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CNN Live Saturday

Rebuilding Afghanistan in Different Ways

Aired March 02, 2002 - 22:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: The process of rebuilding Afghanistan is happening in a number of ways. And one of them involves the military. Instead of hunting for tribes, many young man have decided to fight for their country.

CNN's Brian Palmer explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Riot control for beginners was one of the lessons taught on the first day of training for the new Afghan national army by the International Security Assistance Force or ISAF. Far and away, it was the most popular part of the curriculum. The more than 500 recruits were called from all parts of Afghanistan and all of the country's major ethnic groups. The interim administration selected the recruits. ISAF conducted its own security review.

After six weeks of intensive training, they will expected to grasp the rudiments of modern soldiering. The primary aim: instilling a measure of professionalism and cohesion in troops that range from experienced to fresh off the farm.

The skills? Marching, taught by an instructor from the Royal Scots Regiment of the British Army. Patrolling in an eight man squadron, the basic building block of an infantry, taught by officers from Turkey, which will take over command of ISAF in the coming weeks.

Thirty senior recruits learn map reading from a French officer. The "T" on the arm band stands for trainer. They will form the nucleus of an officer corps.

Afghanistan, a country that is still at war with itself in many places, desperately needs a military force loyal to the central government to hold it together, a force of men willing to take up arms against their countrymen if ordered to do so. One commander says he will do what he is ordered to do.

ABDUL MANNAN, MAJ., AFGHAN ARMY: Should we receive orders from our superiors, we are ready to disarm by force those who do not obey the central government.

PALMER: But some of his men say they would be reluctant to fire on their fellow Afghans. That reluctance could cripple the effectiveness of a central government. American forces will train the next group of soldiers. No definite date for when that will begin.

MIKE WEIMER, COL., OFFICE OF MILITARY COOPERATION: We don't have a good time table, because that's still being discussed. I think it will happen as soon as the resources can come together, as soon as the interim authority in the Afghan government can produce the soldiers that are representative from their nation.

PALMER (on camera): After their six-week training session is over, it's up to the Afghan government to decide what to do with these partially trained troops. One idea discussed so far, according to ISAF and the Americans, is to keep them here in Kabul as part of a presidential or ministerial guard or protective force.

Brian Palmer, CNN, Kabul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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