"Hammers and shovels are as important as guns."

[Robb]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/27/eveningnews/main6525197.shtml">Marines Work to Gain Trust of Afghan Locals
When it Comes to Winning the Trust of Taliban-Fearing Residents, Hammers and Shovels are as Important as Guns

(snip)

With a tent and some timber, in less than two hours they transformed a vacant lot into a makeshift school -- ready for the children of Marjah to get their first taste of a classroom education, reports CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark.

The first day of school comes the next day, and all the desks are taken. There are even a few girls, in the back row. The question is: How many of these kids will come back to class next week?

These Marines fought hard to take Marjah. They've seen 10 of their own killed here. Now they're on a new offensive -- a charm offensive.

Battalion commander Lt. Col. Brian Christmas spends much of his time walking the streets -- no helmet, no body armor -- reaching out to the people of Marjah, one at a time if that's what it takes. He sits on the dusty floors with the village elders, trying to inspire them to stand up for themselves.

"If you have three Taliban who come into a village and only one man stands up, you're right, he's probably going to get shot by the Taliban, because the Taliban is only brave against one," Christmas said. "But the Taliban will not be brave against 40." ....

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/27/eveningnews/main6525197.shtml

[jody]

1. Such projects work only where a national government is left intact after a war as happened in Japan,

Germany, and Italy.

Afghanistan never had an effective national government.