HOME    WORLD    U.S.    POLITICS    CRIME    ENTERTAINMENT    HEALTH    TECH    TRAVEL    LIVING
September 9, 2009
Afghan highway symbol of mission in crisis
Posted: 02:34 PM ET
Share this on:
Share | Permalink | 11 Comments

Program Note: Tune in tonight for more from Michael Ware in Afghanistan. Anderson Cooper is reporting live from the battle zone and he is joined by CNN Security Analyst Peter Bergen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Michael Ware. Tonight 10 p.m. ET.

Trucker Mohammed Qasim takes his fuel tanker down Afghanistan's Highway 1 once a week.
Trucker Mohammed Qasim takes his fuel tanker down Afghanistan's Highway 1 once a week.

Michael Ware
CNN Correspondent

Paid for with U.S. dollars, Afghanistan's Highway 1 was supposed to symbolize a path toward a bright future when it was repaved five years ago.

The $300 million project smoothed over the highway's rough potholes and cut in half the 12-hour drive time from the capital, Kabul, to the country's political center, Kandahar.

But today, roadside bombs have re-scarred the road, and Taliban militants routinely stage brazen attacks on its travelers.

The journey between the two cities now takes at least nine hours, and people risk their lives when they travel on the road.

"It's been blown up by landmines, and there is no security on it," truck driver Mohammed Qasim said.

People have been pulled off buses along Highway 1 and executed by the Taliban. The militants man at least three checkpoints along the 300-mile road, which runs through Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan.

Keep Reading...

11 Comments
More about: Afghanistan •  Michael Ware
11 Comments
Cindy   September 9th, 2009 10:51 am ET

Mic,
GREAT reports so far this week. Yours have been the best by far!! But please dude...be careful!! Can't wait to see more from you.

Cindy..Ga.

Donna Wood   September 9th, 2009 10:51 am ET

Great stuff Mr. Ware. Awfully dangerous interview! Well done though! And now on a lighter note. I loved your outfit by the way! The whole tunic, pajama pant, scarf thing! Looks comfy! Does it make it easier to run from the Taliban? I'm sorry, I had to say that. No nasty intended! Your doing a great job! Girls don't tease you unless they like you, right? Keep up the great work. We are listening and please be safe.

Donna Wood
Lexington, Tennessee

Teresa, Oh   September 9th, 2009 11:20 am ET

The US paid to pave a road in another country? I'm sure it was out of the kindness of our pockets and not because the US needed a faster road for OUR purposes over there right? If I was a militant, one who hates the US, I would target that road myself.

So what do we do now? Put our men on this highway to patrol it and lose their lives? I dont think so.

what a mess and the US is always right in the heart of it all. AGAIN.

MikeV   September 9th, 2009 11:45 am ET

Michael I have watched you in Iraq and now Afganistan and you have always given me the truth. Please don't quit. I marched thru the Vietnam war and wrote letters to soliders. I don't want this to become another vietnam.

WHY are we there? What is the goal? When will we know we have reached it?

I wish you could talk directly with the President, he needs your voice.
Melinda

believer   September 9th, 2009 11:47 am ET

you said it right Teresa! why doesn't the US learn from the Russians? There is no WINNING in Afghanastan! U.S. has this cowboy idea to win wars to the end, no matter who is killed. Just as long as it's won! Guess what? It won't be won. God is on their side!

Sara in ND   September 9th, 2009 12:13 pm ET

Michael Ware is simply the best journalist working the wars. Thank you.

Martina Ilstad Germany   September 9th, 2009 2:21 pm ET

Hey Michael
Hardworking Michael.Pleace stay safe,The world needs journalist like you,dont risk your life.

Kathy Sinnott   September 9th, 2009 3:29 pm ET

My son is part of the Marines 1/5 C Co. 3rd PLT. He has been a point man and guarding the corn fields in search of the Taliban, I guess they like to hide the IED's there. It was interesting for me to see those things on last nights broadcast. Thank you. Wish you'd talk to more of the men that are right in it. Sempre Fi

dorothy   September 9th, 2009 4:40 pm ET

Great reporting Michael, although you do at times scare me out there!

I'm afraid I'm with those who think we really need to get out of there. I just can't see any sense in this war – it feels like another Vietnam. So many lives wasted – for what – as soon as we leave the Taliban come back in.

Most all of these countries don't want us there. Why must we always be involved in the middle. I'm watching and trying to make sense of all of this from you and AC and Peter, etc.

I'm one of the ones that is still waiting for them to find weapons of mass destruction of long ago in Iraq!

aj   September 9th, 2009 5:53 pm ET

Michael you are my hero. Your open mind, levels of viewpoints and accepting manner always awesome...I love you can get me to think. I only hope more people let you talk and they close their mouths a bit and listen. Truley awesome job, be safe out there!

Annie Kate   September 9th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

I would like to see us out of Afghanistan too – but IF we can leave with a stabilized Afghanistan whose people can travel securely, protect themselves, go to work, go shopping, eat a meal out, play with their children – all safely – then that would be worth it to stay. I would like to see a list of objectives and have the military hold a briefing every 2 months to review that list and tell us which ones are being work on and how far they are towards completion. (% done). Keep telling us how it really is Michael – we all appreciate the work you are doing to keep us informed.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About this blog

A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper, the AC360° staff and a network of contributors. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.

We search the news each day to show you what’s on our radar and what we’re planning for the show each night.

For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.

Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.

Featured Contributors
Candy Crowley
Candy Crowley is CNN's senior political correspondent and an AC360° contributor
David Gergen
David Gergen is CNN's senior political analyst and former presidential advisor
Roland S. Martin
Roland S. Martin is a nationally award-winning journalist and AC360° contributor
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Justice  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Opinion  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences  |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2009 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP