NATO frustration as Afghan police flunk drug tests

When British trainers administered random drugs tests to 25 Afghan police recruits at a base in southern Helmand province, most of them failed. One recruit was kicked out of the force. The others were given warnings. Heroin shouldn't be tolerated, but there is no point kicking out the ones who smoke hashish: there would be too few left, their Afghan commander said. Training Afghan police is a central part of NATO's strategy to eventually turn over responsibility for security in the country to Afghan forces so that Western troops -- soon to number 150,000 -- can begin withdrawing next year. But commanders acknowledge it is an uphill battle. Afghan recruits are frequently illiterate, many desert soon after joining. Some may be insurgent infiltrators. One policeman killed five British soldiers in November.