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Rehabilitating Terrorists with Video Games
Why__hello
Friday, February 05, 2010

Let's pretend you're the president of Afghanistan for a second: You govern a nation which still struggles with the insurgency movement of the Taliban. Your citizens have begged you for reform and foreign leaders have labeled your nation as a "breeding ground for terrorist activity." Needless to say, it's high time you whip your country into shape. But how do you de-radicalize extremists? Well, if you're Hamid Karzai, you give them video games.

That's right, Karzai, the incumbent Afghani head-of-state, hopes to emulate a Saudi Arabian program that aims to rehabilitate terrorists -- in Afganistan's case, Taliban soldiers and leaders. This program submits captured terrorists to positive thinking classes, art therapy, and -- most importantly -- video games!

Counter-Strike

While the Saudi government hasn't disclosed which games are being used to dissuade inmates from violent behavior, the United States remains staunchly critical of the program's success. This criticism stems from the fact that some of the course's graduates have returned to terrorist efforts after finishing the purportedly rigorous program. In fact, one participant became the deputy leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and went on to help plan the attempted Christmas Day bombing near Detroit. Will Afghanistan's program have more success then its Saudi counterpart? Let's hope so [Telegraph via GamePolitics].

 
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Comments (3)
Lance_darnell
February 05, 2010
I would really like to know what games they are going to use. We are talking about people who HATE Western Culture and Society, yet don't we all at times? So my point is perhaps seeing what the superrich west does with all of its time and money may just make some terrorists more angry - as in the case of the guy who went on to become deputy leader of Al-Qaeda.

However, what a freaking fascinating story! Thanks, Omar!
Default_picture
February 05, 2010
You can't rehabilitate these people. Just send them to Gitmo. Lock them up forever until "the Long War" ends.
Nick_with_grill
February 06, 2010
Dont' let'em play GTA?
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