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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
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Mullahs to Marines: Earn Our Trust or Leave

Elders tell American forces to earn their trust or leave

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(Newser) – In their first meeting with local elders in the southern Afghanistan village they’re trying to rid of the Taliban, US Marines received a rather unusual greeting: Earn our trust or leave. Mullahs delivered the stern warning after the American forces promised not to leave until they improved the lives of ordinary people. But it’s a promise they’ve heard before, Reuters says.

“I do not trust you,” one mullah told the Marines. “There have been international forces that have come through the village and promised schools, promised clinics. When you are already (delivering) that, then I will trust you.” “This is a beautiful village,” said one commander. “It's very peaceful. And we need to work to keep it that way.”

An young Afghan man speaks with US Marines in Afghanistan's Helmand province.
An young Afghan man speaks with US Marines in Afghanistan's Helmand province.   (AP Photo/ David Guttenfelder)
A young Afghan boy holds the hand of an Afghan translator working with the US Marines.
A young Afghan boy holds the hand of an Afghan translator working with the US Marines.   (AP Photo/ David Guttenfelder)
US Marine 1st Lt Brendan Mahoney from Redmond, Wash., conducts a search with his squad during a battle against Taliban fighters.
US Marine 1st Lt Brendan Mahoney from Redmond, Wash., conducts a search with his squad during a battle against Taliban fighters.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
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We are out of patience here. If you do not solve these problems, we will leave this village. We will fight: every man, woman and child. We do not fear death. - Mullah Zainuddin

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3 comments
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Doctor_Zaius
Jul 5, 09 1:53 PM CDT
How many wars has Afghanistan seen? These people would know the difference between Sh#t and Shinoela. If this is done properly this could very well be the fixer-upper in the middle east that the PNAC thought Iraq was. Reply
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justme
Jul 5, 09 4:48 PM CDT
Makes perfect sense to me. Building schools that don't teach anti-American hatred would be the best use of our money there. Of course replacing the poppy trade with some other way to make a living would also help. Winning Hearts and Minds. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
JonmarkP
Jul 5, 09 5:21 PM CDT
Every time the CIA is in Afghanistan, poppy cultivation rises to new records. Every time the CIA leaves, poppy production falls dramatically. Coincidence, I guess.
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