OPIUM PRODUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL ISSUE PROPOSAL Ian Richardson International Studies Dept. College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Mentor: Todd Spinks International Studies Dept.
Overview Problem Statement Literature Review Proposal Counter-Drug Teams (CDTs) Key areas of focus Key Assumptions boston.com Questions
Problem Statement UNODC - Afghanistan grows more opium than any other nation 157,000 hectares in 2008 Helmand Province Sale of Opium funds the Taliban insurgency Approx $439 mil. in 2007 Taliban have become fragmented and criminalized United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008. http:www.unodc.org. Peters, Gretchen. Seeds of Terror: How Heroin is Bankrolling the Taliban and Al Qaeda. New York: St. Martin s Press, 2009.
Problem Statement Growth of legal crops is no longer feasible Economic limitations Infrastructure limitations Experience limitations Hawala Informal financial networks Utilized by criminal periphery Difficulty monitoring flow of currency Medler, James D. Afghan Heroin: Terrain, Tradition, and Turmoil Foreign Policy Research Institute, (Spring, 2005): 275-291. Maimbo, Samuel Munzele. Money Exchange Dealers of Kabul: A Study of the Hawala System in Afghanistan. Finance and Private Sector Unit South Asia Region. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, June 2003.
Literature Review Experts Agree: Links between Taliban and Opium traffickers are genuine Extermination is not effective Several proposed solutions
Literature Review Security First Mentality: Illicit activities flourish in insecure societies Security and rule of law should be the main priority Opium issue should not be addressed until this is achieved Can security be attained? United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008. http:www.unodc.org. Winer, Jonathan M. Countering Terrorist Finance: A Work, Mostly in Progress. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science no. 618 (2008). Emery, James. Opium, Afghanistan s Other War. The World and I 22, no. 10 (Oct 2007) [1] Chouvy, Pierre-Arnaud and Laurent R. Laniel. Agricultural Drug Economies: Cause or Alternative to Intra-State Conflicts? Crime, Law and Social Change 48 (2007)
Literature Review Alternative Livelihood Mentality Incentivize/Subsidize legal agriculture Build agricultural infrastructure Educate farmers on alternatives to Opium Poppy Problems: Indefinite subsidies Interferes with development of independent Afghan economy Medler, James D. Afghan Heroin: Terrain, Tradition, and Turmoil Foreign Policy Research Institute, (Spring, 2005) International Crisis Group. Countering Afghanistan s Insurgency: No Quick Fixes. Asia report no. 123, November 2, 2006, http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4568.
Proposal Counter-Drug Teams Modeled after Afghan PRTs Structure of CDTs based on three key focus areas Targeting Criminals and Drug Traffickers Offering Alternative Crops Obstructing the Flow of Drug Money
Targeting Criminals and Drug Traffickers CIA, DEA, DoD Utilize technologies to pursue key individuals Create human networks to gather intelligence Kill or capture targets for trial in Afghan justice system CDT Commander will be a senior military officer
Offer Alternative Crops USAID and USDA Provide funds and materials to rebuild infrastructure and incentivize legal agriculture Provide expertise and education on effective and responsible agricultural practices
Obstructing the Flow of Drug Money US Dept. of the Treasury, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (OFTI) Locate, track and cut off lanes for illegal funds Cooperate with Hawaladars and local govs. to update and formalize money lending Create a national Hawaladar licensing body Maintain traditional trust-based money lending network
Key Assumptions Support of the Military Necessary for security, basing and transportation Personnel needs will be met Approx. 670 individuals (not including DoD) No further deterioration of security CDTs need a relatively secure environment Discretion of CDT Commander is crucial Price of Opium remains stable Spike in farm-gate prices Caches and stores must be located
Review Problem Statement Literature Review Proposal Counter-Drug Teams (CDTs) Key areas of focus Key Assumptions http://politicspeaksvalleys.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/afghan-opiumpolytricks.jpg
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