Millions From Narcotics Fuel Taliban's Resurgence WASHINGTON -- A stepped-up anti-drug-trafficking effort is emerging as a key part of a broad Bush administration revision in strategy for the war in Afghanistan, U.S. officials say. The strategy review comes as U.S. forces face increased violence in Afghanistan and reflects a growing consensus that drug trafficking has become essential to a Taliban resurgence. "I don't think we appreciated how fast the Taliban was coming back when it got drug money," said Dell Dailey, the State Department's counterterrorism coordinator. "You can build an army real fast if you've got money in your pocket." [continues 372 words]
Local Officials Decide Guilt, Punishment In Rebel-held Afghanistan KHOJA BAHAUDDIN, Afghanistan -- Soldiers caught Hakeem, a 29-year-old Afghan, early Wednesday as he sneaked through the woods near the Panj River, trying to smuggle 55 pounds of heroin into Tajikistan. By early afternoon the prisoner was in the center of the marketplace here with four bags of heroin attached to a yellow rope slung around his neck and the rest of the drugs in a large white bag at his feet. [continues 907 words]
KHOJA BAHAUDDIN, Afghanistan - Soldiers caught Hakeem, a 29-year-old Afghan, early Wednesday as he sneaked through the woods near the Panj River, trying to smuggle 55 pounds of heroin into Tajikistan. By early afternoon the prisoner was in the center of the marketplace here with four bags of heroin attached to a yellow rope slung around his neck and the rest of the drugs in a large white bag at his feet. A man with a megaphone, Abdul Mumin, was announcing Hakeem's crime and calling people to come over and look at the prisoner. [continues 885 words]
