LOGAR GOVERNOR LODIN OFFERS ASSURANCES TO INCOMING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000213 SIPDIS KABUL FOR USFOR-A COS, DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR WILKES CG CJTF-101 POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2013 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF SUBJECT: LOGAR GOVERNOR LODIN OFFERS ASSURANCES TO INCOMING TF COMMANDER Classified By: Acting PRT Director Dereck Hogan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Logar Governor Atiqullah Lodin was introduced by Combined Task Force (CTF) Currahee Commander Colonel Johnson to incoming Task Force (TF) Spartan Commander Colonel Haight on January 21. The governor criticized the central government for allowing the situation in Logar to deteriorate. He agreed that the increase in forces represented by the arrival of the 3rd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division would help with security, and that economic assistance from the new units and the existing Czech PRT would be critical. Lodin made it clear, however, that as a long-time actor on the scene in Logar, he would be the key to finally resolving the problems in the province. ¶2. (SBU) CTF Currahee Commander Colonel Johnson introduced TF Spartan Commander Colonel Haight to Logar Governor Lodin at FOB Shank on January 21. (Logar and Wardak Provinces are being transferred from the existing CTF Currahee,s area of operations to TF Spartan.) Also present were the incoming and outgoing battalion commanders from FOB Shank (site of the Czech PRT); Lieutenant Colonel Lipka, the commander of the Czech PRT; Governor Lodin,s 2nd son (of three),Mirwais; and PRT Officer. ¶3. (SBU) Governor Lodin initiated the meeting by highlighting his own credentials -- he was born and raised in Logar and served there during the anti-Soviet jihad and as Corps Commander after the establishment of the Karzai government. He claimed that he could help with "any problem," not just in Logar, but anywhere in the southeast region. The key, he stressed, is connecting the people to the government. He has watched the situation deteriorate and the gap widen for the last 4 years. Since he became governor 3 months ago, he said he has concentrated on meeting with district administrators and community leaders (he has reached 3,600 people by his count) in an effort to get them to bring their problems to higher levels of the government. He expressed admiration for the work of the current maneuver unit (the Brigade,s Special Troops Battalion) and the Czech PRT. However, he hinted that more could be done. ¶4. (SBU) Throughout the meeting, the governor emphasized the need for economic development and assistance programs, especially in rural areas. When asked about which anti-government groups were most active in the area, he brushed the question aside, noting that the people fighting the government in Logar are not motivated by ideology but by financial necessity. Most of them do it for the pay, and if the government and its allies can provide an alternative, that will dry up the pool of available fighters. He also claimed that half of the anti-government forces had fled the province when he was appointed governor, because they know his reputation. If necessary, he proclaimed, he remains willing to lead a commando unit in the field. ¶5. (SBU) Current policies, Lodin insisted, are flawed; otherwise, there would not be a problem with insurgents. The government has failed to provide opportunities for youth, and so they turn to anyone who will pay them. This is especially true in the remote villages, where the government,s presence is minimal or nonexistant. He wants to penetrate into these areas politically and economically, and make Logar an example of how to solve the insurgent problem. Asked about the Afghan Social Outreach Program (ASOP) as a tool, he said it was too soon to judge its effectiveness where it is being tried, but if the program does yield results, he would of course use it. In the meantime, fixing problems with the army and police will be necessary to create a strong foundation. ¶6. (SBU) Colonel Johnson inquired if reconciliation is possible in the province. The governor responded that he was not in Afghanistan in 2001; he was in Pakistan where he was in contact with the Taliban, Hezb-I Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) and Al Qaeda. These people know him and would come to him if the ideas were put on the table. (He did not define exactly what those "ideas" might be.) He also stressed the need for an appropriate information campaign to accompany the deployment of more troops in the area. Since too many people see both the Taliban and the Americans as enemies, we needed to make it clear that the Americans were here to help. In that regard, he also noted that if we had intelligence on an individual we were going to target, we should check with him KABUL 00000213 002 OF 002 for confirmation before acting. "The Taliban know how to profit from our mistakes," he warned. ¶7. (SBU) The governor said he had been trying to get a Ministry of Interior job in Kabul but that had not worked out. Now, he said, he is back in Logar, where "we are at zero, where we were 7 years ago." But he knows "we will win." Regardless of his formal position, he described himself as the "Logar man," and offered to give us any help the U.S. needed. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The governor certainly does not lack in self-confidence and continues to impress with his pro-active approach to reaching out to the people and trying to connect them to the government. His expressed philosophy of separating the insurgents from the people through economic development, improved security and better governance is clearly in line with the international community,s approach. ¶9. (C) His reputation, however, for self-aggrandizement and corruption precedes him. If history is a guide, and unrest in Logar brings him greater attention or the opportunity to profit personally, he will be happy to see continued unrest. He is, however, the governor President Karzai has given us, and we will hold him to his public pronouncements while working behind the scenes to short-circuit anything wayward that he may be attempting. ¶10. (U) CTF Currahee commander and the 3/10 commander have reviewed this message. WOOD