Murphy's Law: Life Threatening Exit Interview

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February 23, 2011: South Korean troops in northern Afghanistan recently suffered an RPG attack on their base. The five rocket powered warheads caused no casualties. The 369 South Koreans are there to provide humanitarian assistance, and hire local tribesmen to help with security. No one claimed credit for the attack, and suspicion turned to local families feuding over who would get the security jobs at the South Korean base.

While 277 South Korean troops are there to help protect the South Korea civilian aid workers, some tribesmen are hired to buy some good will from the locals, and provide additional protection from bandits and larcenous tribesmen. But most aid workers in Afghanistan have found that you have to be careful who you hire. In a country with such high unemployment, these jobs are considered very valuable, and more powerful clans or families expect to get them. If they don't, or do and lose them (for stealing, not showing up or just being troublesome), you have to be careful who you hire as replacements. It's believed that the RPGs were fired by some former security guards who are sending a message. Negotiations are underway to try and avoid future misunderstandings and violence.

 

 

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