we have a report from lisa meyers. >> reporter: with most american troops about to leave afghanistan, the u.s. is trying to strengthen afghan special fors to deal with the taliban and the drug trade. the pentagon is buying them almost $1 billion worth of new airplanes and helicopters. there is a problem. a u.s. government wash doll learns that the afghans cannot operate and maintain the helicopters they already have and certainly not the new ones. >> this unfortunately is what we see time and again. >> per the last year the inspector general was issued reports on waste in afghanistan. millions for irrigation pumps that were not needed and expensive tractors too wide for the planning methods. paying for service and fuel thousands had stolen vehicles. $34 million state-of-the-art headquarters that the military doesn't want and probably will be torn down. but all that small potatoes compared to the aircraft the pentagon is buying. in spite of the warnings that the afghans have less than 25% of the personnel needed to fly and service them. recruiting is hindered by illiteracy and widespre