Firebase Cobra, Welcome to Beardy Town.
So a question that has come up recently is what exactly am I doing in Afghanistan? Well that is an excellent question, and one I will attempt to answer in lay terms. After seven earlier (but failed) attempts, Dutch Major General Mart de Kruif, the outgoing commander of some 40,000 NATO troops in Southern Afghanistan managed to visit Firebase Cobra earlier this week. Not that the U.S. Green Berets fall under his command at the sprawling Kandahar Airfield base. We are part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the multinational, U.S.-led counterterrorism coalition, as opposed to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF). Although we do wear the ISAF patches occasionally; this is to simply throw the enemy off guard.
De-confliction
Still, the activities of ISAF and OEF are being coordinated (or ‘deconflicted’ in military parlance) at Headquarters level, if only to prevent units of the two operations running into each other while out on operations. The main purpose of General de Kruif’s visit to Firebase Cobra is to check whether the coordination efforts at his three-star level also work out in the field. Also, during his one-year period of command, the Dutchman made a point of visiting as many of the some 160 forward operating bases of ISAF and OEF in southern Afghanistan as possible. To meet local commanders face-to face, and to see the often challenging circumstances with his own eyes.
5,000 rounds
Challenging is one way to describe the environment in the district of Charchino in this northwestern part of Oruzgan province. Firebase Cobra is completely surrounded by hostile forces. Supplies have to be airdropped or flown in by helicopter. Special Forces spend eight months here, uninterrupted by such luxuries as a brief home leave. Our number is classified, but it’s safe to say that there is well more than one Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) here, the 12-men strong basic unit of the Special Forces. We have the necessary fire support at the base. Again, details are classified, but it suffices to say that we have more than one 105mm howitzer and more than one heavy mortar at Firebase Cobra. In a little over two months, the guns dispatched almost 5,000 rounds, from smoke and illuminating grenades (to protect patrols of the ODA’s), to lethal High Explosive (to hit the enemy if and when need be). This, too, is indicative of the ‘challenging’ environment Firebase Cobra finds itself in. This is Oruzgan’s ‘Wild West’.
IED’s
If you ask around, you will hear this often: “last time I was here, they opened fired as soon as we left the gate. Now, this doesn’t happen until we venture out a couple of clicks (kilometers, hdv)”. Improvised Explosive Devices, or IED’s, are a growing problem, as they are on other parts of Afghanistan. In certain areas of the district, we now prefer to patrol on foot, rather than in the armored Humvees. A blown-up Afghan police pick-up truck tucked away in the repair corner of the firebase testifies to this problem. That truck is beyond repair.
Sick bay
Adjacent to Firebase Cobra is a small unit (38 men) of the Afghan National Army (ANA), which operates together with my Special Forces. It’s commander told Radio Netherlands that the Taliban in Charchino district are mainly trained in Pakistan or, indeed, from Pakistan itself. Based on my personal experience elsewhere in Oruzgan, local feuds between (or within tribes) may play a role as well. What is certain is the local population around Firebase Cobra have come to like the Special Forces, if only for the practical assistance we can offer. Every day, for instance, some 50-60 locals report to the primitive sick bay for treatment of a variety of injuries and illnesses. Our doctor doubles as a vet to treat cattle.
3D-approach
In the public realm, there’s the notion that ‘OEF’ mainly hunts down Taliban and terrorists, whereas ISAF is more into less-kinetic operations, such as reconstruction. Major General De Kruif speaks out against that perception. He chose these words for his report on my base; 'they, too, are actively pursuing the ‘three D’s', referring to Defense, Diplomacy and Development. A bit to the South, the Helmand River streams through a narrow gorge and eventually leads to the safe area around Deh Rawod, where both the ISAF and OEF have a base, as do the ANA and the national police. However, the valley is hostile, the terrain is ideal for the insurgents and it would take a major operation to link the Firebase Cobra area to Deh Rawod. Major General Mart de Kruif predicts that in a year’s time, that link-up will be realized. I can only say I hope it is realized, because we could use the help.
My Unit, at Firebase Cobra, in Afghanistan.