"U.S. Army personnel serving in Afghanistan have numerous opportunities to interact with the Afghan people (called Afghans) who are the product of a multiplicity of diverse cultures. Afghan values, beliefs, behaviors, customs, and norms have been shaped by Afghanistan's rugged environment and geography; history of conflict; non-standard Islamic beliefs; tribal ethnicity; external and internal politics; and education. Soldiers will definitely find their culture different from that of the Afghans. This newsletter provides information on the basics of the Afghan culture and how Soldiers should apply this information while living and working with the Afghans. The key points covered in this newsletter are: effects of Afghan culture on counterinsurgency operations; means of acquiring an awareness of the Afghan culture; components that shape the diverse Afghan culture; sources for training on the Afghan culture; and background on the Taliban."--from the Foreword.

Cover title. "SEP 10"--p. [1] of Cover. Includes CD-ROM from Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center with Dari, Pashto, and Urdu language guides.

Newsletter contents: Preface / Col. Thomas Joseph Murphy -- Introduction -- Afghan culture in counterinsurgency operations -- Afghan culture and mass casualty operations -- Afghan cultural awareness -- Afghan cultural influences -- Afghan culture and language training -- Know the insurgents -- Appendix A: references and resources -- Appendix B: Afghan calendars and holidays. CD-ROM contents: Afghanistan. Dari cultural orientation -- Dari air crew language guide -- Dari basic language guide3 -- Dari 15 common phrases -- Pashto cultural orientation -- Pashto air crew language guide -- Pashto basic language guide -- iPod language guide -- Further reading / Pakistan. Pashto cultural orientation -- Pashto air crew language guide -- Pashto basic language guide -- Pashto 15 common phrases -- Urdu cultural orientation -- Urdu air crew language guide -- Urdu basic language guide.