Taliban 'reintegration' big part of plan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A big part of the intensified U.S. war effort in Afghanistan is beefed-up investments in jobs programs to lure away Taliban fighters, officials say.

Only $3 million has been spent on such jobs programs in the past 4 1/2 years, but that's about to change, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper said while the Bush administration for the most part didn't offer financial support for Taliban reintegration efforts, Afghanistan strategists for President Barack Obama have placed much more emphasis on the idea. NATO officials said a Japanese government pledge of $5 billion in aid for Afghanistan is expected to be applied largely to such reintegration efforts, and the U.S, government has also vowed to commit money.

The top U.S. commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, hopes to use the program to reintroduce Taliban insurgents into Afghan society, and he has made it a key part of his overall strategy, said British Maj. Gen. Richard Barrons, who will lead the effort for NATO.

"This touches every part of McChrystal's plan," Barrons told the Post. "I am absolutely convinced it can be done, and that the time is right. This is an opportunity the Afghan people aren't going to get again."