Guns, Trucks, and Dollars

“…The history of Watan Risk Management demonstrates how NATO’s reliance on private security contractors has spawned a new class of Afghan warlords who are well-entrenched and unlikely to fade away quietly.

Ruhullah, until recently the company’s chief commander, is considered one of the most powerful men along the perilous stretch of highway between Kabul and Kandahar, a vital artery for the U.S. miiltary and international aid agencies alike.

He was a fruit wholesaler before the fall of the Taliban, then he got his start by providing security to CNN and CBS reporters. He recruited men from his home village in Dand, Kandahar, and was soon able to amass a force of hundreds ready to provide protection. He branched out into providing security for non-governmental organizations and NATO supply convoys. Today Ruhullah charges $1,000 per truck, and his force accompanies up to 500 trucks a week between Kabul and Kandahar…"

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/10/28/102785/us-employed-afghan-security-firms.html#ixzz13i9tVvlK

by teru kuwayama at 2010-10-29 02:35:18 UTC | Bookmark | | Report spam→