New Hampshire National Guard soldiers based in Afghanistan are spending a year training local police army units.
That job is straightforward enough.
But they also have another mission.
It's called winning hearts and minds.
NHPR Correspondent Doug Grindle reports from that country's Northern Provinces.
OVER A THOUSAND STUDENTS SIT IN CLASS AT A SCHOOL ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MAZAR I-SHARIF IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN.
AMERICAN AND AFGHAN SOLDIERS HAND OUT SUPPLIES.
NEW HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL GUARD MAJOR JOHN LEBLANC FROM MANCHESTER SAYS THE STUDENTS HERE HAVE VERY LITTLE.
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LeBlanc
Some of the students study in the school building, but most study in tents
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ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SOLDIERS STOP AT ANOTHER PROJECT.
AFGHAN CHILDREN GATHER AROUND.
CAPTAIN DANIEL WILLET (FROM ??), ADVISES A UNIT OF AFGHAN ENGINEERS.
THEY’VE SPENT OVER A MONTH TURNING A DISUSED SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWDED VILLAGE INTO A SOCCER FIELD
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The people live in mud houses. This area was in ruins with cellar holes the village elder said he wanted to knock them down and fill in whole space
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THESE ARE CLASSIC EXAMPLES OF TRYING TO WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SOLDIERS MANAGE SIX SUCH PROJECTS AIMED AT IMPROVING VILLAGES.
THEY HOPE GRATEFUL LOCALS WILL IN RETURN OFFER INFORMATION ABOUT ANY INSURGENTS.
BUT MAJOR LEBLANC SAYS IT’S ALSO SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
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Leblanc
It’s part of the war not just to fight the Taliban
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ANOTHER DAY AND NEW HAMPSHIRE SOLDEIRS DRIVE THROUGH VILLAGES NEAR THEIR BASE.
THE ROADS IN AFGHANISTNA ARE ROUGH.
THE HOSUES GENERALLY MADE OF MUD.
OLD TRACTORS ARE A LUXURY.
CAPTAIN ERIC BARRICLOW FROM BOW SAYS THE COUNTRY IS A STUNNING MIX OF OLD AND NEW.
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It is bizarre. The old and new mud huts and a guy talking on his cell phones
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IN MOST VILLAGES THE KIDS WAVE AT THE SOLDIERS, THOUGH IN SOME THEY THROW ROCKS.
VIOLENCE FROM INSURGENTS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN IS SPORADIC.
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS SHANNON KULAKOWSKI FROM NOTTINGHAM SAYS IN HIS EXPERIENCE MOST VILLAGERS ARE FRIENDLY TOWARD THE AMERCIANS.
AND HE SAYS THEY SEEM TO TRUST THE OUTSIDERS MORE THAN THEIR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.
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Kulakowski
The afghan see bombings they see us as who they can trust many don’t trust Kabul but they trust is
MOST OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS SAY THEY FEEL LUCKY BEING POSTED TO THIS AREA.
IT’S FAIRLY QUIET AND THE TALIBAN HAS NEVER GAIEND A FOOTHOLD HERE.
NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN THEY NOTE IS A FAR CRY FROM THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY WHICH STILL SUFFERS FROM FIGHTING ALMOST DAILY.
FOR NHPR NEWS, I’M DOUG GRINDLE IN MAZAR-I-SARIF NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN
