Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta poses for a group photo, following a G8 foreign ministers' meeting in Trieste, Italy, Saturday 27, 2008. The United States has announced a new drug policy for opium-rich Afghanistan, saying it was phasing out funding for eradication efforts while significantly increasing its funding for alternate crop and drug interdiction efforts. The U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, told The Associated Press on Saturday 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, during which he briefed regional representatives on the new policy. AP Photo logo AP Photo 4 months ago

Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta poses for a group photo, following a G8 foreign ministers' meeting in Trieste, Italy, Saturday 27, 2008. The United States has announced a new drug policy for opium-rich Afghanistan, saying it was phasing out funding for eradication efforts while significantly increasing its funding for alternate crop and drug interdiction efforts. The U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, told The Associated Press on Saturday 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, during which he briefed regional representatives on the new policy.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke (L) speaks with France's Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, during a press conference on September 2, 2009 in Paris. Western troops cannot leave Afghanistan until the region has been made secure, French Bernard Kouchner said after a meeting with international envoys.'We want to bring our decisive support to the Afghan population, with projects linked to agriculture, health, and education,' Kouchner said after talks with US special envoy Richard Holbrooke and counterparts from 25 other countries and organisations.
  2. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, center, speaks during a press conference with the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, left, and the top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009. Holbrooke and 26 other international envoys face a touchy task in meetings Wednesday in Paris: how to rescue their costly effort to rebuild Afghanistan, after elections marred by alleged fraud and amid mounting bloodshed.
  3. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, right, at a press conference with the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, left, in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009. Holbrooke and 26 other international envoys face a touchy task in meetings Wednesday in Paris: how to rescue their costly effort to rebuild Afghanistan, after elections marred by alleged fraud and amid mounting bloodshed.
  4. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, right, speaks during a press conference with the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, left, in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009. Holbrooke and 26 other international envoys face a touchy task in meetings Wednesday in Paris: how to rescue their costly effort to rebuild Afghanistan, after elections marred by alleged fraud and amid mounting bloodshed.
  5. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, left, Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, second left, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, third left, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, center, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, right, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, second right and Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, third right, pose for the media after a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. Pakistan is campaigning for investment at an international forum in Turkey, saying development can help to curb extremist violence there. The conference held by the "Friends of Democratic Pakistan" group on Tuesday includes delegates from 20 nations as well as the United Nations and other international institutions.
  6. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi (2nd R) speaks with United Arab Emirates' Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2nd L), Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (R) and Richard Holbrooke, U.S. special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, during the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Group (FoDP) ministerial meeting in Istanbul August 25, 2009.
  7. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, left, Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, second left, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, right, and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, second right, pose for the media after a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. Pakistan is campaigning for investment at an international forum in Turkey, saying development can help to curb extremist violence there. The conference held by the "Friends of Democratic Pakistan" group on Tuesday includes delegates from 20 nations as well as the United Nations and other international institutions.
  8. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, left, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, second left, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, right, and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, second right, pose to the media after a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. Delegates from 20 nations forming the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Group meet in Istanbul to discuss ways to help Pakistan.
  9. Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kabul October 13, 2009. Afghan politicians on Tuesday expressed frustration over delays to the outcome of the August presidential election, held up by elaborate efforts to wipe clean the widespread fraud that marred the vote.
  10. Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kabul October 13, 2009. Afghan politicians on Tuesday expressed frustration over delays to the outcome of the August presidential election, held up by elaborate efforts to wipe clean the widespread fraud that marred the vote.
  11. Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kabul October 13, 2009. Afghan politicians on Tuesday expressed frustration over delays to the outcome of the August presidential election, held up by elaborate efforts to wipe clean the widespread fraud that marred the vote.
  12. Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rangin Dadfar Spanta, right, speaks to Kai Eide, UN Special Representative in Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, after a Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan,, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at United Nations headquarters.
  13. Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rangin Dadfar Spanta, top left, listens to Kai Eide, bottom, UN Special Representative in Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, speak during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at United Nations headquarters.
  14. Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rangin Dadfar Spanta listens to speakers during a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at United Nations headquarters.
  15. NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) stands with Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta before a meeting on September 28, 2009 in New York City. The United States is weighing options about sending more combat troops to Afghanistan following internal military reports that the situation on the ground is increasingly favoring the Taliban.
  16. NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) stands with Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta before a meeting on September 28, 2009 in New York City. The United States is weighing options about sending more combat troops to Afghanistan following internal military reports that the situation on the ground is increasingly favoring the Taliban.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. A South Korean soldier stands guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  2. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Raffaele Morra performs the Dying Swan during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  3. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba performs on stage during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  4. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  5. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  6. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Raffaele Morra performs the Dying Swan during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  7. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: A performer prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  8. A North Korean soldier, left, stands guard as a South Korean soldier looks at the Truce Village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  9. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk meets Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang (L) during a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore November 10, 2009.
  10. Actor John Travolta (L) poses with co-star Seth Green (R) and Travolta's daughter Ella Bleu Travolta at the premiere of their new film "Old Dogs" in Hollywood, California November 9, 2009. All three star in the film with Robin Williams.
  11. A North Korean soldier (R) and a South Korean soldier stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul, November 10, 2009. The two Koreas had a brief naval skirmish in Yellow Sea waters on Tuesday, but there were no casualties in the incident that came just ahead of a visit to Asia by U.S. President Barack Obama, Yonhap news agency reported.
  12. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk meets Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang (R) during a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore November 10, 2009.
  13. A North Korean soldier looks at the south side using binoculars at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  14. A Chinese boy runs past Tiananmen Square, covered in snow, in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.
  15. A North Korean soldier, left, and South Korean soldier stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  16. A street photographer waiting for customers is reflected on a pool of water after the snow melted on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.