ANA Reborn by Carl Facciponte - HTML preview
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Chapter 20
“ ello,
General Coopers. It's Sgt. Thornton H reporting, Sir."
"Ralph, it's good to hear from you. It's been, what, almost a month. What have you found over there? Anything suspicious? Are you using the encrypted handset that I gave you before you left?"
"Yes, Sir, and actually, I have some information for you. When I'm not busy training the ANS, I try to mix during free hours with both our troops and the Afghan troops. Quite a number of them speak some level of English, so communication is workable. We all like beer. That helps a lot with the communication, especially if I'm buying."
"I thought alcohol was illegal in the province."
"It is, Sir, but there is quite a bit of turning a blind eye going on around here. We let them 173
carry on their heroin trade, and they don't make a stink about us getting beer and booze shipped in through their black market."
"All well and good then, Ralph. What have you found about the drug trade?"
"It's as you suspected, Sir. On both sides of the equation, most people of any rank above Sgt.
have their hand in the drug-money-till to some degree. This includes our own US officers."
"Did you get a feel for how much money was changing hands?"
"I wouldn't say that there is a lot of money floating around, Sir, but it looks like everyone in leadership gets a monthly stipend to let most of the drug trafficking go unnoticed. One of the Afghan troops, being plied with a lot of beer, told me he needed the money to help support his family. He also said bigger money would come to them after the poppy harvest in a few weeks."
"Good work, Ralph. We can't have any corruption in our forces. I can't help what the Afghans do within their people, but I sure can clean up our side so we don't stink. Thank you for your intelligence gathering. I don't want you to get caught in the crossfire if I accuse any of our 174
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officers. I think it would be best if I flew out there on a fact-finding mission and brought people to justice myself. What do you think, Ralph?"
"Well, Sir, I don't think the severity of the problem justifies having a General fly over to investigate. But on the other hand, it would send a strong message to all of our remaining troops participating in the drug trade or receiving drug money will not be tolerated."
"Good. I will see you in one week. Keep checking around and write down names. And Ralph, to avert suspicion, feel free to go undercover if you're comfortable and pretend you are also on the take. That will help us track down all of the perpetrators." There was a loud click as Lance, finished with the conversation, abruptly hung up his phone.
The following day Ralph set off to town to see his contact, Amir Agati, to talk about harvest protection.
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