Drug Use, Poor Discipline Afflict Afghanistan's Army, The Wall Street Journal, 29 July 2010

EXCERPT: "Use of marijuana, opium and heroin among Afghan troops, even while on patrol, is just one of the challenges coalition forces face in working with the Afghan National Army as they begin a major push against the Taliban in and around the southern city of Kandahar. U.S. soldiers complain that poor discipline, drug use, a trigger-happy attitude and general carelessness by Afghan soldiers are putting American lives in danger and could ultimately undermine efforts to win over wary Afghans, the main aim of the campaign. The U.S. strategy for leaving Afghanistan is heavily dependent on building capable Afghan military and police forces that can take over. At a conference in Kabul last week, Afghan President Hamid Karzai won international backing for his forces to take the lead in securing Afghanistan by 2014. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staffs, backed Mr. Karzai's deadline in comments in Kabul this weekend, but he acknowledged that significant challenges first must be overcome."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
, San Francisco Examiner, 29 July 2010
Leaked documents show Afghan forces infighting and using drugs, CNN, 27 July 2010
Taliban pays its troops better than Karzai pays his, Wired News, 26 July 2010

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