[mathurine]

As a Marine in I Corps in Vietnam in '67-68 we had a reward program which compensated for weapons turned in; I thought at the time that it would have worked better if we swopped consumer goods instead of giving out money. The rural Vietnamese did not have much market access, and if they had money it was easily extorted. I suspect that in Afghanistan some of the same situation prevails. Put up toys and household goods and so forth-- things which will give joy to the women and children, and are of no value to the various paramilitary types and it might be surprising what the outcome would be.

[cajungirl]

I wonder if these people care about their women and children.