NATO first resisted idea of young auxiliary force (teenage troops)

[daleo]

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canadian troops building and guarding a road where six soldiers have died in 16 days will soon receive help policing the treacherous region: local teenagers armed with AK-47s and just 10 days of training.

....
The trial hasn't gone well.

Most, if not all, were asleep at their posts when Canadian soldiers dropped by to inspect on Thanksgiving weekend. When they were awake, some had errantly fired their rifles in the direction of the Canadians.

"Randomly throughout the night, there were shots going over our heads," recalled Warrant Officer Michael Jackson of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Shilo, Man.


http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=dbc9068f-313d-445e-946f-8e96a401c323&k=91805

[saigon68]

1. 10 days of training

Can you say Prairie dogs



In fact prairie dogs have more of a chance,

[daleo]

4. Yes, at least they have some place to hide

It is hard to believe NATO is doing this. Imagine if the Soviets had done this, what we would have said.

[bananas]

10. Reagan did it in Central America - made comic book training manuals

Training them was so difficult,
the U.S. made comic books for training manuals.
This came out during the Iran-Contra hearings.
It will be interesting to see if NATO does the same.

[rodeodance]

8. says they are short of young men:

"Normally, to become a policeman it's going to take nine to 10 weeks of training ... but because there is such a need for these young men, they have decided to provide them with a 10-day training program."

[Temporary1]

2. -- What?

Are you serious?!

[daleo]

3. Local Afghan auxiliary troops

The article says "youths" and "teenagers". Who knows what that might mean in years.

Pretty desperate.

[Spinzonner]

5. Ahh, a new Children's Crusade

Middle Ages, here we come.

[bemildred]

6. Child soldiers.

You cannot stoop much lower than this.

[rodeodance]

7. must have been the Canadian 'Thanksgiving Weekend"??

[Lisa]

9. yes -- we had Thanksgiving on the 9th (n/t)