Rapid Fire Dec. 13, 2013: Afghan Progress, Challenges, ORBAT

* The Pentagon released its latest full progress report [PDF] on Afghanistan, acknowledging significant risks: “The insurgency’s safe havens in Pakistan, the limited institutional capacity of the Afghan government, and endemic corruption remain the greatest risks to long-term stability and sustainable security in Afghanistan. The Taliban-led insurgency and its al-Qaida affiliates still operate from sanctuaries in Pakistan, however, the insurgency and al-Qaida continue to face U.S. counterterrorism pressure within the safe havens. U.S. relations with Pakistan have begun to improve following the re-opening of Pakistani Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs), and there has been nascent improvement with respect to cross-border cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.” * The Institute for the Study of War updated their Order of Battle [PDF] for coalition forces in Afghanistan. * ThyssenKrupp, a German steelmaker involved in military shipbuilding, is facing huge losses and writedowns in Brazil and the US. A management shakedown has been ordered by the company’s supervisory board. Press release | Der Spiegel | NYT. * India ran another successful test of its mid-range Agni-I ballistic missile. * Boeing appointed Pratyush Kumar to lead its Indian subsidiary. He comes from GE Transportation. * Randolph L. Mahr, Deputy Director of the JSF program since […]