McCaffrey Report: Afghanistan Now Narco-State, Principal Funding of Al Qaeda, Taliban;...

McCaffrey Report: Afghanistan Now Narco-State, Principal Funding of Al Qaeda,
Taliban; Must Confront 'Head-On'

WASHINGTON, July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Retired Four-Star General Barry
McCaffrey, the former U.S. Drug Czar and a former commander in the Gulf War,
now Adjunct Professor at West Point, has returned from a week-long mission to
NATO Headquarters and Afghanistan. McCaffrey has issued a report asserting
that Afghanistan is now "a narco-state" and that illegal drug production and
export is the principal funding of al Qaeda and the Taliban. Among the
findings in his report, McCaffrey argues that the international community must
demand eradication of opium and cannabis and support alternative economic
activity.

From July 21-26, McCaffrey met with NATO military and political leaders in
Brussels at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) and proceeded to
Afghanistan for meetings and mission tours with U.S. and NATO representatives
and top Afghan military and civilian leaders.

For full report, see:

http://www.mccaffreyassociates.com/pages/documents/AAR-July%202008.pdf

McCaffrey states:

-- Afghanistan is in misery: its people have a life expectancy of 44 years and
the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world.

-- The "magnificent" Afghan people "reject the ideology and violence of the
Taliban by 90% or greater but have little faith in the ability of the
government."

-- Despite NATO's successes, the Taliban "will increasingly turn to terrorism
against the people."

McCaffrey asserts that "the battle will be won in Afghanistan" with:

-- Expanded Afghan police

-- An increase in the Afghan National Army from 80,000 to 200,000

-- U.S. deployment of a five-battalion engineering brigade emphasizing
training Afghan engineers

-- A repaired agricultural system

-- International community demand for eradication of opium and cannabis crops.

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates

Bob Weiner, +1-301-283-0821, or Rebecca VanderLinde, +1-202-329-1700, both of
Robert Weiner Associates