Afghan president gets an earful in seized town

[bigtree]

1 hour ago

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Afghan President Hamid Karzai heard a litany of complaints Sunday from residents of Marjah, the southern town that thousands of U.S., NATO and Afghan troops just seized from the Taliban . . .

They complained — sometimes shouting — about corruption among former Afghan government officials. They lamented how schools in Marjah were turned into military posts by international forces. They said shops were looted during the military offensive, and alleged that innocent civilians were detained by international forces . . .

The elders expressed outrage over house searches conducted by the military, and civilian casualties that occurred during the offensive. They told Karzai they want Afghan troops — not international forces or local policemen — searching houses. The elders — some gesturing to express their frustration — also said they wanted clinics and schools, and were losing patience with the central government's inability to provide services . . .

Marjah residents have heard promises from the central government before. International and Afghan forces have taken over Marjah at least three times before. In the past, local governments that were set up failed to deliver on commitments to build clinics and schools. Marjah residents told the AP last month that the former police force sent in 2009 was so corrupt that locals rose up and drove them out — even before the Taliban returned . . .


read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9E9S0EG0

[lunatica]

1. This is what quagmire looks like

It's not something that will happen in the future anymore. It's what the situation is now. When international forces have to invade a town three times because the townspeople keep throwing out the corrupt officials put there by a corrupt government it is a quagmire. It's like struggling while being stuck on flypaper.

[Warpy]

2. Let's hope he listens and does something about it

because the only thing that allows the Taliban in is sheer disgust with the secular authorities.