Enough to make a grown man cry!

I recently heard someone comment about the inner workings of America's military men and women. Sorry... I forgot who said it, but it was explained that America's soldiers (marines, sailors, airmen, etc.) have a cause. They have a fire in their bellies for America. Before their first military training, they are already filled with a love of and loyalty to our nation. No other fighting men or women in history have fought more fiercely for their country.

Contrast that with the Afghan Army we are trying to train. These new soldiers may well love the land on which they live... but they have no history of a nation, a state, worth dying for. In addition to teaching them how to handle a weapon, move as a unit, and accept the discipline required of an effective fighting force, we must first convince them the fight is worth fighting.

But there is much more. A recent report was of a Afghan unit that came under fire and sustained casualties. They were able to radio for help - specifically for helicopters to evacuate their wounded. But not one member of the group knew how to read a map. They could not tell anyone where they were.

In another report, cash military payrolls were being raided by superiors along the way. A decision was made to issue cash soldier pay by ATM machine. Alas. The Afghan soldiers did not know how to work the machines and they were being forced to pay bribes to someone who could operate the machines for them.

The frustration for U.S. and NATO trainers trying to forge a reliable fighting force in Afghanistan must, at times, be almost overwhelming. May bring tears of frustration to adult eyes.

I am reminded of a story from my past. One of my daughters contracted Type One diabetes when she was eleven years old. After she completed college and became a school teacher, the disease gradually robbed her of her sight. She was assigned to teach a class of visually impaired children. Curious as to what grade level her students had achieved, I asked her to explain what the children were being taught. One little boy, she explained, persisted in beating his head against the wall. They were trying to teach him not to do that. No "three Rs" in the foreseeable future.

So the public asks, "What's taking so long to train the Afghan Army?" Uh... maybe less time than it will take to answer your question.