Marines march through a poppy field in Helmand province. The narcotics trade continues to provide funds for insurgents in the country. (AP photo / May 2, 2008)

Obama Administration Working Out Afghanistan Strategy -- Baltimore Sun

Key elements are more troops, cutting back drug production.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and allied combat troops will withhold efforts to destroy Afghanistan's narcotics industry, which finances the Taliban insurgency, unless Afghan government forces take the lead, a senior military officer said yesterday.

But with the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai widely believed to be riven with corruption and its army and police units unable to conduct complex operations, the drug industry has flourished virtually untouched, military officers said.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

U.S. military kills 22 militants in Afghanistan -- Reuters
US, Afghan villagers differ over 15 killed in raid -- Yahoo News/AP
Angry Afghan villagers say raid left civilians dead -- LA Times
11 Taliban, two Afghan soldiers killed -- AFP
Marines Propose Iraq Withdrawal, Shift to Afghanistan in '09 -- Wall Street Journal
U.S. Marines force of 20,000 seen for Afghanistan -- Reuters
In Afghanistan, Terrain Rivals Taliban as Enemy -- Washington Post
Obama and His Commanders -- Huffington Post
U.S. 'Super Envoy' Appointment Sends Strong Signal To Afghanistan, Pakistan -- Radio Free Europe
Russia ready to cooperate with US on Afghanistan -- AP
Russia ready to cooperate with Obama on Afghanistan -- AFP
White House change may lead to Karzai ouster -- Daily Times
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, Jan 24 -- Reuters
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 570 -- AP