U.S. releases Afghan prisoners in bid to mend relations

[unhappycamper]

U.S. releases Afghan prisoners in bid to mend relations
By Dion Nissenbaum and Hashim Shukoor | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan _ After three years in Afghanistan’s controversial Bagram military detention center, Haji Gulam Farouq finally got a chance Saturday to speak his mind to one of America’s top generals.

Standing before a group of U.S. military officials, Afghan lawmakers and tribal elders taking part in a special prisoner release ceremony, Farouq said he was afraid that he was forever tarnished as a suspect who could be scooped up again at any time.

“I’m not happy to go home," Farouq told U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. John R. Allen, the number two at U.S. Central Command in Florida.

"I was a mujahedeen commander," said Farouq, who was accused of working with Taliban insurgents. “It didn’t make sense for me to be against this government."

With Allen as a special guest, Farouq and 10 other Afghans were freed Saturday afternoon as part of a program designed to combat persistent perceptions that the U.S. military unfairly holds hundreds of innocent men swept up by over-zealous soldiers hunting insurgents.



unhappycamper comment: Zonkers! 11 Afghan prisoners released. I'm sure the candy and flowers are just around the corner. :sarcasm:

[KG]

1. 'perceptions'

:eyes: