As Troop Escalation Begins, Relief Groups Decry Militarization of US Aid to Afghanistan

Thursday, December 3, 2009 :As President Obama prepares to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, aid agencies have issued a warning about what they describe as the increasing militarization of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Oxfam, CARE International and other groups say humanitarian aid is often being used by the United States and other nations as part of a counterinsurgency strategy and that military plans are dictating how aid is distributed. We speak to Lex Kassenberg, who has overseen CARE International's efforts in Afghanistan since 2006.