The arrest of an Afghan commander on charges he led a crime ring reveals the level of corruption in Afghan society, U.S. officers say. Col. Mohammad Wasil is suspected of providing details about U.S. troop movements to militants and selling weapons to insurgents, Stars and Stripes reported Monday. He and members of his command staff also are charged with pocketing the wages of their troops, extorting contractors and selling supplies intended for soldiers. Lt. Col. Daniel Mouton of the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, brought Wasil to the attention of Afghan military officials earlier this year after he began investigating complaints from villagers. Even though Wasil is now being held in an Afghan military brig, U.S. military officers worry the Afghan commander\'s actions up until his arrest will inspire the country\'s soldiers to emulate his corruption or intimidate others into silence. \"The corruption is embedded like a tumor, and it isn\'t easy to remove,\" said Lt. Col. James Salome, commander of the 1-504, commenting on efforts by some Afghan officials to stymie the Wasil investigation. Salome and Mouton had to prod Afghan officials to charge Wasil. While he\'s been removed from command, he could be put in charge of another battalion. When Wasil was charged, he reportedly told his superiors, \"If there is a problem, I can pay it all back.\" More than 50 corruption cases against high-ranking Afghan officers are pending in 14 provinces in eastern Afghanistan, according to an estimate by an Army official with the U.S. command in the region. \"It\'s not just about stealing,\" said Salome. \"The bigger problem is that you have these soldiers -- young men -- who are willing to die for their country, but they can see that not all of their leaders are equipped to lead them.\" When senior officers are not held accountable, they set a bad example for young soldiers just rising through the ranks, said Capt. Caleb Ling, who commands the 1-504\'s Company C based at Muqur. \"They\'ll do the same thing, and they\'ll be just as easy for the Taliban or whoever to influence.\"
GMT 17:53 2017 Tuesday ,31 October
Suicide bomber attacks Kabul's diplomatic zoneGMT 20:22 2017 Friday ,20 October
Suicide bombings in Afghanistan hit mosques, killing 63GMT 18:44 2017 Thursday ,19 October
43 Afghan soldiers killed in attack on military base: officialsGMT 13:06 2017 Thursday ,19 October
Dozens killed as Taliban launch fresh assaultsGMT 19:18 2017 Wednesday ,18 October
Death toll in Afghan suicide attacks rises to 80: officialsGMT 11:26 2017 Tuesday ,17 October
Suicide bombers, gunmen kill 32 in attack on Afghan policeGMT 10:57 2017 Wednesday ,23 August
Taliban suicide bomber kills five in AfghanistanGMT 09:26 2017 Saturday ,12 August
16 killed in US air strikes in AfghanistanMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©