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The Afghan Region Marines Invaded? America Built It

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 3, 2009 8:30 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The 4,000 US Marines who invaded the Helmand Province in Afghanistan this week might feel at home—the US helped build it, the Christian Science Monitor reports. In a Cold War race against the Soviets, Washington lavished more than $110 million on irrigating land, constructing schools, and building the capital city of Lashkar Gah. But Taliban insurgents eventually claimed the land from Afghanistan's government.

"It was a huge influx of people who came in there for the land settlement," says Richard Scott, an expert on the project. Scott helped villagers repair war-damaged irrigation systems there until 2005, when militants killed a truckload of Afghan engineers. Until then, he says, local goodwill for the American enterprise was strong. Now he fears that rising civilian casualties have turned local support to anger.

U.S. Marines sit with Afghani residents of the village of Noghara in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday July 3, 2009.
U.S. Marines sit with Afghani residents of the village of Noghara in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday July 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
U.S. Marines move in formation through farm fields in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2, 2009.
U.S. Marines move in formation through farm fields in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
US Marines patrol in Afghanistan's Helmand province Sunday June 28, 2009.
US Marines patrol in Afghanistan's Helmand province Sunday June 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/ David Guttenfelder)
US Marines gather in a abandoned farm house in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday July 3, 2009.
US Marines gather in a abandoned farm house in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday July 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
A US Marine watches as Afghani residents of a village in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province lead their cows across the main road Friday July 3, 2009.
A US Marine watches as Afghani residents of a village in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province lead their cows across the main road Friday July 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
U.S. Marines take positions in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday July 3, 2009.
U.S. Marines take positions in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province Friday July 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
zygote
Jul 4, 2009 12:12 PM CDT
When will we learn?
riffran
Jul 4, 2009 10:30 AM CDT
you must have been a carpenter at one time...lol....thats what my father in law frequently states......a good kernel of wisdom there
Mr.C
Jul 4, 2009 7:36 AM CDT
...then do the required upkeep on your project.

 
development • Helmand province • invasion • Afghanistan war • Marines

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