History

The war in Afghanistan has raged on longer than any war in U.S. history, and far from suppressing the insurgency being waged by radical Islamic militants, it has led to stronger alli­ances among al Qaeda, the Taliban, and a host of once-autonomous militant groups and has inspired a flood of new recruits. In addition to reclaiming control of substantial territory in Afghanistan, the militants have now taken the fight deep within Pakistan—threatening to totally destabilize that nuclear-armed state—and are launching attacks on the U.S. homeland. Why has the insurgency been so irrepressible? Is this a war that can be won? Can we expect a wave of attacks within the United States more sophisticated than the attempted bombing in Times Square?

When newly divorced Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac saw a recruiting announcement for a private military contractor called DynCorp International, she jumped at the opportunity. Good money, world travel, and the chance to help a war-torn country rebuild sounded like the perfect job. After minimal training, Kathy was shipped out to Bosnia, where DynCorp had been contracted by the US to support the UN peacekeeping mission. The lack of training sounded the first alarm bell, but once she arrived in Sarajevo, Kathy soon found out that there was a lot worse. Employees of DynCorp were involved in a massive human trafficking operation, buying and selling women as sex slaves. Worse, that the UN was helping them cover it up. Against all odds and at great risk to her personal safety, Kathy began to collect testimonies and documents showing what was really happening in Sarajevo. During the course of her research, she was demoted, received death-threats, and ultimately was forced to flee the country under cover of darkness - bringing the incriminating documents with her. Out of harm''s way, Kathy filed a lawsuit against DynCorp for wrongful termination, blowing the whistle on her former colleagues. She won the suit and many of the men involved were forced to resign, finally bringing justice to their victims. This is her story.