Afghanistan: colonialism or counterinsurgency?

[davidbfpo]

I know we are straying from the initial topic, but here is a different angle: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...14&ft=1&f=1001

Summary - An excellent illustration of how providing alternative livelihoods for Afghan poppy-growing farmers is stymied not just by the Taliban, but by government corruption and weak institutions: a group of foreign and local businessmen – including noted Afghan expert Barnett Rubin – have been frustrated in their efforts to launch a small-scale perfume industry in eastern Afghanistan.

Additional comments by Mr Rubin: http://icga.blogspot.com/2008/01/err...ium-poppy.html

davidbfpo

[Jedburgh]

I know we are straying from the initial topic....

For all: Afghan drug issues, the complex links with current ops, and random thoughts on options and solutions are discussed extensively in this thread: Afghanistan's Drug Problem

Rather than repeatedly rehashing the same proposals/arguments, please read through the existing thread and post your commentary there as appropriate.

Thanks