Why is NATO in AFGHANISTAN today.. is it the same reason Tony Blair sent UK troops there end of 2001?

They are thwarted at every turn from doing the job they were sent there to do (Many times by our own political allies and aid workers not just the Taliban's activities !!, by which I MEAN various politicians and top officials being unable to agree or compromise over the simplest of issues in order to get the original job completed)

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/research/AFG07_...

QUOTE - ".......NATO to help taking on opium labs, markets and traffickers...." UNQUOTE

Yet, a UNODC survey states -
1996 - 2000 metric tonnes approximately
1997 - 2900 metric tonnes approximately
1998 - 2800 metric tonnes approximately
1999 - 4400 metric tonnes approximately
2000 - 3200 metric tonnes approximately
2001 - 200 metric tonnes approximately
2002 - 3300 metric tonnes approximately
2003 - 3600 metric tonnes approximately
2004 - 4100 metric tonnes approximately
2005 - 4000 metric tonnes approximately
2006 - 6000 metric tonnes approximately
2007 - ????

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSh...
We, along with the rest of the international community, are determined never to allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorists again. We are working hard towards a common goal 鈥?to develop a self-sustaining, stable and democratic Afghanistan. UK troops, as part of the 37-nation strong NATO International Assistance Force (ISAF), are aiming to create a stable environment to enable the Afghan Government extend its authority across the country and reconstruction and development to take place.With the aim of building a durable Afghan state, the United Nations convened a meeting in Bonn in December 2001 between key Afghan figures and the international community, where a path to an independent and democratic Afghanistan was mapped out.

The issue with heroin production is linked to agricultural subsidies in the west. Put simply, a farmer will earn a lot more for grwoing opium than he will growing food. He would earn more growing food if we in the west did not dump cheap food on the open market, cheap, because of the money tax payers pay to farmers in subsidies.

It maybe that if we subsidise Afghan farmers, the way farmers in the west get help, that they will stop growing this terrible drug.

But the main reason we ar there is to prevent Afghanistan becoming a centre for terrorism again.

I think I woudl have chosen Tim D FOR best answer but I agree with the community choice for best answer and thank one and all for some interesting and informative craic here. Report It

Afghanistan is of strategic importance in the area. I believe an oil pipeline is intended to run through there or is in construction currently.

So, you have answered tour own question very well indeed. NATO is made up of troops from many countries under a mandate from the UN. No more to be said ................ or is there?

The Al Qwada training camps and high command were in Afghanistan. After 9/11 we needed to do something. Even without that the brutal nature of the Taliban regime was already known about. As far as I can see the war there is the same as before. We鈥檙e stopping the Taliban regaining power which would allow the Al Qwada training camps back in. Defeat would also be a massive propaganda coup for Al Qwada.

On the drugs issue I favour setting up an alternative market, buying the heroin and converting it to pain killers (morphine) to be sold cheaply to medical services/aid organisations in 3rd world countries. (This is a serious proposal and has wide support)

At present there is no viable alternative crop the farmers can make money from. It would also help reduce the amount of heroin coming into the UK. It would probably be cheaper than the current policy.

Myself, I think we should withdraw troops from Iraq and send them to reinforce Afghanistan. I didn鈥檛 support the invasion of Iraq 鈥?it had nothing to do with Al Qwada 鈥?but did support the invasion of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is one of the worlds poorest countries and is a warzone. Rebuilding isn鈥檛 going to be easy, but just giving up isn鈥檛 an option.