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| Afghanistan |
| While U.S. Talks Withdrawal, Afghan Corruption Soars |
| 2011-06-25 |
| WASHINGTON -- The farmer picking apples in the outskirts of Kabul must pay the Taliban $33 to ship out each truckload of fruit. The governor sends in armed men to chase workers off job sites if the official bribes aren't paid. Poor neighborhoods never get their U.N.-provided wheat, long since sold on the black market. Ultimately, the enduring corruption and collusion between political elites and insurgents may not define the post-war Afghanistan or what America's nearly 15-year legacy will mean when all U.S. troops have departed. But it does challenge any notion of a clean exit. Is this third world toilet really worth the loss of precious American lives and treasure? Have to snatch the boodle while it's worth snatching... |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #6 You usually do not have war zones in places with functioning governments that are at least trying to serve the people. Wars start and are sustained in sh*tholes. Afghanistan was a grand experiment in nation building that, except for individual situations, has not succeeded. Hopefully it will be a lesson learned. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2011-06-25 19:59 |
| #5 Remember that the South Vietnamese government just went to pluperfect hell when the first indications came that the Americans were leaving. The upper classes just immediately booked the next available flight out, because they could see it coming from a mile away, and they owed no loyalty to their rulers. But the government classes just went on a pillage spree of graft, stealing everything not nailed down. This guaranteed the collapse of their nation, and in the long run did them personally no good, as by the time they decided to flee, there was no means or destination left. So many of them either were shot or put in reeducation camps. A proper end for such scum. Karzai has probably stolen enough money to make it out, but most of his kith and kin are going to be disposed of by the next warlord who takes over. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-06-25 17:03 |
| #4 No reason to hold back if the infidel gravy spigot is about to be turned off. Islam really is Lord of the Flies, except flies serve a useful purpose. |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-06-25 16:11 |
| #3 TW: my guess is that both are likely. |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2011-06-25 14:51 |
| #2 Has the corruption soared recently, or is this how it's been, and the reporter just noticed? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-06-25 14:20 |
| #1 And this is different from home where pols are ripping off the system and taking |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2011-06-25 11:50 |