Grassley, Feinstein Press SIGAR for Answers on Failing Counternarcotics Efforts in Afghanistan

Statement

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein of California sent a letter to Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John F. Sopko pressing him to conduct a thorough review of the U.S. government's current counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan.

"Since 2001, the United States has allocated well over $8 billion to fighting opium production and trafficking in Afghanistan. However, despite this enormous investment, reports indicate that counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan have been ineffective," the senators wrote.

"We continue to believe that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan requires a dedicated and effective counternarcotics strategy that includes military, law enforcement, and civilian agency efforts, and has the support of the Afghan government's leadership. Therefore, we request that you conduct a thorough review of the U.S. government's current counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan."

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium and the source of more than 90 percent of the world's heroin. Funds generated from the sale of these illicit drugs are used by the Taliban to wage war on the United States, its allies and the Afghan government.

The United States has funneled billions of dollars into fighting the problem and stemming the production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan, but reporters have shown such efforts to be ineffective.

Source