Frustration!

Mentoring the Afghan National Police (ANP) has been one of the most frustrating things I've ever done. Every time I have to speak to any of them about doing things for themselves, they always turn it around saying something like, "You're part of the Coalition Forces, or you're American. You have LOTS of money, you should do it for us." It's like trying to motivate a Welfare recipient to get a job and earn a living for himself, thus providing him with a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem. It just ain't happenin'! Gotta love learned helplessness. Unfortunately, it is our own fault (both Afghans and Welfare recipients). We've been giving them stuff for the last 8 years while requiring nothing of them. The only way to break the dependency is to stop giving! You wouldn't believe how much fuel for their vehicles we give them across the country. Before I came to the team we were giving the ANP almost 10 cans (50 gal) per day. I quickly cut that off. I wish I could bum 50 gallons of gas per day in the United States. I'd not only never have to buy gas for my car, but I could sell the surplus. By the way, that is exactly what the ANP were doing! Now they just cry me a river for gasoline, and my reply is always, "use your own supply system to get gas."

This is me hearing the sob stories of no fuel, inadequate facilities, and too few men.

I can only imagine the progress this country would make if the Afghans would develop a work ethic and start doing things for themselves.