Afghanistan war: Good counterinsurgency, like good politics, is local

Although Attack Company redeployed to Kunar Province several months before McChrystal took the helm in Afghanistan, their deployment has accomplished many of the goals sought under the new policy.

Some of the soldiers had worked with their counterparts in the Afghan Army during previous rotations. Sfc. Jose N. Urrutia-Castanon of San Diego, Texas, says he may not always remember specific Afghan soldiers, but both sides remember particular units, and finding out they fought together in the past provides common ground that he says improves relationships.

"It works to our advantage, and it also works great toward influencing the local population. They see us working together as one unit, and that will influence the population to take us in and accept us as friends," he explains.

Translating locals' trust into military intelligence

It is hoped that, by gaining locals' trust, soldiers will also be able to gather better intelligence and more effectively stop the Taliban from infiltrating communities.

Most of the relationship-building happens between American officers, who have interpreters, and their Afghan counterparts, while rank-and-file soldiers pull guard duty outside the meeting. Still, these lower-ranked enlisted soldiers often remember the area where they served, adding to the institutional memory.

Sgt. Harry Griffith of Pittsburgh says he doesn't remember any locals but does recall many of the villages and is surprised to see how much they've developed since he left. In several towns, he says, he's noticed new shops and restaurants, and the completion of a US-funded road.

"It's really cool to see because that's what we're here for [to develop the country], that was a huge motivator to help the people out," he says.

While most soldiers agree the new policy will increase their effectiveness, 1st Sgt. Frank Handoe, a resident of Fort Drum, N.Y., warns that in their two years between deployments a lot can change.

"It may be twice as good or twice as bad by the time you come back," Handoe says. "But you're always going to have what you know from when you left, and that's what you're going to think it's going to be like when you come back – and that could be either really good or really bad."

It can also generate a sense of commitment. "I would love to come back here," says Sgt. Gregory Henderson of Mobile, Ala. "I know the people, I know the towns, I know the population.... I feel like if we came here again, we would accomplish even more."

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