U.S. spent more than $8.6 billion on failed counter-drug strategy in Afghanistan

The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan, John Sopko, talked last week about the lessons learned from the U.S. drug war in Afghanistan. The lessons learned outlined details of the drug trade in Afghanistan as well as the failure of the U.S. to deter that.
Years ago some Afghan analysts suggested that western nations purchase the opium crop from Afghan farmers and use it for medical production. That way the opium is used for medicinal purposes for pain relief and the Afghan farmers earn