U.S. PAYING TALIBAN TO GUARD BASES

"Afghan private security forces with ties to the Taliban, criminal networks and Iranian intelligence have been hired to guard American military bases in Afghanistan... Providing contracts to local militia leaders with ties to the Taliban “gives these warlords an independent funding source... And it gives them a feeling of impunity.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/world/asia/08contractor.html?_r=2