U.S. and Afghan agents ramp up war on drugs - The West Australian: "Drugs provide $100 million (62 million pounds) to $400 million dollars a year to the Taliban, who use it to pay wages and buy arms, making stamping out the trade crucial to containing the conflict.
And the challenge of bringing trafficking under control is made worse by massive political corruption and the willingness of senior officials to support or dabble in the trade.
Hopes to end this flow of cash are pinned on building Afghan capacity, with the U.S. in particular ramping up staff and spending to train agents like Aziz and Wais -- and then persuade them to stick with a grim and dangerous job.
'In the end it's going to be the Afghans and their system, and their rule of law, that's going to make a difference,' said Jay Fitzpatrick, assistant regional director with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He says it could take decades."
