[Ancesthntr]

Interesting plot line. FYI, we cooperated with the mafia during World War II to keep out German spies and to get information regarding Italy prior to a couple of the landings there.

With regard to those guys, at least it is quite simple to understand their motivations, and to deal with them accordingly.

[Rashputin]

We cooperated with them to take the Golden Triangle opium trade away from the French, too, and that was years before we sent anyone except Green Beret advisers to SVN. Now let me think, Vietnam falls, and the very next year our first aid starts to Afghanistan opponents of the secular government (the jolly "Mu ja Ha deen" who just happen to be the same people who eventually formed the Taliban) along with the mob making contacts with the opium dealers there.

The Taliban put a halt to the opium trade once the Soviets were out and, badda bing, badda boom, they're our enemies.

It's easy to understand that when agencies and departments within the government get used to having billions of dollars at their disposal that they don't have to rely on the legitimate government to give them that they'll act accordingly.

What's that old saying, "You don't change them, they change you" or something like that?