Across Afghanistan suicide attacks are on the rise and in much of the country U.S.-allied forces confront a revived Taliban. A surprising exception is the eastern province of Khost, a hotbed of insurgent activity and al-Qaida ties since before 9-11 but today an unlikely oasis of hope in a troubled land.
Afghanistan: Salerno Construction
Published October 9, 2007
Forward Operating Base Salerno is providing a huge economic boost to Khost.
Since January, over $19 million in construction has been earmarked for eastern Afghanistan (which includes the provinces of Khost, Paktya, Logar, Ghazni and Paktika) for construction.
Just over $5 million was for Salerno. The money is building barracks, a tactical operations center and other hard buildings so soldiers no longer have to live in tents.
Afghan workers provide all of the day labor and local tradesmen do all of the construction. Local labors are paid approximately $8 a day...
To continue reading Kevin Maurer and Andrew Craft's blog, click here.
On one of my last days in Khost in 2007, I remember the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers guarding Forward Operating Base Salerno's main gate were shocked that we'd go into the city without guns
In March 2008, The Pulitzer Center partnered with Helium to launch its first round of the Global Issues/Citizen Voices Contest. Find the winning essays here.
Grantee
Kevin Maurer has covered the military as an embedded journalist for The Fayetteville Observer for four years.
In 2003, he followed 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers in Iraq during the...
