U.S. Military Intelligence Puts Focus on Afghan Graft

[Jeffersons Ghost]

U.S. Military Intelligence Puts Focus on Afghan Graft
By THOM SHANKER and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: June 12, 2010

WASHINGTON — The military’s intelligence network in Afghanistan, designed for identifying and tracking terrorists and insurgents, is increasingly focused on uncovering corruption that is rampant across Afghanistan’s government, security forces and contractors, according to senior American officials.

Military intelligence officers in Afghanistan are scouring seized documents and interrogating captured fighters and facilitators — but not just to learn about insurgent networks that plan attacks, plant roadside explosives and send out suicide bombers.

They are also looking for insights on how to combat a widespread perversion of authority by Afghan power brokers, which senior officials describe as “a plague” on the American-backed effort to build an effective and competent government and win the support of the Afghan people.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/world/asia/13intel.html?hp

[Rex]

1. 'perversion of authority by Afghan power brokers'

A lot of nations could be described that way, just replace the word Afghan with the country of choice.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. USA

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. Here's a big hint:

Drug-Linked Karzai Brother Helps U.S. Intelligence (uh huh)
<snip>
"There's a difference between being an intelligence asset and somebody who cooperates," said Rogers, a former FBI agent. "'Asset is an overstatement ... He is a public official who cooperates ... He cooperates when he's talked to -- that's different than an asset."

Wali Karzai, a major power in Kandahar, where he heads the provincial council, is cagey about what he tells the Americans, Rogers and other U.S. officials say.
<snip>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-stein/drug-linked-karzai-brothe_b_322776.html

There are articles about this that date back several years. I don't think he is an asset to say the least.