NATO Allies Reject Call To Confront Drug Lords

By The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 10, 2008

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BUDAPEST, Hungary --

A number of NATO countries are balking at the United States' request that their troops in Afghanistan do more to confront drug lords whose money helps bankroll the Taliban, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday at a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

"It's been a good conversation; it's been a frank one. I think people are listening to one another," Gates said.

Some of the NATO countries, including Germany, Italy and Spain, have expressed concerns that a more aggressive counterdrug effort would lead to a backlash against international troops.

The heroin industry pours an estimated $100 million into the Taliban each year.

The Associated Press