Ten Marines. An Army MP platoon. A few independent contractors from DynCorps. And dozens of Afghan soldiers.

Welcome to Firebase Torkham Gate.

Afghanistan is a different war than that in Iraq. The highways are full of cars, trucks, and brightly colored “Jingle busses.” The shops are stocked with food, vegetables, computers, shoes, and other consumer goods. Banks advertise their services, and compete for business. The national cell phone service actually works.

Located less than two miles west of the historic Khyber Pass, Firebase Torkham Gate houses the combat advisors to the 1st Afghan Border Police. Residents near the bases say they take pride in building a new Afghan country. The Afghan National Army takes an equal pride in killing the Taliban-Al Qaeda foreigners that sneak across the border from Pakistan. At the moment, local Afghans are assisting both the Afghan Border Police and their American allies in rooting out the Pakistani foreign invaders.

The masses of people, trucks, and animals crossing in both directions speak to the importance and vitality of the Pass, as well as its vitality. It’s also a reminder of the security challenges: in the last few weeks, both VBIED and remote-timed IEDs exploded here. This is the major truck route for American -- ISAF -- NATO -- NGO supplies coming up from Karachi. It seems that every third truck is hauling a Maersk or Sealand shipping container, and a successful bombing would create both a logistical and morale nightmare.

Under the command of LtCol Scot Fosdal, these ten Marines are part of the 1st Afghan Border Police Training Team, or “pitt.”  They work with the 1st and 2nd ABP Kandaks (battalions). The five Marines of Team One are led by Lt. Edward Rushing, whose 1st Kandak stretches over 50+ outposts in a several hundred mile region. Team Two is commanded by Lt. Casey DeMunck; his 2nd Kandak has fewer OP’s, but a larger landmass.

With the Administration’s emphasis on Iraq, budgetary resources and available manpower have been cut back for Afghanistan. LtCol Fosdal has only $5,000/month per province allocated to building, re-building, and civil-affairs type projects.  That’s about how much it costs to pump all the toilet facilities at Camp Victory, Baghdad, in a single week.

Consequently, the Afghan Border Police -- who are responsible for security from the Pakistani border to 50 km’s inward -- are understaffed, under-trained, and underpaid. The 1st Brigade, Afghan Border Police has four Kandaks in the three provinces of Nangahar, Konar, and Nuristan.  These three provinces that border Pakistan are where the Taliban recruits flow across the border.

But no matter.  “We can do what we want to make this work,” said LtCol Fosdal.  He has rebuilt kitchens for his ABP’s in Jalalabad, hired contractors to clean out the outdoor latrines, and funded a clinic. The Afghans have been fighting since 1979, and while they are doing much of the fighting, they need help with leadership and logistics.

This can-do spirit has been passed to his team. Lt Rushing and Team One are building a clinic up in the mountains.  Although the ABP will provide most of the funds, the Marines will help with the construction, and of course their presence will help guarantee security.   HM3 Curtis “Doc” Jones is active at the medical operations as he helps both military and civilians.

Although the Border Police troops are exceedingly brave, they are unable to call for artillery, air, or use other types of modern tactics.  For this reason, Team One’s Sgt Adam Snauffer considers the ongoing American presence as a force multiplier.   

At the same time, these missions are best done “with an Afghan face on them,” says Sgt Shane McGranaghan. A mortarman, Sgt “Mac” described how important it was for the Americans to boost the reputation of the Afghan Border Police.

“It’s their country,” Mac said, “and they need to make it work.”

Andrew Lubin is with international forces in Afghanistan.