One of the most corruptable areas of any military deployment is the logistics of supplies. In the case of Afghanistan it could include food and water. If military units don't have food, water, munitions and other logistical needs such as body armor, they won't be viable in the field.
I watched a segment on C-Span produced by the USA military in Afghanistan and logistical supplies were a very big deal. I can understand that. How is the Afgan National Military suppose to build their forces if they can't even supply on a consistent basis, clean water, food and munitions as well as uniforms and body armor?
It became very clear to me that these 'items,' no different than a can of shave cream, can be sold on 'the black market.' If they are stolen from the Afghan and/or USA military and marketed by thieves then there won't be any supplies to encourage the maintainence of the Afghan military. Why not become a soldier to steal and sell the supplies to the Taliban or otherwise?
It is a loyalty issue.
IDGA’s Military Logistics Summit 2009 (click title to entry - thank you) will provide you with updated DoD mission priorities and the information you need to support major deployment, re-deployment, and distribution operations. The event brings together the thought leaders and decision-makers in logistics operations to discuss the latest implementation strategies and program initiatives to ensure the flexibility and preparedness of our military’s future.
If any level of the Afghan military or police 'looks the other way' and allows such corruption then the building of a National military or police is less likely and provides fertile ground for the Taliban and al Qaeda.
So, it seems to me there was a lot of negligence by the Bush/Cheney military command that would insure a deterioration of the Afghanistan situation when so much of the USA resources were diverted to Iraq. It left very fertile ground for corruption to breed and it did exactly that. There were no USA military to stop the redirection of supplies that would sustain the Afghan military and police.
It wouldn't surprise me one bit that the circumstances with the Taliban and al Qaeda will turn around quickly when supplies are no longer diverted to a black market but actually used for defense of the people of Afghanistan. It is also easy to see how any Afghan citizen that directly or indirectly benefitted from such a black market will have negative feelings about the return of a strong military presence to that country. It will cut off their illegal profits. My, my.
