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Huge New Military Base Goes Unused In Afghanistan

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U.S. Marines walk past heavy machinery and containers where construction is taking place inside Camp Leatherneck, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2009. (Brennan Linsley/AP)
U.S. Marines walk past heavy machinery and containers where construction is taking place inside Camp Leatherneck, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2009. (Brennan Linsley/AP)

In the sands of southwestern Afghanistan, there stands a brand new building, bigger than a football field.

It's a state-of-the-art headquarters for the U.S. military that cost $34 million to build. And it's empty.

The U.S. never plans to use its military installation at Camp Leatherneck. In fact, some commanders said they knew they would not need it.

Some military leaders and government watchdogs are calling the building a massive monument to government waste. Rajiv Chandrasekaran has been writing about the building for the Washington Post.


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Washington Post "As American troops pack up to return home, U.S.-funded contractors are placing the finishing touches on projects that are no longer required or pulling the plug after investing millions of dollars."

Washington Post "Now the Pentagon is trying to decide between bulldozing the complex to the ground or handing it over to Afghan forces, which have been troubled by accusations of corruption, including collusion in the country’s vast opium trade."

Guest:

This segment aired on July 11, 2013.

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