In Iraq, the U.S. military set up a nationwide "terror hotline" that, in spite of some glitches, allowed callers to pass anonymous tips on terrorism and criminal activity. In Afghanistan, 911 is a joke.
While cell phone use is booming in Afghanistan, callers do not always have a single number they can use to to pass on tips or reach security forces in an emergency. And the response is not always swift: the Afghan National Police (pictured here), the Afghan National Army and other security agencies are often reluctant to share information, and commanders don't always trust their subordinates to make independent decisions. If a group of armed strangers rolls into town, you might have to send a runner out to the local police checkpoint — and hope for the best.
That's where a new initiative comes in. With U.S. and coalition backing, the Afghan government is setting up new emergency-response centers in each provice that will be manned jointly by police, military and intelligence personnel. Called Operational Coordination Centers - Province, or OCC-Ps in military shorthand, they are supposed to act as a unified tactical operations center. They will also, theoretically, provide a place for citizens to turn in an emergency.
Sgt. First Class Justin Baumgardner, part of a Police Mentoring Team in Parwan Province, told Danger Room the main challenge was persuading commanders to delegate authority. All too often, he said, Afghans will wait for orders from on high before they act — when it may be too late.
"We've got to get the Afghans to relinquish some power," he said. "There's a tendency [of Afghan commanders] to say, 'This is my jelly roll.' Instead of waiting to call the boss, they need to make decisions at a lower level."
Maj. Chris Whitmer, the operations officer for the 82nd Division Special Troops Battalion, said the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police "are supposed to sing kumbaya and hang out together – that is the concept."
That, however, may require something of a culture shift for organizations that still trace in part back to Soviet-style institutions. "They are very much like this," Whitmer said, folding her hands in the shape of a pyramid. "They are not a very flat organization. Trusting their subordinates and allowing them to make decisions at a lower level is something they are not accustomed to."
[PHOTO: Nathan Hodge]
See Also:
- Danger Room in Afghanistan: MRAPs Out, Motorcycles In
- Danger Room With Afghanistan's Broke, Ammo-Starved Cops
- Danger Room in Afghanistan: An Election Rehearsal
- Danger Room in Afghanistan: Defending Bagram (Part I)
- Afghanistan Training Mission to Double in Size
- How Rummy Almost Blew Afghanistan (Updated Once More)
