Previously DS was given a homework essay assignment which he has sent to me in a PM. I asked if I may post in the open for critique.
When asked his sources, he listed the following.
Wet Dog,
May not be perfect, but I did my best to get the most accurate information I could get on my own in as little time as possible.
Essay as follows:
"The Role of Village Chieftans in the theatre of Special Forces Areas of Assignments.
Villiage Chieftans are the heart of the region in places where there is little or no Government control, and before
formal governments, they held the land together through all tribal affairs. These are the people the Special Forces directly
communicate with in a host nation, to win them is to win the support of the people. They are like a regional assembly leadership,
but act on much larger responsibilities. The Special Forces work to meet the needs of the villiages through their represenatives,
the village elders. Though this is a primitive system, it has still proven to be the most powerful form of government in some
areas.
To win the people of the host nation's hearts and minds, he must target the main influence and leadership, in Afghanistan's
case, it is the Pashto Tribes. The Jirga are the true Government of these regions in Southern Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan,
they operate like a small council of life-experienced represenatives who hold the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of
their people. The Jirga holds the prestiege of a court, they are at times called to solve problems as minor as disputes
between two individuals, acting as a mediator. In a serious judicial side, they can even issue punishments as harsh as execution
or expulsion from the community. Though the Afghan National Government appoints an official to oversee actions, the true power
is in their hands. Without the approval and coordination of these leaders, there can be no winning the "hearts and minds" and no
way to combat an insurgency. A villiage chieftain may request anything from medical aid, a clean water supply, protection,
food, and shelter, to improve the quality of life. This causes an effect that 100 enemy casualties cannot produce, its called
trust.
The Villiage Elders often have years of civil strife under their belts, and know firsthand what Special Forces need to
know. They are the eyes and ears of everything in the given area, and is almost unmatched. This importance is also seen by the
enemy, in the Afghan-Pakistani boarder regions, the Taliban have used them as recruiting grounds by winning favor or by force
and intimidation. The Elders will call out for aid to the Special Forces, ratting out 'spies' and giving other valueable intel.
Motivation for the tribe wanting to assist the Special Forces, may be a result of persecution by the former regieme. The Elders
Judge the Americans to assure they are not the same as their former oppresors, or like the Japanese in Okinawa, or the French in
Vietnam.
This is no doubt the prime weapon in counterinsurgency operations. Though it falls under the Regional Combatant
Commander, it will be tailored by the ODA's to the environment and specific needs of the host nation. Where the Government of the
Host Nation is of little help, it falls down to the tribes of centruries old traditions that have kept them thriving for so long.
It is the prestiege and wisdom of a Chieftain that holds the people together. A Chieftain must trust the Special Forces Soldiers
in order for their cooperation to commence to a successful mission. Once he see's the great changes that their work brings to
the people, they earn a mutual respect that lasts a lifetime." [/B]
Originally Posted by DevilSide
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6731389.stm
About Taliban recruitment ^^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jirga
Information about Jirga, for Pashtun regions
FMI 3-07-22 Counterinsurgency Operations
About what it Counterinsurgency falls under, and other information about it.
Everything else was a collaboration of what I already knew from past reading, news, history/discovery channel.
DevilSide