Kemp, Robert
After the 2001 ouster of the Taliban from Afghanistan, the United States and its allies found themselves in a country devastated by a series of wars. This book looks at how, working with their Afghan counterparts, they engaged in a complex effort to rebuild security, development, and governance, all while fighting a low-intensity war.
Drawing on his experience on the ground, Robert Kemp gives us a firsthand, unfiltered view of how U.S. military and civilian officers coped with a confusing, constantly changing situation along the border with Pakistan. It looks at how they developed programs and methods, such as Provincial Reconstruction Teams, while learning to work with the Afghans––and each other. Kemp looks at the nature of the insurgency–– how it gained momentum beginning in 2005, turning into a multifaceted, grinding, murky conflict against multiple groups: the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and Al Qaeda. It describes the nature of the border with Pakistan, the complex tribal and ethnic relations, rapid changes in Afghan society, poppy and opium production, corruption, and how the army and police developed. Each chapter analyzes the policies and practices involved, and offers lessons learned.
Eastern Afghanistan is one of the most colorful, traditional, and unique areas left in the world. This book looks at what happened in 2004–2008, as the United States became heavily engaged there.
