
By Tom Risen
Robert Charles sees some similarities between the Obama administration's approach in Afghanistan and that of its predecessor, and he doesn't consider it a good sign.
"The Pentagon is putting forward many of the same proposals that were Rumsfeld-era proposals," he said in an interview with NationalJournal.com. "...Until they do significant interdiction, significant demand reduction and significant eradication, they will never win in Afghanistan."
As assistant secretary of State under President George W. Bush, Charles was a fly on the wall to a feud between Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on whether civilians or the military should rebuild the Middle East, as well as what to do about ending the drug economy. Charles, who advised on counternarcotics, police training and other stabilization efforts, said progress has been insufficient.
Charles also spoke about the consequences of that turf war and some of the continuing reconstruction strategies.
Read the full interview at NationalJournal.com's new blog Burn After Reading.
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Responded on July 9, 2010 3:18 PM
Justin Bieber
After reading that interview, it's a shame Robert isn't still in office. It seems he was a very thoughtful voice of reason. For example, this passage is particularly encouraging:
"We have the ability -- accidentally, as we have done in other parts of the world over the last 50 years -- to create a predisposition toward militarization...."
Exactly! If anything, militarization is our fix for everything. You got drugs we don't like? We're sending in troops. If you have leaders we don't like, we're sending in troops.
All in all, it's a costly cycle in terms of dollars, time, good will, and most importantly, lives.
In regard to Afghanistan's massive drug trade, why don't we just work with them to refine it legally? I mean, there are uses for their crops in the pharmaceutical industry. Also, it's important to make them realize that having an economy based soley on one cash crop is a very dangerous. Look at India and the recent American South.
Anyway, those are my two cents.
Peace,
Justin Bieber
Responded on September 8, 2010 11:42 AM
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Responded on September 9, 2010 1:44 PM
Victor Valdez
It is well known that the Taliban, local criminals and international drug cartels profit enormously from the drug trade; that corruption is rife; and that huge amounts of aid money are pouring into Afghanistan. Less clear is the effect of all this on government power and the rule of law on which humanitarian aid organizations depend to carry out their mandate comparatii cote pariuri.
Responded on September 24, 2010 9:00 AM
Sue
Thanks for the fine posting, but in my oppinion this will never stop, its just something that can not be donne elsewhere, and its need to be donne, not only for economy but other arrangements.Looking for more news and details about this.
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Responded on September 29, 2010 9:21 PM
Maria Swanson
This is not going to happen. If you want to control drugs you have to eliminate the profitability of them. For example if drugs we made legal in controlled environments then there would be no need for a drug dealer or no public desire for these drugs. Since most drugs come to the US then there would be no need for cartels etc.
Thanks Maria Swanson
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Responded on September 30, 2010 12:10 AM
Joe Larry
It is important to consider that there is a dead line stablished for July of next year, this make the two realities not similar.
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Responded on September 30, 2010 10:23 AM
Morgan Carter
This is sad to see this society being corrupted by this drug culture. I dont think it is out job to police the world. We need to take care of America and out people and protect our borders. Imagine if someone came here to police us.
Thanks Morgan Carter
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Responded on September 30, 2010 5:02 PM
Rebecca Keller
This is really great that we are trying to get rid of this drug economy. Im so glad to hear this. Hopefully we can learn more from these governments and be able to prevent more drugs from entering the country.
Thanks Rebecca Keller
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Responded on October 1, 2010 11:03 AM
Vanessa Johnson
This drug economy is something that we cannot change. Its not our job to police the world just to protect our own country and citizens. This is vitally important and cannot be stressed enough and cant be ignored.
Thanks Vanessa Johnson
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Responded on October 4, 2010 8:11 PM
Madison Maya
This is a huge problem that is in many places including Afghanistan. We need to find a way to get them to want to stop selling drugs on there own. This is vital.
Madison Maya
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Responded on October 8, 2010 4:48 AM
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Responded on October 8, 2010 4:51 AM
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Responded on October 14, 2010 5:31 AM
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Massive problem not just in afhganistan but other areas of middle east
Responded on October 23, 2010 3:01 PM
Julia Wilson
I really doubt that these guys are serious about ending the Drug trade in Afganistan. They can't even end the drug trade in their own country. It's all hot air.
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james caine
I am not sure what they thinking about with this war. There is a lot of changes that need to be made in the future. This is needs to be done soon.
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Responded on November 8, 2010 5:22 PM
Annabelle Church
I just don't understand how these guys can get away with producing these crops still. Surely the government now know where to find these guys and shut down the operations. I think it's terrible.
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Responded on November 11, 2010 8:35 AM
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Drug abuse in Afghanistan has risen sharply in recent years due to prolonged deprivation and human suffering, the breakdown of traditional social controls, the return of refugees who have developed a drug problem in refugee camps, and the almost unlimited availability of opiates in Afghanistan
Responded on November 11, 2010 8:40 AM
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Is there an alternative? Although the cost of rebuilding Afghanistan's rural economy - with its orchards, livestock and food crops - as high as $ 30 million or, in this case, $ 90 billion dollars, the money is to hand. By conservative estimates, the cost of Obama's steady increase of 30,000 troops is only $ 30 billion a year. So just to bring home 30,000 troops would create ample funds to begin the reconstruction of rural life in Afghanistan, which allows young farmers to start feeding their families without joining the Taliban army scraps para Orkut
Responded on November 26, 2010 8:48 AM
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Responded on November 26, 2010 8:51 AM
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Responded on January 25, 2011 3:28 PM
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