The Munich Security Conference offered some unique insights and perspectives on Afghanistan.  President Karazi mentioned that Afghans had now moved from asking for schools, teachers, roads, and medical care to asking for better schools, better teachers, better roads and better medical care. He stated that the country was moving forward but there were still impediments.  He stressed that while civilian casualties were still an issue, the people of Afghanistan wholeheartedly supports the International community. 

All of these comments appear to be in line with the recent ARD/BCC/ABC poll (link). While the numbers have declined from previous years, they still indicate that what the people want is security, stability and a better way of life.

There are places in Afghanistan where this is happening.  It’s happening in places like Tarin Kwot where there was once only 6 development organizations but today there are more than 30.  What is key for the military is our ability to hold areas once they’ve been cleared.  Once we can move in and hold an area development and change can begin. That is when we start to see a real difference. 

The strategy of clear, hold and build does work…it just requires enough assets to accomplish all parts of the strategy.

Check out the ISAF home page www.nato.int/isaf/ here you will find the latest news from ISAF together with video clips, pictures, interviews, contact information and much more.

ISAF photography has taken a big leap forward recently with the creation of  the “isafmedia’s photostream “ collection on Flickr, the MPATT  are out and about in Afghanistan shooting pictures of anything and everything that ISAF is doing and posting new images them every day.   You can find them at http://www.flickr.com  These images, and the associated captions, give a real insight into the mission and life on the frontline of NATO operations.

 They also illustrate some of the positive things we see on the ground and the progress which we believe often goes unreported as well as some of the many challenges we are still face.  Most importantly they  give you a little flavor of the daily life of our colleagues and friends who are serving there. We are striving to make our mission in Afghanistan as accessible to our audience as possible, we hope you find putting ISAF pictures on Flickr of interest.

When I read the news I sometimes get the feeling that NATOs operation in Afghanistan is all about fighting.   Yet of the most important tasks is helping the Afghans to help themselves  and the following story which I like to share with you  is a good example of that. This was posted on www.nato.int/isaf/ from Kabul, Afghanistan on 1.Feb 09:

         Three days a week, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)   and Afghan doctors come together at the Host Nation Medical Clinic at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Price to offer free medical care to local Afghan residents who often cannot receive medical aid elsewhere.
“It’s just another way we can reach out to the Afghans,” said Danish Senior Medical Officer Nina Rummel. “Sometimes people come in with serious ailments, but often they’re simple aches and pains that people in other countries with access to medicine could easily take care of themselves.”
For serious injuries or illnesses, Rummel said the clinic will treat people within its capability, but often the more traumatic cases are evacuated to other facilities. Currently, there are three medical facilities at FOB Price that all work together to offer medical care to Afghans, but Rummel said the main focus has been to offer care through the Host Nation Clinic.
“We are in the same training mentality as the operational side,” she said. “And that’s to help the Afghan doctors with their care as opposed to take over. I offer thought processes and suggestions and not diagnoses. It’s important to do this because we want to see Afghans taking care of Afghans and only offer our support as needed. I think it’s working nicely.”
Dr. Tabatabai Zahir, who is head medical officer of the Host Nation Clinic, said he treats an average of 100 people each day the clinic is open with help from ISAF doctors.
“It’s often a challenge to see so many cases,” he said. “With the help from ISAF we can take care of the easier cases, because sometimes, they are just small things people come in for.”
Zahir, who has worked at the clinic for more than a year, said it has been through the use of information leaflets and word of mouth that local residents have become aware of the free care offered through the facility.
“People come from all over the district,” he said. “Only with continued use can we keep operating.  Eventually we would like to see this kind of care offered in the major area of Gureshk. With the training and aid from the ISAF doctors here, we will be able to do that in the future.”

Hope this story gave you a little glimpse of one of the many other important tasks of the ISAF mission. My intention is to continue to provide you inside stories from our ongoing NATO operations; I hope you will find them interesting.