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Karzai to Kick Contractors Out of Afghanistan

Catches NATO unprepared with tough 4-month deadline

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 16, 2010 10:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai enraged the US and his other NATO allies today by ordering all private security contractors to leave the country within four months. Though NATO had been working on its own plan to register and regulate the mercenaries, they weren’t prepared for the move, or the relatively imminent deadline. The LA Times speculates that Karzai intends to use that deadline as a bargaining chip as the West pushes him to reform his corrupt government.

Karzai promised that Afghan security forces would pick up the slack, but the West doubts that those forces are ready. There are roughly 40,000 private security contractors in Afghanistan, protecting everything from diplomatic missions to hotels and restaurants. But they’re extremely unpopular, having been linked to civilian deaths in numerous incidents.

A US contractor looks away from a dust cloud whipped up by a helicopter departing over the gatepost at Combat Outpost Terra Nova in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in this July 19, 2010 file photo.
A US contractor looks away from a dust cloud whipped up by a helicopter departing over the gatepost at Combat Outpost Terra Nova in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in this July 19, 2010 file photo.   (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)
In this July 29, 2010 file photo, Afghan President Hamid Karzai reacts during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan.
In this July 29, 2010 file photo, Afghan President Hamid Karzai reacts during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
optionhack
Aug 16, 2010 4:41 PM CDT
the contractors should give Karzai four months to get out! peace of cake to finish off that loon.
emptycalm
Aug 16, 2010 3:11 PM CDT
Even if they don't pick up the slack the concept of private security firms fighting the US government's wars for oil and strategic military positions is insane. Props to Karzai for once.
Spudsy
Aug 16, 2010 2:16 PM CDT
"Karzai intends to use that deadline as a bargaining chip as the West pushes him to reform his corrupt government." ---- So now we negotiate the amount of corruption we allow in this country we "freed" from religious horror? Time to get out, Obama. Cut and run from these corrupt superstitious psychos.

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