Afghanistan: March 1, 2003

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False accusations and planted rumors continue to cause problems in the hunt for Taliban and al Qaeda. The Afghan tribes have long used lies and deception as powerful weapons and American investigators are having a hard time catching up with long practiced locals. The Afghans find that a well told lie will get the Americans to invade and search the compound of  your enemy (or someone you just don't like, or simply to see if you can get away with it.) The more mature Special Forces troops were better at this, but these guys are often replaced in an area by younger paratroopers or infantry. 

But often there is something to find. In a building next to the the Shinwar district security chief's house (35 kilometers from the Pakistan border) a bomb factory was found. Many people in the area are involved in the drug trade.

 

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