Afghanistan: July 3, 2003

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Task Force 11, an elite organization of Delta Force, SEALs and other commandos, has been disbanded. The group was organized to hunt down Osama bin Laden. But the commandoes are needed in Iraq to hunt down Saddam Hussein, and it's thought that the hunt for bin Laden can proceed without so many commandos. 

Tribal violence continues in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif and the government has threatened to send troops to clear the tribal militias out of the city if the fighting doesn't stop. The Tajik and Uzbek militias have established some 150 checkpoints around the city, which are often used to extract bribes from passing civilians. The two groups sometimes fight over who should set up shop at a choice location. The two ethnic militias have many cliques that go into business for themselves and are lax in obeying orders to keep the peace. To help pacify the place, Britain is sending fifty civil affairs troops.

Captured Taliban have admitted that their leaders have ordered them to go after NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) that are engaged in reconstruction. The NGO work is making people realize that they can have a better life without the Taliban.

 

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