Topic: Japanese life
Disarming militiamen vexes U.N. force
THE WASHINGTON TIMES / 2004-04-11
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan -- Col. Peter Babbington, formerly of the British Royal Marines, has had a few tough assignments in a formidable career that ranged from the Falklands to Sierra Leone. But never, he suggested recently with a grimace, did he know true lunacy until he arrived in Afghanistan to work for the United Nations.... to persuade Afghanistan's recalcitrant warlords to step into line. Instead, he has only carrots to win their compliance....
However, he said, it might seem hard to imagine Afghanistan's mujahideen commanders --- bearded veterans of a 23-year Islamic holy war -- enrolling for bookkeeping classes in Tokyo.