U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Duffy and Spc. Michael Bartolo navigate through rice paddies and corn fields while on a combat patrol to sweep for roadside bomb triggermen in the Alingar district in Afghanistan's Laghman province, Aug. 7, 2011. Duffy and Bartolo are assigned to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan CraneTribal Loyalties Remain Challenge For Forces In Afghanistan -- USA Today
SHERZAD, Afghanistan — Army Capt. Robert Brandstetter listened as tribal leader and power broker Zabit Zahir laid into the government-appointed subgovernor for his ineffectiveness.
A former mujahedin who fought the Soviets and is suspected of ties to the Taliban, Zahir complained that the man was failing to get the attention of the provincial governor to secure development-project funding in Sherzad, such as a dam that would greatly increase the supply of water in the perpetually parched district.
"If I had a chance, I would handcuff the subgovernor and take him to jail tomorrow," Zahir says.
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