However, it would be worthwhile to put this in perspective. It is not uncommon in war to pay off local insurgents. In Afghanistan it has been a long standing practice to "rent" rather than "buy" local chiefs. Recently the US complained to the British for having done the same. Nor is French military intelligence in the dark on the matter. It is becoming a political issue with French MP's on the warpath.
It would certainly be more cost effective to just buy up allegiances- or rather rent them.
Murdoch: "I steal your milkshake!" Burlesconi: "I keel you!"
Whatever happened in Afghanistan is useful collateral damage in the media war.
