US Senate (2010) Flashcards
What is the role of rural development in ending the narcotics economy ?
Rural Development is Crucial: Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown emphasizes that rural development is key to strengthening the Afghan state and reducing the narcotics economy.
Are counternarcotics efforts challenged in Afghanistan ?
Counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan face exceptionally difficult challenges, comparable only to Mao’s eradication of poppy cultivation in China in the 1950s.
What does Vanda Felbab-Brown believe is the primary requirement for the measures to be successfull ?
Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown asserts that security is the primary requirement for success in counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan. Without security, other strategies are ineffective.
The success of ambitious alternative livelihood programs in Afghanistan depends on adequate security. No program can succeed without it.
What is the relationship between the Afghan forces, the DEA and the US ?
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Afghan police require direct support from the U.S. Defense Department to combat narco-terrorists effectively.
Is heroin being used as a weapon ?
According to the US Senate, yes.
Heroin production not only funds insurgency and terrorism but also acts as a destructive weapon causing addiction, criminality, and societal strain.
There are large stockpiles of opium, potentially exceeding 10,000 tons, which pose a significant risk if not addressed promptly.
How important are the counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan ?
The success of the war effort in Afghanistan is intrinsically linked to the success of counternarcotics strategy. They are mutually dependent.
The impact of the drug trade in conflict areas should not be ignored. Addressing it is integral to achieving stability and success in such regions.
Achieving success in counternarcotics requires a sustained commitment to good governance and the rule of law. There is no quick fix.
