Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko is once again warning about the long-standing problems of corruption in Afghanistan, and the amount of US “reconstruction aid” disappearing down black holes over the course of the years. As always, the discussion came around to “ghost soldiers.”
Ghost soldiers are a phenomenon in which Afghan military commanders fill their ranks with fictional names and just keep the salaries, which since the salaries are paid pretty much exclusively by NATO and overwhelmingly by the US, has been a known tactic that the Afghan government has done nothing to prevent.
Sopko warned that the “ghost soldier” problem has expanded to include fictional police, teachers, and other government officials, and that all told the US taxpayers are paying the salaries of “tens of thousands” of Afghans who don’t actually exist, and will likely be doing so for years, potentially decades to come. Though exact figures are impossible to know, SIGAR said some $300 million in salaries are paid to “unverified” employees.
Individual Afghan government employee salaries are pretty small, particularly for military recruits, which has been a big reason the nation has struggled to fill the ranks with actual people. That commanders can pocket the difference just adds to the incentive to make up names and “pay” them.
This is a big reason why the Afghan military has struggled so mightily in fights with the Taliban as well, as their statistics on how many troops they have defending any given checkpoint or important city are wildly inaccurate, and they can find that the Taliban forces they thought they handily outnumbered are actually in a position to seize territory.
Fake news, fake soldiers. As long as dumb Americans are willing to pay any price for any war no questions asked, smart and corrupt guys out there will take advantage of it.
Time has long past that we end our financial involvement with Afghanistan.
Got to protect our poppies.
Absolutely.
Here they are.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/10/14066.html
But it’s good business!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dc2f8e987b9c9ff55a51e83132ed8225dd2e8015c5cbd8eeed853539548bf8d3.jpg
I bet you’re fun at parties.
Last time i pulled a guitar out in a crowd, was few months back in Utopia, Texas. I was there to get the daughter of long time friends, hitched to her long time common law husband. Known them all for years. I do get in three piece suits now and then, but only for weddings and funerals. And then, i have to like you real good. Now and then wife will drag me to one of her high school class functions, (parties). I stayed home once for one and was never allowed to again. Wife came back pissed cute everyone was asking where i was. She told me i did not even go top Their school. So i am forced by diplomacy to attend the blow outs.
TD is getting ready to kick me off. Told Lewie the other day, wondered why they had not. Got a “warning” Email that my commutes do not meet their standards, which i take as a badge of honor. I will vote some of you up, but i can not act like i like scumbags. Should you want o get in touch, see you on other sites, or lewie could put you in touch.
Yeah, I got a note from someone awhile back but then over the years I’ve gotten afew. I ‘ve been posting at truthdig since April 2007, long before disqus took over.
I’ve had a few Robert Reich comments removed and a BLM comment, none of which violated language usage but one that Reich might read and quit writing for them…..which would break my heart.
I only write it the way I see it.
It is a disinofo site. I think i am going to switch gears. thinking of setting up a .org website, do history videos, editorials on CIA thirty shekel prostitutes who stick pins in Vooddoo dolls. 🙂
I told L that i don’t get the urge to write songs much, but today, after dealing with a bunch of leg hopping zionist, Hazbara trolls, and some sheep, i walked out back with the dogs, picked and sang, I AM A GOOD OL REBEL. Then bam, the first line, and the title of a song hit me, the rest will come, get this recorded soon. First line and title is, WAR CRIMINALS, PURITAN ZIONIST YANKEE ASS HOLES. I would like to thank those leg hoppers who inspired me today.
Just up. no current articles. Get some rest, get up in the morning, see what i want to raise hell about. http://www.johnccarleton.org