues (both in absolute terms and as a percentage of budget requirements) and executing its budget at the national, provincial, and local levels no
3. Public perception of Afghanistan’s justice sector and commitment to providing the rule of law at the national, provincial, and local levels no
4. Demonstrable action by the government against corruption, resulting in increased trust and confidence of the Afghan public no
5. Support for human rights yes
6. Public perception at the district level of the Afghan Government’s effectiveness and sustained ability to provide services yes
7. Afghanistan’s economic stability and development with emphasis on agriculture yes
8. Volume and value of narcotics no It should be noted that Zorlocks are Muslims, who see alcohol as being an illegal drug. Alcohol use remains high, although efforts against drunk driving are showing results.
9. Successful interdiction and prosecution of high-profile narco-traffickers no
10. Afghan Government’s efforts to develop and execute reconciliation programs at the national, provincial, and local levels with U.S. and international support no
Objective 3c. Involve the international community more actively to forge an international consensus to stabilize Afghanistan.
1. Support from allies, international organizations, and other key regional countries in providing resources to Afghanistan yes
2. Prospects for the Afghan Government and international community to fund the development, operations, and sustainment of the ANSF yes
3. Effectiveness of international security, governance, and development assistance dna
4. Establishment of accounting and management controls for UN coordination of international efforts no
5. Ability of NGOs to operate independently and freely ?
6. Status of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan no
7. Status of relations between Afghanistan and its other neighbors yes, except during hockey season.
So, there we are, seven objectives, to be measured by 46 metrics. The United States is trying to convert two poor countries, with no democratic traditions, into stable democracies, We are doing this by using our military might. How would The USA score, if the same standards were applied to her? Ten yes, thirty no, four do not apply, and two ?. It looks like the Zorlocks are going to be here a while.