Non-professional Proposition How to Win War in Afghanistan

[kotzabasis]

There is a great possibility of replicating the Surge in Afghanistan with the following economic-political-military strategy: To shift the estuary of the stream of revenue from narcotics from the Taliban’s and narco-lords’ mouths to the government mouth with the aim to feed the hungry mouths of the tribal chiefs of Afghanistan. That is, to nationalize the poppy industry and make the tribal chiefs of Afghanistan the direct equity holders of the income that accrues from the production of opium. Such a policy will create a powerful self-interest and lead to a Tribal Chief’s Awakening that will be more widespread and potent than the Iraqi one, since it will mobilize the whole country, through its tribal chiefs, against the Taliban and the narco-lords. Thus U.S. forces will not have to go to a wild goose chase of serendipity to get “their lucky break.”

This idea was floated by me in a paper of mine on October 2008. The link below will take you to it.

http://kotzas12.xanga.com

[JJ_BPK]

When did the drug trade become legal,, or socially acceptable??

If you want to make Capitalist out of the tribal leaders,, start with a viable product.

Don't use Mexico or Columbia as shining examples of native entrepreneurial capitalism..

Bad Ju-Ju..

[Richard]

When did the drug trade become legal or socially acceptable??

I thought the same thing - must be another one of those cultural things we've been discussing of late.

Richard's $.02

[cornelyj]

Something tells me the next article is going to be about how they use coca leaves to make coca tea and that's it!
"la coca no es cocaína" = B.S.

From my little research on South America and Parts of Africa this has already been tried. All it did was create a slave level hierarchy for drug production with very few winners, the US not being one of them.

[kotzabasis]

All I can say to the critics above is that not all drugs go to the narco barons, a lot of them go to medical and scientific projects. Therefore one does not have to "legalize" the drug trade as it's already legalized for the use of the above projects. And the government of Afghanistan to keep its legitimacy will make sure that its poppy product will be sold to these legitimate institutions.

It would be impudent of me to remind professional soldiers that the offspring of military victory has as its sire necessity. If the price for such priceless victory against the Taliban and al-Qaeda is bribery and the use of opium, even if it makes some of the tribal chiefs "capitalists," so be it.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by kotzabasis

All I can say to the critics above is that not all drugs go to the narco barons, a lot of them go to medical and scientific projects. Therefore one does not have to "legalize" the drug trade as it's already ..........It would be impudent of me to remind professional soldiers ...

You asked and they responded.

I get real weary reading posts like yours. You think you have a great idea and post it here for our review and ask for a response. When we don't like it you get your panties in a twist and post a snarky reply.

Got a "Woody loves Hemp" bumper sticker on your car?

Watch your step.

Pete

[Richard]

It would be impudent of me to remind professional soldiers that the offspring of military victory has as its sire necessity. If the price for such priceless victory against the Taliban and al-Qaeda is bribery and the use of opium, even if it makes some of the tribal chiefs "capitalists," so be it.

A lesser of two evils is still evil. We've been down that road far too many times to not recognize an ambush when we see it. No thanks. YMMV.

Richard's $.02

[swpa19]

KOTZABASIS:

Ya kin keep trollin, but I dont think the fish are biting.

[bailaviborita]

I think the assumption that the GoA could actually implement something like this and make it effective is giving them too much credit.

Maybe pulling out all conventional forces except enough for support of SOF and for some PRTs/ETTs/PMTs- all OPCON to SOF of course- might work. If we changed our objective to denying AQ a base with which to attack us from from the objective of building a viable nation-state where one hasn't really existed- then maybe that force structure would make sense.

But telling the GoA (as if we could tell them anything) to take over the drug trade is a pipe dream. Why don't we just tell them to do something easier like build roads?

[blue02hd]

Originally Posted by kotzabasis

And the government of Afghanistan to keep its legitimacy will make sure that its poppy product will be sold to these legitimate institutions.

I

Correct me if I am wrong, but you have never stepped foot into Afghanistan have you?