Posted on 12/26/2008 8:55:44 AM PST by BGHater
Operatives' bribes to warlords also include visas, tooth extractions, toys
The Afghan chieftain looked older than his 60-odd years, and his bearded face bore the creases of a man burdened with duties as tribal patriarch and husband to four younger women. His visitor, a CIA officer, saw an opportunity, and reached into his bag for a small gift.
Four blue pills. Viagra.
"Take one of these. You'll love it," the officer said. Compliments of Uncle Sam.
The enticement worked. The officer, who described the encounter, returned four days later to an enthusiastic reception. The grinning chief offered up a bonanza of information about Taliban movements and supply routes — followed by a request for more pills.
For U.S. intelligence officials, this is how some crucial battles in Afghanistan are fought and won. While the CIA has a long history of buying information with cash, the growing Taliban insurgency has prompted the use of novel incentives and creative bargaining to gain support in some of the country's roughest neighborhoods, according to officials directly involved in such operations.
'Whatever it takes' In their efforts to win over notoriously fickle warlords and chieftains, the officials say, the agency's operatives have used a variety of personal services. These include pocketknives and tools, medicine or surgeries for ailing family members, toys and school equipment, tooth extractions, travel visas, and, occasionally, pharmaceutical enhancements for aging patriarchs with slumping libidos, the officials said.
"Whatever it takes to make friends and influence people — whether it's building a school or handing out Viagra," said one longtime agency operative and veteran of several Afghanistan tours. Like other field officers interviewed for this article, he spoke on the condition of anonymity when describing tactics and operations that are largely classified.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
They should be handing out saltpetre...
Best post ever. If the Russians had thought of it, they might have gotten something accomplished.
Someday, with trillions of dollars, the US gooberment will win in Detroit, Gary, Oakland, Newark.....
The CIA shouldn’t be so hard up to penetrate the Taliban network.
Poor women.
There are so many off color jokes that this diplomacy could inspire...
So they get drugs without a prescription?
Anyway, those poor young wives. I bet the last thing they want is to mate with their ugly old husband.
Have you heard about the mysterious sheep disappearances in Afghanistan? It’s like all of them just decided to run away. I wonder what’s up.
“I wonder what’s up.”
I think the headline explains that.
Happy New Year ping!
I hope you’re not implying anything!
Happy New Year to you also!!
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