AFP: Afghan ‘Rambo’ cop on frontline against Taliban

IAVA's Todd Bowers, Deputy Policy Director for Public Affairs, was among the marines cited in this AFP piece on recruitment shortages facing the Afghan National Police. Bowers was cited for his efforts to forge closer ties with local elders.

Afghan ‘Rambo’ cop on frontline against Taliban

AFP

GOLESTAN, Afghanistan - “I want to be John Rambo,” said Zahir, rolling up the sleeve of his blue Afghan police uniform to reveal a tattoo on his left arm that has earned him the nickname “Scorpion”.

This fan of US actor Sylvester Stallone’s grizzled Vietnam War veteran is on the frontline of the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan’s rural west, where US Marines are conducting a five-month training course for Afghan police.

But his mentors from the 2^nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade suspect their enthusiastic recruit, aged about 30, is nearly always high on opium, which is abundant in Afghanistan.

“Scorpion” staggered around a party to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan recently, slapping the backs of Marines and simulating driving his truck on patrol.

In any other country, his drug use would not be tolerated.

But the Afghan National Police (ANP) face a recruitment shortage in areas like this in Farah province, which with neighbouring Helmand remains under threat from Taliban insurgents.

Efforts to rein in police officers’ opiate use and erratic motivation have so far failed, US Marines said, in part due to the police chief’s lack of tribal authority.

Police officer Sheikh Ahman, 36, said fear was also a factor in recruitment, as Taliban insurgents step up attacks against foreign forces.

More than 380 coalition troops have died in Afghanistan so far in 2009 — the bloodiest year since the Taliban were pushed from power in 2001.

“We need more police but they’re not coming because they’re too scared,” said Ahman.

Meanwhile, the Marines are making an effort to win the hearts and minds of the villagers.

Infantry soldiers mingled among the policemen and village elders, as the guests washed down their potatoes, fried rice and chicken with orange soda.

One soldier, Staff Sergeant Todd Bowers, even picked up a guitar and sang some blues.

The Marines know they will only be able to hone the Afghan police force into a strong and disciplined force by adhering to local customs and engaging them socially, as well as professionally.

But they maintain that a small battle has been won already as their raw recruits have chosen the ANP over the Taliban.

“Here’s men who have picked a side. They’re patriots trying to fight for Afghanistan,” said company commander Captain Francisco Xavier Zavala.

“They have accepted a great deal of risk for that common good.”