Steven Pressfield (Gates of Fire) is promoting the notion of Tribal Engagement Teams in Afghanistan — small teams like Major Jim Grant’s Special Forces ODA (Operational Detachment Alpha) 316:
Each TET tribe will become a target and they will take casualties. There will be fighting. But the fighting will be U.S. soldiers alongside tribesmen against a common enemy. Isn’t that what we want? There will [also] be push-back from assorted Afghan officials, power brokers, warlords, criminals. It will become a very personal fight. Once we commit to the tribe, the Pashtunwali code [honor, revenge, hospitality] comes into effect for the [U.S. teams] as well. In the end it will be the team’s ability to build a true bond with the tribe that is backed up by the warrior ethos: the ability and desire to fight and die alongside them when necessary.
This is not a new idea:
From the 1890s to 1947, British control relied heavily on a small number of highly trained British officers. These frontier officers were highly educated, committed, conscientious, and hard working. Many had studied law and the history of the area and spoke some of the local languages. They had a deep sense of duty and a strong national identity. All required a depth of administrative competence and judgment to successfully wield the extensive powers at their disposal. They contributed significantly to the province’s security and stability. These men were particularly valuable in navigating the intricacies of tribal politics.
What does it take to outfit such a team? Not too much:
Three to twelve [U.S.] men, based on the environment
2 interpreters
2 SAT phones
2 SATCOM radios (piggyback frequency)
2 PRC-119s
2 ATVs
2 Pickup trucks
3 Generators
2 Computers with a biometrics kit
Plus initial infill logistics package for the tribe:
100 AK-47s
30,000 to 50,000 rounds of ammunition
Assorted medical supplies
A ‘Gift of Honor’ for the tribal chief