An Intimate War
Simply a book to read and discover what Helmandis thought of the ISAF visit to their land. A second read is probably needed. Short of time? Read the introduction and the conclusion.
Mike Martin's book 'An Intimate War: An Oral History of the Helmand Conflict' attracted publicity just before publication this year, when officialdom (UK MoD) sought to stop it; the author being a reserve Army officer, commissioned to conduct the research for a doctorate @ Kings War Studies.
This is not a book about combat in Helmand Province, though fighting does appear, before 9/11 and after US / UK / ISAF appeared. Using numerous face-to-face interviews with Helmandis the author creates a narrative to explain what is both a simple tribal society and a complex operating environment. Minus the conflict, notably since the UK's arrival in 2006, some powerful Helmandis have made a fortune and the main US$ earner, opium poppy production has increased.
The official legend that ISAF was fighting an insurgency for Afghanistans as represented by their government was not the reality Helmandis experienced.
It is fascinating to read and learn that to Helmandis the terms 'government' and 'police' for two notable examples do not mean what we think they mean. Those two are privately-run enterprises to make US$ from enabling commerce - by 'protecting' road traffic and the drugs trade.
That the Helmandis thought the British were allied with the Taliban (a factional, local coalition; with limited external ties and ISI support) took me by surprise. It seemed so illogical and was based on their long held hostility to the British, who in the First and Second Afghan Wars had invaded their homeland (not then called Helmand Province). The British were there for revenge and sadly repeated the Soviet approach to COIN. The Helmandis noticed that the small Estonian contingent included Soviet-era veterans.
Within this confused, barely understood situation - one Helmandi told the author, even with his studying, he only knew 1% of what was happening on the ground - ISAF had various approaches. The use of SOF is criticised, partly as their targeting was based on rivals accussing them of being 'Taliban'.
This book is similar to Carter Malkasian's book and if read together would give anyone a guide to what intervention in Afghanistan really faced. (My review of Carter Malkasian's book see Post 68 on:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=3192 ).
No wonder the UK's former senior Army commander, General Sir David Richards writes this is THE book on Helmand.
UK Amazon has many reviews:http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-Intimate-...pr_product_top
Amazon.com has only one:http://www.amazon.com/Intimate-War-H...n+intimate+war
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