User:WatneyScience/sandbox

The Qalat city article is a good base article with accurate information, but that information is very sparse. I served in this city in 2008-2009 and would like to add reconstruction efforts that I participated in and those that came after I left. Additionally, some history would be nice to include. Included in the article is a mention of a fortress built by the forces of Alexander the Great. Finding more information on this fortress would improve the article and be an interesting challenge.

Schifrin, Nick. "The Army's $10M Dollar Flop." abcnews.com. ABC News, Jul. 2009. Web. Jun. 2015

This source looks into some of the aspects of reconstruction that haven't gone very well, focusing on a failed business district in the city that was built by the US and is largely abandoned. At the time of writing, only a gas station and a handful of shops were in the entire 10 million dollar district. The opinions given are from the commander of the reconstruction effort in Zabul province, where Qalat City is located, and a member of the security team that I worked with. The article goes on to describe a shift of focus from rebuilding structures for the Afghans to building the ability to create the structures, both physical and literal, on their own.

Tech. Sgt. Jefferson, Oshawn. "Alexander’s castle still has military uses in Afghanistan." dvidshub.net. US Air Force Central Command Public Affairs, Jun 2010. Web. Jun. 2015

This source examines the current and past uses of a castle built for Alexander the Great's forces. The Tech Sergeant interviews the security forces attached to the reconstruction team to find out how it is utilized today.

Staff Sgt. Smythe, Angelique N. "Zabul PRT opens new girls' school in Qalat." afcent.af.mil. US Air Force, Oct. 2009. web. Jun. 2015

SSG Smythe writes about the new girls school that was built in Qalat City. The article describes the new school and includes some history of the project. It can be considered a somewhat weaker source because the only people directly quoted are Americans. Smythe goes on to detail some future projects that may be incorporated into the school.

History
The history of the area is not well documented by western sources and is marred with periods of tribal conflict, leading the area to change hands many times over the course of many years.

A political mission came through the city April 16th, 1857 en route to Kandahar to broker a new treaty of friendship between the British government at Peshawar and the Amir of Kabul. The party was greeted by a group sent out by the heir-apparent to welcome them and check on the party's supplies. Two companies of infantry were formed so the British could inspect the troops. Afterwards, a shura was held.

Sher Ali Khan captured the city on January 22nd 1867. In the battle, he lost a son, Mahomed Ali, killed in single combat by his uncle. His uncle was subsequently killed

American reconstruction efforts.
In an effort to bring economic development to the area, Zabul province's first air strip was built just outside the city in 2006. It is a dirt runway. The first flight brought in supplies for PRT Zabul and other organizations trying to rebuild the area. Three years later, a girls school was built to attempt to improve education in the area. An initial school supply and prayer mat donation was made, and regular book drops and school supply donations were made until the PRT left in 2013. Clean water programs around the city improved the availability of clean water sources. In 2009, efforts were completed to improve the water system at the old Qalat City Hospital to bring clean drinking water to patients there.

Not all the reconstruction efforts were successful, however. In 2006, construction began on a new economic district for the city. Meant to be an area of commerce and development, ten million dollars and three years later, most of the buildings are unoccupied, unusable either due to lack of the skills to maintain the buildings or due to a lack of need for the building. Zabul province's governor refused to move into the new house, citing the lack of security.