U.S. troops and Afghan police and soldiers conduct a shura with village elders in Mizan in Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 25, 2011. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Grovert Fuentes-Contreras Reforming The Taliban: US Aims To Teach Afghan Fighters New Livelihoods -- Christian Science Monitor
A US military-run reintegration effort in Afghanistan aims to teach captured Taliban fighters how to earn a legal living upon release. Critics say the US program is premature and undermines the Afghan government.
Down a back road, past old, still-active minefields and blown-out Soviet tanks, US military officials are trying to bring former insurgents back into the fold of the Afghan government.
The US official who runs the program calls it "tactical detoxifying" – offering captured former foot soldiers a skill that could help them make a legal living once they are released. Since March, the Parwan Detention Center at Bagram Air Base near Kabul has offered beekeeping workshops, language labs, and tailoring classes.
Yet the process of reintegration has been fraught with suspicion and roadblocks.
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More News On Afghanistan
Combined Force Kills Insurgent, Detains Suspects -- US Department of Defense
Insurgents Face Unrelenting Pressure in Afghanistan -- US Department of Defense
NATO Service Member Killed in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
NATO service member killed in Afghanistan -- AJC/AP
Insurgents Attack in Kandahar, Breaking Rare Respite -- New York Times
Afghanistan militant attack on Kandahar compound 'ends' -- BBC
Insurgents' attack ends in Afghan south -- Reuters
Insurgents attack bases in Afghanistan -- CNN
Insurgents mount attack against U.S. base in Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Insurgent Attack Ends In Afghan South -- Radio Free Europe
Taliban Attack US-run Base in Southern Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Afghan interpreter killed in US base attack -- AFP
Former Canadian Base, Camp Nathan Smith, in Kandahar City Attacked: One Dead, Eight Injured -- Ottawa Citizen
Objectives Achievable Despite Pakistan Sanctuaries, General Says -- US Department of Defense
Afghanistan must bolster forces on border: US -- Yahoo News/AFP
Afghan soldiers take the lead, slowly, on questioning villagers -- Stars and Stripes
In House testimony, Clinton asks for patience on Afghanistan, Pakistan -- Washington Post
Clinton Discusses Way Forward in Afghanistan, Pakistan -- US Department of Defense
Clinton: U.S. would negotiate with Taliban leader -- CNN
Clinton defends outreach to Taliban-linked Haqqani -- Stars and Stripes/AP
US Soldier Goes on Trial for Civilian Atrocities in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
U.S. soldier goes on trial for Afghan murders -- Reuters
Sgt. Calvin Gibbs, 'Kill Team' Leader, Faces Court as Instigator of Afghan Civilian Deaths -- Seattle Weekly
Afghanistan Security Forces Face Big, Big Test Next Month -- UN Dispatch
Taliban threaten to attack Afghan Loya Jirga -- Threat Matrix
Afghan Taliban issue stern warning -- Pakistan Observer
Stanley McChrystal invited to visit Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Embassy: McChrystal to visit Afghanistan -- CNN
Afghan Archeologists Race Against Time to Find Treasures -- Voice of America
Afghans face greater test with second handovers -- The Telegraph
Plan Afghanistan -- Paul Wolfowitz and Michael O'Hanlon, Foreign Policy
What we didn't know about the war in Afghanistan -- Brian Stewart, CBC