Were These Boots Made for Walking?

Creating an army from scratch is a difficult job. The United States and its NATO allies have been engaged in just such a mission in Afghanistan since a national government was formed in Kabul.

The average lay person will recognize that armies need weapons, training and those sorts of things. An army takes much more, though, if it is to be able to function, and more importantly, be able to be sustained by its national government.

Afghanistan is a poor country. It underwent Russian occupation, Taliban rule and a long and difficult civil war before a true national government could be established. Thirty years of turmoil, two generations for a poverty stricken nation like Afghanistan.

Businesses, industries, skills, education, all vanished in those dark years.

NATO and the United States have set a goal for their assistance to Afghanistan. By October 2011, we would like the Afghan army and police to number 305,000 trained men and women. That will cost the national government about $6 billion a year to operate. With their current economic state, Afghanistan cannot generate the funds to do that.

Look at a soldier and what do you see? A gun, a uniform, a need for food, a need for lodging, a need for training. At this time, far too many of these needs are met by purchases from outside Afghanistan. How can Afghanistan have an army if it cannot put Afghan made boots on the soldiers' feet?

General Gary Patton is Deputy Commanding General (Programs), Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. He's in charge of building the Afghan capacity to support their army and police. He's in charge of boots.

There are boot manufacturers in Afghanistan. The boots aren't made very well and will not serve the soldiers of Afghanistan. Patton brought in some experts to look at the operations, and with a few suggestions, the quality of the local boots can be improved greatly. No new equipment, just small changes in production methods. Improve the locally produced boots and they can be bought for the Afghan security forces.

That means jobs for Afghans. That means more money in the private sector economy. Which means even more jobs. It means sustainability.

The official purchasing policy of NATO and the United States is called Afghan First.

"Procuring goods and services from Afghan companies promotes economic development, supports the growth of a modern and competitive business sector, and boosts Afghan employment. The coalition military and development agencies are significant players in the Afghan economy. Our influence will be more positive to the extent we actively partner with Afghans and Afghan companies to create jobs. Abating unemployment requires full use of USG resources."

The official link to Afghan businesses and industrial resources is an NGO called Peace Dividend Trust. It maintains a database of resources for buyers and suppliers operating in Afghanistan.

Patton isn't just about boots. He's working to make Afghanistan as strong as it can be by building its economy, its industries and its security forces. With his help, very soon Afghan boots will be made for walking.