Our Man in Marja

The newly appointed top official in Marja, Abdul Zahir Aryan, is the Afghan face of the American-led military offensive.

[...]

Zahir, who goes by Haji Zahir, arrived at this position after a tumultuous personal history that American and Afghan officials have not publicly disclosed. During more than a decade living inGermany, Zahir, 60, served four years in prison for attempted murder after stabbing his stepson, according to U.S. officials.

  WaPo

And so, of course, he is the perfect choice. The Marja public will have to respect him if he attempted to murder his own kin.

Three top U.S. officials in Afghanistan and one senior administration official in Washington confirmed his German conviction, though none would speak on the record. They did not say if the Afghan or U.S. government had known of his criminal conviction before Afghan officials appointed him to his post.

Okay, yes, there is a certain amount of failure to properly investigate and plan in our activities.

U.S. officials in Afghanistan said Zahir's criminal conviction did not undermine their confidence in his ability to govern.

Of course not. As I said.

U.S. Marines and civilian advisers in Marja have given him money and protection in an attempt to persuade a wary population to follow him.

"We want to ensure that Haji Zahir's face is on everything we do," said one official who works with him in Marja.

Just in case somebody has to take the blame.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.