Scott interviews journalist Andrew Quilty about his recent piece for the Intercept, which details the horrific violence being carried out in Afghanistan by U.S.-backed militia groups. In several recent attacks, these “death squads” have raided religious boarding schools known as madrassas, and murdered dozens of the boys who studied there. Although these madrassas are sometimes thought to be Taliban recruiting grounds, Quilty explains that this kind of violence only drives regular Afghans closer to the Taliban. Quilty and Scott expect that night raids, drone strikes and support for anti-Taliban militant groups will continue under the Biden administration, just as they ramped up under Obama and increased even further under Trump. Sadly, says Quilty, these indirect tactics tend to be politically popular in America, since their enormous costs are hidden from voters at home.

Discussed on the show:

“The CIA’s Afghan Death Squads” (The Intercept)

Andrew Quilty is an Australian freelance photojournalist and reporter. A winner of Polk and World Press Photo awards, he has been based in Kabul since 2013. Follow him on Twitter or at andrewquilty.com.

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