U.S. to shift Aghanistan drug policy

Good news:

The United States announced a new drug policy Saturday for opium-rich Afghanistan, saying it was phasing out funding for eradication efforts and using the money for drug interdiction and alternate crop programs instead.

The U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, told The Associated Press that eradication programs weren't working and were only driving farmers into the hands of the Taliban.

"Eradication is a waste of money," Holbrooke said on the sidelines of a Group of Eight foreign ministers' meeting on Afghanistan, where he said it had been warmly received, particularly by the United Nations.

The previous policy was always short-sighted and more or less put our stupid war on drugs before the war in Afghanistan. It didn't reduce significantly the cash flow to the Taliban and just gave Afghans another reason to hate the U.S. for destroying their livelihoods.

Maybe along with an increased force and a real policy to reduce civilian casualties, we might actually salvage our efforts there.

Legislative Update XIII

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a measure that would force mortgage lenders to retain a 5 percent stake in home loans that are sold to investors. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 91-5 to make it easier for homeowners with risky credit to switch to a lower-cost mortgage backed by the government.

The Senate also defeated new TARP restrictions and clamped down on Pentagon purchasing practices that have led to billions in cost overruns and delays in getting weapons to people at war.

Lastly, Gil Kerlikowske was confirmed as President Obama's "drug czar" by a 91-1 vote.