'Viagra lure' for Afghan warlords

[frigidmagi]

BBC

America's CIA has found a novel way to gain information from fickle Afghan warlords - supplying sex-enhancing drug Viagra, a US media report says.

The Washington Post said it was one of a number of enticements being used.

In one case, a 60-year-old warlord with four wives was given four pills and four days later detailed Taleban movements in return for more.

"Whatever it takes to make friends and influence people," the Post quoted one agent as saying.

"Whether it's building a school or handing out Viagra."

'Silver bullet'

The newspaper said the use of Viagra had to be handled sensitively as the drug was not always known about in rural areas.

It quoted one retired agent as saying: "You didn't hand it out to younger guys, but it could be a silver bullet to make connections to the older ones."

In the case of the 60-year-old warlord - the head of a clan in southern Afghanistan who had not co-operated - operatives saw he had four younger wives.

The pills were explained and offered. Four days later the agents returned.

"He came up to us beaming," the Post quoted an agent as saying. "He said, 'You are a great man.'

"And after that we could do whatever we wanted in his area."

The pills could put chieftains "back in an authoritative position", another official said.

The paper said the CIA had a long line of inducements for the notoriously fickle warlords, including dental work, visas, toys and medicine.

It quoted one private security official as saying that simply handing over large sums of money would raise suspicions about newfound wealth.

Well... Huh... I guess Viagra does save lives after all...

[SirNitram]

While preferable to them cooperating with AQ, I'm a little uncomfortable with this. Afghanistan warlords don't exactly take only wives who are willing, eager, and remain so.

[The Minx]

Well... Huh... I guess Viagra does save lives after all...

What?

The pills could put chieftains "back in an authoritative position", another official said.

OK, this part of the article amused me.

While preferable to them cooperating with AQ, I'm a little uncomfortable with this. Afghanistan warlords don't exactly take only wives who are willing, eager, and remain so.

I don't think that would end if the pills were not handed out. Giving them the taste for the conveniences of the modern world might at least making the warlords and chieftains pliable.

[SirNitram]

Well... Huh... I guess Viagra does save lives after all...

What?

I believe it's a reference to a looney tune on another board, whose arguments against public-funded healthcare included, "By the evidence, viagra ads appear to save lives.".