unstable workforce in Afghanistan?
410849
how many war-torn, poverty stricken, geographically challenged, countries with no water, blistering heat, and no central means of communication have stable work forces? thats a more interesting question.
327797
Not at all.\n\nIn Afghanistan, the Taliban is actually making a bit of a comeback this month.  Most of the country is under the control of warlords with just a small portion around Kabul that is actually controlled by the American forces and the Afghani government that they installed.  The rest of the country is pure chaos.  (Kabul isn't much better).\n\nIn Iraq, the "coaltion" forces have done a pretty good job of securing the single square mile in central Bagdad known as the Green Zone, and now most of the road to the airport is reasonable secure as well.  Unfortunately, they have "secured" the Green Zone by shooting anybody who tries to enter, so that's maybe not a great example of "controlling the situation".\n\nSadly, neither country is even close to being secure, despite the lies that come out of Washington.  Does the term "lipstick on a pig" mean anything to you?  This particular pig has been run over, disembowled, set on fire and sexually assaulted.  But my! doesn't that lipstick look pretty!
311726
Read "The Kiterunner"...it has lots of examples of unusual customs. (And below is some information from the Britanica website for you:)\n\nReligion has long played a paramount role in the daily life and social customs of Afghanistan. Even under the mujahideen leaders, Afghanistan appeared to be on a course of Islamization: the sale of alcohol was banned, and women were pressured to cover their heads in public and adopt traditional Muslim dress. But far more stringent practices were imposed as the Taliban enforced its Islamic code in areas under its control. These measures included banning television sets and most other forms of entertainment. Men who failed to grow beards and leave them untrimmed were fined and jailed—full beardedness being perceived by extremists as the mark of a Muslim—and little mercy was shown to convicted criminals. These and other policies were not widely popular, and the Taliban was subject to reproach at home and abroad for its inability to build a national administrative structure. But, in the absence of viable alternatives, most Afghans appeared to accept Taliban dictates for the more orderly society it brought. \n\nDaily life for Afghan women has changed radically in recent years. In the 1960s the wearing of a veil became voluntary, and women found employment in offices and shops; some women also received a university education. The situation changed, however, after 1992 and particularly following the Taliban's capture of Kabul in 1996. Authorities closed down girls' schools and forced women to give up employment in nearly all occupations. Strong penalties were applied against women who were not fully covered in the streets or who were found in the company of males unrelated to them. \n\nToday, in the post-Taliban era, daily life for most Afghans revolves around the exigencies of rebuilding a war-ravaged state. With increasing stability has come a greater and steadier food supply, but, in general, poor nutrition among Afghans has remained a serious cause of concern, especially in light of the neglect and destruction wrought upon the agricultural system during the war and the extended drought since the late 1990s. The staple of the Afghan diet is bread (nan), most commonly flat and oblong in shape and typically eaten when freshly removed from an earthen oven. Traditional cuisine consists of a variety of roast meats or meat pies (sanbuseh), stewed vegetables, rice pilaf, and a thick noodle soup (ash) accompanied by fresh fruit and an assortment of yogurt-based sauces. The wide absence of clean drinking water and of adequate sanitation has ensured continuation of a high mortality rate, especially among young children. Outside the large cities, electricity is reserved for the privileged few. \n\nOn the brighter side of daily life, the ban enforced by the Taliban on most forms of entertainment has been lifted, and the social atmosphere has become more relaxed. Afghans are again enjoying activities from kite flying to football, and photography is no longer prohibited. Though facilities are minimal, schools have been reopened—including those for girls—and women are once again entering the workforce. However, urban women have continued to wear the chador (or chadri, in Afghanistan), the full body covering mandated by the Taliban. This has been true even of those women of the middle class (most in Kabul) who had shed that garment during the communist era. Some men have shaved or trimmed their beards, but, aside from disregarding the style of turban associated with the Taliban, most have continued to dress traditionally—generally in the loose, baggy trousers typical of many parts of South and Central Asia, over which are worn a long overshirt and a heavy vest.
853166
I agree with staying until Iraq and Afghanistan have solid governments and the factions have quit butchering each other to gain power. I don't know if enough Americans can stand the length of time that may be needed to get it done.
1113773
The odds are, you won't get hit in the stop loss.  But there is a chance.  I've never heard of anyone getting stuck in for more than a year past their EAS--End of Active Service, but I suppose it's theoretically possible to be required to serve the full eight.  They do try to work with people though.  They know that you only expected to serve the original contract and to hold a large number of people in service past that will create a lot of discontent and morale problems, so they try to keep it as short a time as possible.  Right now there is no stop loss in effect and odds are not for one to be started.  The US is trying to reduce the number of troops in war zones, so it is unlikely they will need to force people to stay beyond their original contract.
506401
A fragile country is a country in crisis. for example : Afghanistan is a fragile country.
93589
It's every soldier's dream to be a UN Blue Beret.  The pay is good and you are not allowed to kill anyone.  They are mostly Pakistanis and Indians and Bangladeshis - not because they're good soldiers, altho they are, but because their commanders make the lowest bids and then pocket most of their soldiers' pay themselves, as well as using the UN cover to smuggle guns and drugs. The UN is a big scam - wish I could get in on it.
473717
This may not help you a lot, but it shows these type issues have been around for a looong time.  And the thing about rotating people around as a band-aid to "help" isn't new either lol :)\n\nThis is a GREAT quote ......\n\n"We trained hard, but it seemed that everytime we were beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganized.  I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, ineffieiency and demoralization."\n\nPetronius Arbiter, 210 BC\n\nOBSERVATION.... I have never been directly involved in personnel&#92;staffing or strategic marketing and business focus issues but, as a past internal ISO 9001 program administrator for a multinational corporation, I have observed essentially the same symptomatic patterns as described by the first and third responder.  But... I would add this, some of the same patterns and phenomena can be triggered whether organizational change is needed, or, has recently been implemented.  This somewhat supports the comment from Citizen Arbiter. Go figure.
406211
Some parts of Afghanistan may become more open. When I say open, I mean schools and working women etc. The rest of the country will remain the same. May be marginally better that means little to the world.\n\nNo other country would be in a position to rule it as the Russians did or the Pakistanis wished to do...\n\nThere is a saying that there are three no nos in the world\n\n1. Enemity with Afghans\n2. Drinking the water of Yamuna \n3. Trusting in people of Kashmiri... , but it is just a saying...
1144489
Go check out those sites, they often need people in Doha, Qatar\nhttp://acpol.army.mil/employment/index.htm\nhttp://www.usajobs.opm.gov/\nhttp:/www.novagrp.com/
237609
noway.. its poor africa or war torn afghan..
108441
endless problem but it is normal now as both iraqi and afghanistan issues
546186
US army must move out from IraQ,not Iraq only but Afghanistan also.So Iraq leaders or politicial can "making " strong government.I mean "Iraq government style".
651121
You know the answers are making me laugh lol. Jesus man. Where these people are heading to. Dream on. Next thing is that we see Afghanistan on the best Special forces. Kazakhstan .. Venezuela hahahahahah\n\nI would go with either the SAS, based on the Iranian embassy hostage rescue, or the Israeli special forces, based on the Entebbe raid.\n\nThis is a very tough question to ask however It depends on context.. \nFor damage/ability-to-man ratio, I'd go with the SBS definitely. \nThe only problem is that they are around 350 in numbers, and as such, don't have that large a capability (though, all 350 are very rarely needed/deployed) in terms of number of active operational theaters. \nFor overall ability/whatever you want to measure it by, I'd definitely throw it to the Spetsnaz, if some of the things I've read about their training is true, they are damn good. They also are probably the largest, at 10,000+ men.
1026322
If yes, what's your current address, phone number, and place employment?................  There's gotta be a law against military desertion. Otherwise, before any conflict there'd be a rush of servicemen leaving. Flipping a burger/pushing paper's different than being shot at.
1186026
OHHH i got to answer that. Won't happon i;ll still have my job as long as the miltary is around and people keep getting lost and there are needs for medical lol .... No worries here
1008835
Maintaining the Majority.  I would love to see our troops home and out of harms way but we can not do it prematurely.  The region needs to be set up and ready for self governing.  To leave them in political instability is to leave them subject to being taken over by another dictator war lord.  That is one of the reasons Ossama was mad at us.  We backed them in the Afghan-Russian war then left them high and dry when Russian retreated.  There was no established system and bands of war lords and dictators oppressed the country and citizens.  We should learn from our mistake and do it right this time like we did in Germany and Japan after World War II, look how well they have turned out.