ADT Creates Change

The Missouri ADT escorted LTC Velte and other members of the California ADT, to Spin Ghar in Nangarhar Province last week to review projects that may work in Kunar Province, the California ADT area of operation.

Spin Ghar sits near the Pakistani border, at the foot of the Tora Bora mountain range where Osama bin Laden was believed to be hiding during the last days of 2001. It is also a village fighting the Taliban through their own initiative with a volunteer militia.

The Missouri ADT has developed projects to assist the community with agricultural assistance and ‘cash for work’ projects.

LTC Velte looked down the hillside and liked what he saw. The medical clinic, school, veterinarian clinic, cold storage facility—and now the slaughterhouse—were all centrally located.

Social settings influence behavior. Every physical setting is an opportunity to change a mind and influence a community. The jihadist movement uses the madrassa, mosque and training camp for changing young minds.

Intentionally or not, by building agriculture facilities close together the Missouri ADT has created a public space for conversation, dialogue and for mediating change—building a stronger Spin Ghar.

Across Afghanistan, places are being created for social change, such as the Skateistan in Kabul, a skate park where more than 100 kids learn a new sport.

“The whole idea is to create a very positive place somewhere that is a completely different reality than what they go through in their day to day lives,” said Oliver Percovich, the 34-year-old Australian and founder of Skateistan.

Change in a society requires a change in thinking. After 30 years of war, Afghanistan will not be transformed by only defeating the Taliban. It does not take place by force or through oppression, favored tactics of the Taliban and warlords. It occurs when an individual takes the time and effort to be fully invested in their tribe creating opportunity to generate alternatives to conflict—at the heart of ADT projects and COIN, the counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan.

— by Janet Killeen