KABUL – U.S. strategy in Afghanistan is being undermined because millions are being paid to warlords to escort supply convoys through war-torn Afghanistan, said a Congressional report released Tuesday.
The investigation, titled "Warlord, Inc.", found that a 2.16-billion-dollar contract to truck supplies to U.S. bases "fuels warlordism, extortion, and corruption and it may be a significant source of funding for insurgents".
Eight Afghan, American and Middle Eastern companies that share the contract to supply over 70 per cent of goods to over 200 U.S. bases around the country are usually forced to pay warlords for security, the report found.
"The principal private security subcontractors," it said, "are warlords, strongmen, commanders, and militia leaders who compete with the Afghan central government for power and authority."
It added that the warlords thrive in areas parts of Afghanistan where there is little or no government authority, and their "interests are in fundamental conflict with U.S. aims to build a strong Afghan government".
"Providing ‘protection’ services for the U.S. supply chain empowers these warlords with money, legitimacy, and a raison d’etre for their private armies," the report said.
When contractors told the military "they were being extorted by warlords for protection payments for safe passage and that these payments were ‘funding the insurgency,’ they were largely met with indifference and inaction," it said.
Investigators went on to recommend that U.S. Department of Defence take direct responsibility for the trucking and security contractors who distribute food, supplies, fuel, ammunition and vehicles to bases, to ensure proper oversight.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.