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The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 120 · Wednesday, 7 October 2026

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Vol. 15 · No. 120

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Vol. 15 · No. 120 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

7 October 2026

0133 Zulu

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· Page 2

Hearts & minds: Actual strategy in Afghanistan war replaced with great PR

Filed · 1547

KANDAHAR , AFGHANISTAN — As the exit strategy for America's ten-plus year war in Afghanistan begins to gain traction, commanders on the ground are surging ahead and ensuring Afghan security forces take the lead on all aspects of operations.

Lieutenant Colonel Mike Wolfton, a battalion commander in southern Kandahar, believes that his groundbreaking methods are the secret to success in the wartorn nation.

"It's really simple," says LTC Wolfton. "For example, when we issue out two truckloads of supplies to the ten Afghan soldiers we have here at the base, we just have the Afghans grab the boxes first and hand them to the Americans, who load their truck for them. Then we send up a storyboard with a picture and a caption that reads: Afghans issue supplies to US troops."

Many of the photos of Afghan forces leading the way end up making their way onto Facebook and other social media sites.

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