Early Report on the Afghan Police Mentoring Program

With the surge now a fact, word is spreading fast about the wretched state of the Afghan police. Whereas the underlying context of the photo is propaganda — America banking on its ability to “mentor” these de facto gangsters — this frame cuts to the heart of the problem. This isn’t some lazy exercise out in the daisies. The photo was taken during a joint patrol in Khan Neshin in Helmand province, the Marines searching a house believed to contain explosives.

The tag line? How about: playing us for suckers.

(photo: Kevin Frayer/A.P.)