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| Afghanistan |
| NATO: Troops can target Afghan drug operations |
| 2008-10-10 |
| NATO defense ministers Friday authorized their troops in Afghanistan to attack drug barons blamed for pumping up to $100 million a year into the coffers of resurgent Taliban fighters. "With regard to counter-narcotics ... ISAF can act in concert with the Afghans against facilities and facilitators supporting the insurgency," said NATO spokesman James Appathurai, referring to the NATO force. The United States had been pushing for NATO's 50,000 troops to take on a counter-narcotics role to hit back at the Taliban, whose increasing attacks have cast doubt on the prospects of a Western military victory in Afghanistan. However, Germany, Spain and others were wary and their doubts led to NATO imposing conditions on the anti-drug mandate for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. Troops will only be able to act against drug facilities if authorized by their own governments; only drug producers deemed to be supporting the insurgency will be targeted; and the operation must be designed to be temporary — lasting only until the Afghan security forces are deemed able to take on the task. NATO defense ministers will review the success of the mission when they next meet February in Poland. Despite the limitations, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates welcomed the NATO move. "Secretary Gates is extremely pleased that, after two days of thoughtful discussion, NATO has decided to allow ISAF forces to take on the drug traffickers who are fueling the insurgency, destabilizing Afghanistan and killing our troops," said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell. Germany and Spain agreed to the anti-drug mission after an appeal for help from Afghanistan's defense minister. "We've asked NATO to please support us, support our effort in destroying the labs and also the interdiction of the drugs and the chemical precursors that are coming from outside the country for making heroin," Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak told reporters after meeting his NATO counterparts Thursday. ... |
| Posted by:ed |
| #9 Ok, now the mob will start pumping cash into politicians' campaign coffers A close examination of the donations to the "annointed one" would show this is already taking place. Obama has received almost a quarter of a billion dollars in campaign contributions that cannot be traced. If you don't think some of it's from people involved in the drug trade, you're hopelessly naieve. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2008-10-10 16:13 |
| #8 [online poker has been pooplisted.] |
| Posted by: online poker 2008-10-10 14:51 |
| #7 "NATO defense ministers Friday authorized their troops in Afghanistan to attack drug barons" Ok, now the mob will start pumping cash into politicians' campaign coffers and we will start to hear them demanding a withdrawal. Once the heroin supply is placed at risk, all the stops will be pulled out and cash will be pumped to the politicians to stop any such action. Spending a few million to protect a much larger investment isn't a problem for these people. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2008-10-10 14:14 |
| #6 ...not that there's anything wrong with that. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-10-10 13:17 |
| #5 Many, many politicians' and diplomats' hands are dirty with opium money. If you arrested / executed all of them, politicians and diplomats would become endangered species... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2008-10-10 12:08 |
| #4 Can't believe what a bunch of frickin' weiners they are. Maybe I'm just paranoid but it makes me wonder if some of them are getting a piece of the action and if NATO got serious about going after the poppies it'd cut into their profits. |
| Posted by: treo 2008-10-10 10:34 |
| #3 the only problem with buying the fields of poppies is that the afghans are greedy. They know the US has the money so they reall raise the price every crop. Also isn't the winter about too start over there so the poppies are out of season right now?That would be a great time too start an eradication plan huh. |
| Posted by: chris 2008-10-10 09:56 |
| #2 IMHO this is insanity. How about BUYING the poppies instead of burning or spraying them? Presently, we purchase most of our medicinal opium from Turkey. I'm quite certain that the Afghan farmers would be more than willing to part with their cash crop for a fraction of what we presently pay the Turks. This would effectively end the Taliban drug trade and build trust with the Afghanis. Thank me. |
| Posted by: Woozle Unusosing8053 2008-10-10 09:50 |
| #1 Troops will only be able to act against drug facilities if authorized by their own governments; only drug producers deemed to be supporting the insurgency will be targeted; and the operation must be designed to be temporary -- lasting only until the Afghan security forces are deemed able to take on the task. Why do they even bother with limp wristed, half-hearted crap like this? Either burn it down wherever you find it or let the Afghans deal with it. They have made it so complex now that they won't know what's going on. You'll have to make a federal case out of burning down a field of poppies. |
| Posted by: Joe-schmoe 2008-10-10 08:23 |