Contract Dispute Blocking U.S. Efforts To Train Afghan Police Force

By Monique Cala - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

As reconstruction efforts get underway in Afghanistan, the shifting in oversight of Afghan police training from the U.S. State Department to the U.S. Defense Department has been slow to develop.

"The State Department was doing an inadequate job in training the police. At least that was the view of the policy people of the time. Ironically, that is exactly the view of today," said Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen on Monday.

DynCorp International, which held the State Department contract, has filed a protest, delaying the transition and forcing an extension of their contract to July of this year.

While a resolution regarding the transition has yet to be announced, Douglas Ebner with DynCorp promised that his organization, "will do nothing to impede the mission” in Afghanistan.

"Our main concern today, however, is not the process and detail of contingency contracting," said Federal Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan Co-Chair Christopher Shays. "It the strategic concern about the roles and responsibility, the planning, the visibility and especially the inter-agency coordination of efforts that rely on contracts."

As pressure mounts on the U.S. to withdraw troops and transition governing power to the Afghan people, the need for a strong police force there is a key issue. According to U.S. officials, the number of Afghan police is expected to grow to 160,000 by 2013.

Report: Most American’s doing better than fifty years ago

Today in a House press conference authors Sarah Burd-Sharps and Kristen Lewis of the report “The Measure of America, American Human Development Report 2008-2009” explained their findings. The findings of the research were compiled from government documents that were available for the last two years, including the census and current economic reports. All of the findings were compiled to give the country “a very holistic approach that puts the person at the front and center,” said Burd-Sharps.

The research that was conducted looked at each state and each congressional district in the United States. The data that was collected looked specifically at life expectancy, educational degree attainment and medium personal income levels. Findings of the research documented that some states are advancing faster than others in terms of overall development. In terms of geographical regions that placed well the North East was ranked very high with the state of Connecticut receiving the highest ranking in the whole country. According to Lewis, Connecticut is where the country should be by the year 2020. Findings also concluded that the state of Mississippi was ranked lowest due to low life expectancy, income and educational attainment. The findings stated that Mississippi is where the country as a whole was in 1980.

Further findings looked at race and ethnicity, specifically which groups have been advancing fastest. The report states that Asian American’s and Whites are far ahead on wealth and education while African American’s are least healthy. The report indicates that African American males are less healthy now than they were in 1960 with infant mortality rates amongst African American’s up two and a half percent.

While the report does not offer clear explanations on how to address the issues that are documented, Congressman Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) believes the best way to address health care is universal coverage. Shays said “American’s should have universal coverage, it would be cheaper and would give American’s the same option as federal employees who currently have eighteen different options for health care.”

Mass security

The challenge of protecting mass gatherings from acts of terror was discussed by the House Homeland Security Committee. Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said that though the federal government is involved in high-level national events, places like state fairs, collegiate sporting events, and shopping complexes often lack adequate security.

After speaking three minutes over his alloted time making statements during questioning, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) was denied an extension of time by acting chair Rep. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands,) a decision Pascrell tried to reverse through debate. Christensen expressed concern that local governments would be unable to meet the medical need after a disaster, noting that many hospitals are already full. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) asked said he believes the public has the right to know if intelligence suggests an event is at risk.

Colonel Robert Stephan, USAF (Ret.) of the Department of Homeland Security said federal, state, and local governments have improved their ability to work with one another and said that security and capability gaps are being recognized and fixed sooner. Stephan said the next presidential administration will need to work to make an efficient and even budget.