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Afghanistan: Get the "mafia-like groups" out!

If there was ever a slap in the face for the NATO forces in Afghanistan, and especially the countless private contractors being paid by various governments, it comes from no lesser person than President Karzai. Get 'em out he says! - in the strongest and most direct language.

The Huffington Post reports:

"Afghanistan's embattled president Hamid Karzai said on Sunday that U.S. taxpayers were indirectly funding "mafia-like groups" and terrorist activities with the American government's support of private contractors inside his country.

In a rare U.S. media appearance, Karzai continued to press for the removal of the vast majority of U.S. private contractors by the end of this year. He argued that their continued presence inside Afghanistan was "an obstruction and impediment" to the country's growth, a massive waste of money, and a catalyst for corruption among Afghan officials.

"The more we wait the more we lose," Karzai said during an appearance on ABC's "This Week." "Therefore we have decided as an Afghan government to bring an end to the presence of these security companies... who are not only causing corruption in this country but who are looting and stealing from the Afghan people."

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