The (Coming) Surge In Afghanistan: Brought To You By Kim And Fred Kagan?

Justin Elliott | September 28, 2009, 11:39AM

AEI's Frederick Kagan and Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal

Frederick Kagan, the neoconservative think-tanker best known as the architect of the surge in Iraq, continues to have access to Gen. Stanley McChrystal as an adviser after serving as part of a team producing the recent assessment of the Afghan war, a spokesman for the general tells us.

It had been reported that Kagan and his wife, military historian Kimberly Kagan, were part of the group that advised McChrystal on the high-profile assessment that warns of "mission failure" if more troops are not sent. But it wasn't previously known that Kagan's work with McChrystal extended beyond the review.

It's striking that Kagan, who writes for the Weekly Standard, guest blogs at National Review, and advised the Bush Administration on Iraq, is now advising President Obama's top commander in Afghanistan.

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Frederick Kagan, Kimberly Kagan, Stanley McChrystal, War In Afghanistan

FBI

The NYC Terror Plot: What Do We Know?

Zachary Roth | September 17, 2009, 2:19PM

Najibullah Zazi

Over on the main blog, Josh wrote the other day about the alleged terror plot which led police to raid an apartment building in Queens on Monday, and then a suburban Denver home yesterday. Josh noted that the Feds seem to being playing this one a lot closer to the vest than in other cases of recent years -- which could be a sign that it's more serious.

So let's take stock of what we know...

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Topics: Afghanistan, FBI, Newburgh 4, Seas of David

War In Afghanistan

Study: More Contractors In Afghanistan Than Military Personnel -- Highest Ratio Ever

Justin Elliott | September 1, 2009, 11:44AM

Private contractors depart from airfield in Sharana, Afghanistan

Private Defense Department contractors outnumber the ranks of uniformed U.S. military in Afghanistan, according to a Congressional Research Service study obtained by the invaluable Secrecy News.

As of March, there were over 68,000 contractors in Afghanistan and over 52,000 military personnel (Read the report in .pdf format here.)

At 57% of total Defense Department workforce, the number of contractors represents "the highest recorded percentage of contractors used by DOD in any conflict in the history of the United States," the study concludes.

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Topics: Afghanistan, War In Afghanistan

Newburgh 4

Feds: Americans Plotted "Violent Jihad" In Middle East

Zachary Roth | July 28, 2009, 4:08PM

So what's up with those seven men arrested yesterday and charged with plotting to wage "violent Jihad"?

The ringleader appears to be Daniel Boyd, 39, a North Carolina man who runs a drywall business, and who about 20 years ago had traveled to Afghanistan as a Muslim convert to fight the Soviet Union. According to the government, Boyd recruited six men -- including two of his sons -- to participate in a scheme "to advance violent jihad, including supporting and participating in terrorist activities abroad and committing acts of murder, kidnapping or maiming persons abroad."

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Topics: Afghanistan, FBI, Newburgh 4

Bowe Bergdahl

Senior Military Officials on Bergdahl: 'He's Not A Deserter'

Rachel Slajda | July 23, 2009, 3:45PM

Yesterday, we reported that we hadn't heard a clear story from the Pentagon about how Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl was captured in Afghanistan. We started looking after a Fox News analyst claimed the soldier deserted (and therefore should be executed by the Taliban).

But last night, an NBC News correspondent reported that Pentagon officials are certain Bergdahl is not a deserter.

"Senior military and Pentagon officials, not only in Washington but there on the ground in Afghanistan, say there's no question he's not a deserter," said Jim Miklaszewski, NBC's Pentagon correspondent.

Video after the jump.