'The Obama Administration's New Counternarcotics Strategy in Afghanistan: Its Promises and Potential Pitfalls', Brookings Institution, 29 September 2009
EXCERPT: "Nearly eight years after a U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban regime, Afghanistan remains far from stable. As President Barack Obama considers alternatives to increasing the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, his administration's new counternarcotics strategy meshes well with counterinsurgency and state-building efforts in the country. It is a welcome break from previous ineffective and counterproductive policies. The effectiveness of the policy with respect to counternarcotics, counterinsurgency and state-building, however, will depend on the operationalization of the strategy. The details are not yet clear, but the strategy potentially faces many pitfalls. Efforts to bankrupt the Taliban through eradication are futile and counterproductive since they cement the bonds between the population and the Taliban. But interdiction is very unlikely to bankrupt the Taliban either. Security needs to come first before any counternarcotics policy has a chance of being effective."
To continue reading the article, click here [pdf].
See also:
'Afghanistan's drug czar - world's toughest job', CNN, 30 September 2009
'Afghanistan needs more NATO help to fight drugs', 27 September 2009
'Opium war: How should US fight drugs in Afghanistan? [video]', Russia Today, 27 September 2009
Related posts:
'Taliban drug proceeds lower than thought', 12 August 2009
'US to hunt down drug lords tied to Taliban', 10 August 2009
'No more opium, no more money', 4 August 2009
'Drug cultivation plummets as demand falls', 24 June 2009
'Poppies pose dilemma', 31 March 2009

