WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. counter-drug failures in Afghanistan go back to bad decisions made after the toppling of the Taliban, says a former federal agent.
"The White House and Pentagon position was that drugs don't matter," Steve Casteel, chief of intelligence for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency at the time, said of the debate on the National security Council. "Their three priorities were, one, get (now President Hamid) Karzai in there; two, have there be no human-rights violations; and three, get a functioning government."
According to the October issue of GQ magazine, Casteel said that he -- supported by the British -- argued "you can't do anything in Afghanistan unless you take care of the drug issue."
"The Brits argued and argued and argued against (the White House and Pentagon position), but ultimately that was the decision the White House made."
Earlier this month, Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill, chairman of the powerful House International Relations Committee, wrote the White House criticizing the reluctance of U.S. forces in the country to go after drug traffickers and their networks, rather than relying on the government's failed eradication efforts.
Both Hyde's committee and its Senate counterpart will be hearing testimony this week that is likely to touch on the issue.
