Afghani soldiers deserting

[ckramer]

U.S. officials report that hundreds of Afghan National Army recruits have gone AWOL, threatening the government's effort to replace foreign soldiers.

Bad conditions, threats from the Taliban and problems sending their pay to their families appear to be causing the desertions, the BBC reported Thursday. About 300 men, or one in 12, have vanished from the 205th Corps, based near Kandahar.

Afghani officials hope to triple the size of the army by 2007, which would allow the national army to take over more of the fighting against Taliban supporters.

Some of the soldiers' problems come from the country's desperate economic situation.

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[Neerav B. Trivedi]

1. Scary, maybe they will side on the terorists.

We hope to God not! :mad:

[0007]

6. You mean the U.S.?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. That's what happens with troops of puppet governments.

[Neerav B. Trivedi]

3. Who knows, maybe our troops will do it also.

I see. If discontent happens with our troops in Iraq also, they may do the same.

[Supersedeas]

5. democracy at gunpoint can be hard werk

[Igel]

8. Puppet governments, like

Saddam in 1991/2003, and the Taliban?

It's what happens when soldiers have stronger allegiances elsewhere. We used to call them "dishonorable mercenaries", but for some reason don't do that much any more.

[Supersedeas]

4. if one in 12 vanished from our forces, what would boy George do?

[Roland99]

7. But...but...but...50 million people have been LIBERATED

"We're winning."