No longer looking the other way from the jihadists' cash crop. Almost 8 years of warfare is certainly enough time to figure out that the "hearts and minds" angle didn't work out on the opium issue. "U.S. Military Working to 'Kill or Capture' 50 Taliban Drug Lords," by Brian Ross for ABC News, August 10:
In a dramatic change of policy ordered by the Obama administration, the U.S. military has been given approval to "kill or capture" 50 Taliban-connected drug lords whose names are on a classified "kill list" being circulated to commanders, according to a report prepared for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and obtained by ABCNews.com.
Military officials expressed anger today that the "classified program" had been revealed in the Senate report.
Click here to read the full report.
A Department of Defense spokesman, Bryan Whitman, declined to comment on the target list, but said "where terrorists do interface with drug networks that produces a security threat, a force protection threat, and is a legitimate target in those regards."
Senate investigators were told military commanders have been given, for the first time, the green light to "remove from the battlefield" the 50 drug lords on the kill list, which also includes another 317 Taliban and al Qaeda figures. [...]
The report also concludes that corruption at "district, provincial and national levels" of the Afghanistan government seriously compromises the Obama's administration's strategy to assign a higher priority to counter-narcotics efforts.
There have been recurring allegations and circumstantial evidence that the brother of Afghan President Harmad Karzai is closely linked with major heroin traffickers but the Senate report said the U.S. had yet to produce evidence that could be used in court.
An unnamed U.S. General told investigators, "We all assume that he is totally corrupt and engaged in the drug trade but when you ask for the portfolio, we don't have it."
Investigators said U.S. intelligence agencies had gathered evidence against Karzai's brother through the use of electronic intercepts but that the information could not be shared with the Afghans or used in court because the method of collection was top secret.
Also cited by U.S. authorities in Afghanistan is the case of a regional governor who was found with nine tons of opium in his office but allowed to resign and take a new position in the Afghan Senate. He was never charged with a crime.
In another example of the pervasive drug corruption, a U.S. State Department official told the Senate investigators that police chiefs in poppy growing areas "pay as much as $100,000 to get appointed to a job that pays $150 a month, with the knowledge that they will recoup far more in bribes and kickbacks."....
Re-posting from my record of the original comments made during the IntenseDebate era.
First part. Observe, toward the end, the exchange with a couple of Mohammedtrolls, 'Ibnsana' and 'MP'.
DUMBLEDORESARMY said - ...
Now: here is what struck me from the article headlined 'US military given approval to target Taliban-connected drug lords'.
I quote: "the case of a regional governor who was found with nine tons of opium in his office" (!!!).
Query: are there any police officers, or ex police officers, reading this - yoohoo, Undaunted! - who can explain to us how much space is likely to be taken up by NINE TONS of opium? Must have been a pretty big office. I wonder where he had it stashed. The filing cabinets? The broom closet? Under his desk?
-JOCKAIRA told DUMBLEDORESARMY - Nine tons of processed and packed opium should occupy at least 500 cubic feet.
The average small bedroom in a cheap apartment unit is about 800 cubic feet.
In other words, you have a real job to get that much opium into that bedroom. Most average size offices for a single person are about the same size as that bedroom. Of course, the Governor's office would be much larger, but he still wouldn't have any room left over to conduct regular business without stares and awkward questions, such as "WTF?"
-KAFFIRKANUCK said, aside, to DUMBLEDORESARMY - Hey, wanted to respond to you on this in the original comment stream, but between the screwed up ID and my yahoo mail unwilling to link to the comment, I thought I’d wait until I saw your moniker.
The first round of training starts at the end of the month. Mostly chasing paperwork, pre-deployment-deployment activities, getting other pers to take over my secondary duties, while trying to do the actual job I’m task for until I leave. Good to know the Aussies are north of our camp.
HUGH (Hugh Fitzgerald) said - Even more money comes from Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. to support the Taliban.
Will the American government read the governments of Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. the riot act?
Will it, in conjunction with other members of NATO, ban from travel to the West the very rich Arabs, and their families, who make such contributions?
Will the American government seize, as the property of enemy aliens (or will it at least make sure that the legislation is in place to declare, as "enemy aliens" any one living in the United States who supports any group conducting or supporting Jihad?), what property of such rich Arabs supporting the Taliban can be located within our borders?
No? Why not?
-MP said - at this point, these are private donors who often use paperless systems like Hawala etc.. very difficult to track down.
I would agree however that intelligence services in those countries must be aware of at least some of the financial contributors and haven't moved on them.
HUGH (Hugh Fitzgerald) said - One more thing.
Will, among those now to be attacked as "drug lords," will the brother of Hamid Karzai be included?
He is, according to all reports, in up to his neck in drug money. His brother Hamid protects him.
Why not show Hamid Karzai, entirely a product of American support -- it was America that plumped him on his little throne -- that his green-and-blue robe, however splendid, does not absolve him from the requirement to pull up his socks, and since he appears not to have any, he'd better buy some so as to be able to pull them up.
EBONYSTONE - Might be nice to apply the same policy to the Somali pirates.
HOURGLASSF said - This comment is in regards to "US military given approval to target Taliban-connected drug lords".
Bravo. And hopefully one day we can target other sources that finance jihad and shariah, like Islamic shariah banks that operate freely in many western countries.
MP said - For your information, the "hearts and minds" campaign wasnt directed at international drug dealers and has little to do with opium cultivation.
But then again, this is jwatch
-MUHAMMADBEAR said - No one's saying the hearts and minds campaign was directed at international drug dealers. The comment was about winning over loyalties of the Afghanis. Your comment has very little to do with reality.
But then again, this is Taqiyyah.
-IBNSANA said - What your speaking about is war strategy, nothing to do with peace or a theological debate.(of who is correct what you belive or what we believe)
-MUHAMMADBEAR told IBNSANA - No, what I am talking about is the canonical authority in Islam to lie. It is not limited strictly to war time.
-MP said - what does winning over the loyalties of Afghan have to do with the decision to kill drug dealers?
Signed: Master of Taqqiyah
-MUHAMMADBEAR told MP - For your erudition it represents a reversal of the previous hearts and minds campaign. Winning over the loyalties of Afghans and relying on them to stop the drug trade hasn't worked. Now the coalition forces are targetting this source of revenue for terrorists directly.
I though Robert's point was fairly obvious. Apparently not to some.
-MP said - "The Afghans cant stop the drug trade by themselves, neither can the Americans in America, the Colombians in Columbia etc..
I'd say the number of poppy-free provinces is a clear indication of success. I'd also say the battle for hearts and minds is separate from a farmer's reasons for growing poppy in Southern Afghanistan.
Just how do you thing they'll target drug traffickers? by using local intelligence which happens to be the evil Muslim Taqqiya Afghans you despise so much."
Second part of original comments for this article, as made on IntenseDebate. An exchange with a Mohammedtroll, which I preserve because it exposes some very typical Mohammedan attitudes and 'arguments'.
IBNSANA said - Looking at this site it becomes clear who are the real trouble makers.
Your return is to Allah, and if you dont believe it will be the Hell fire for you.
If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for his slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therwith for you (zumar 7)
-MUHAMMADBEAR said - Do you have any proof of Allah's existence?
Allah's wrath certainly holds no fear for me.
-IBNSANA said - Here is my proof
:Gospel of John chapter 16 verse 7:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you".
Qur'an Chapter 61 Verse 6:
"And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, 'O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of God (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed.' But when he came to them with clear signs, they said, 'This is evident sorcery!' ".
Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12:
"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned."
And we know that the Prophet Muhammed (may peace and blessings be upon him(pbuh)) could not read or write that is why when the angel gabriiel came(peae be upon him) to the prophet (pbuh) and saud "Read", he couldnt and that is when the first revelation was revealed to him
And if your an atheist how did flesh come out the sea
-MUHAMMADBEAR told IBNSANA - What proof do you have that the Qur'an is correct?
I am an arctolatrist actually.
If you are askng me for a transitional form between fish and amphibians meet Tiktaalik. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiktaalik
-IBNSANA said - no, not this. This is not what i asked, a mistake.
I asked about the very first step, how the flesh formed i the water.
-MUHAMMADBEAR said - You haven't answered my question as to what proof you have for the Qur'an being correct.
BOAKAI NGOMBU said - "don't rest, ibnsana, your Allah may not favor you when you die ... doesn't have to, no commitment to your well being."
END OF ORIGINAL COMMENTS FOR THIS ARTICLE.