Drugs, Guns & Gold- Afghani Black The Sheik shifts

The man under discussion was not even in the country, he was busy proving the CIA correct by meeting with
General Khan at his riverside retreat near Qurongteppa. Sheik Hariri had gone well out of his way to maintain as
low a profile as any major opium drug lord could, and aside from being known as a devout Muslim he was a
cypher to the West. His tribe and family had been growing and selling opium since the dawn of man but the
young Samir Hariri heard the voices in the mosques and when the time came to take up arms against the
invaders in the 80s he left and joined the mujahideen. He actually met Bin Laden three times during the
struggle, but he spoke more with the one called Muhammad Omar.

Omar was a peasant from near Kandahar, but he was a very devout Muslim and the mullah from his village. He
was very tall 6'6" and a fierce warrior who led many assaults killing scores of Soviet soldiers. Samir Hariri sat
many nights around the camp fire as Omar talked about the decay of Western society that was the first reason
the infidels must be driven out. The indecency and impiety of the west must no be allowed to poison Afghan
culture, he spoke of a great purification they would undertake once they defeated the Soviets. He also ruthlessly
enforced the sharia laws, confiscating booze, flogging rapists and ensuring all were properly prayerful. The
struggle for Omar had more to do with the will of Allah then the invaders, they just provided the opportunity.

As the war progressed Hariri gravitated closer to Omar and the nascent Taliban, and was part of many early
planning sessions where they planned imposition of Sharia law across the country. Omar always told him he had
a special place for him but declined to detail it exactly until near the end of the war.

"You must return to your home." Omar informed Hariri "Back to the poppies."

"But opium is one of the worst sins older brother, how can you ask me to live that way?" Samir complained.

"Some parts of God's plans are unpleasant I know, but the poppy is too important for us not to have some
control, and eventually we will be able to stop it's cultivation but for now, you must serve Allah" Omar informed
"You will return as a hero and will have the support of the Taliban as we consolidate power. Your job will be to
learn as much of the business as possible and to work your way ever upward in the hierarchy. We will need
funds to spread the message and you will be able to provide them. You will also not disclose your ties to us and
will be a part of our underground network. The need is strong and your country and God need you Samir"

Things progressed in close resemblance to Omar's design and Samir Hariri took his clever mind and single
purpose and put them to use becoming a model drug lord. His operations were brutally efficient, his product
flawless and his devotion to Islam beyond reproach. The mosque in the village was elegantly subdued as was
the sermonizing of the Imam who had explicit instructions not to push the fundamentalist line too much. Once the
Taliban had secured control of the country Samir was given the title of Sheik and effective control of a
considerable portion of the opium fields the Taliban deigned to let grow. He grew rich and enriched the Taliban
coffers considerably, but he worried about the growing influence of the Arabs on his country. The rich Saudi Bin
Laden continued to influence decisions and this worried him because his sources told him Bin Laden was
backed by the Pakistani Secret Service. As the Taliban increased the number of necks under their Iron Sandal
in Afghanistan, Bin Laden returned his focus to attacking the western devils.

This led inexorably to that fateful day, like many worldwide Hariri remembered vividly when those planes hit. And
the words out of his mouth were true "That accursed Arab has destroyed us." Soon after in a secret meeting
with Omar and other senior Talibanis Hariri was asked about current funding and drug supplies. He informed
them and asked if they required the money to prepare for the Americans.

"The Americans will not come my friend' Omar stated. "They have not the stomach for a tough fight, especially
not after we sent the Soviet curs running with tails tucked between their legs. Oh no my friend they will huff and
puff and the UN will be very angry, but they will not come here."

"I believe you are wrong older brother, this time they succeeded too well. A smaller victory the Amis could let go,
but this was too good. We have won a great battle but I fear for the war to come. I beg you to prepare for they
will surely have to avenge this." Hariri predicted.

"You must trust in Allah my brother" Omar reminded "Why would he give us this great victory against the most
treasured symbols of the infidels and then foresake us? No we will prosper and the infidels have just begun to
suffer."

Sheik Hariri used his low profiling ability to remain out of the line of fire when as he predicted the Americans
brought it and began pounding anything tied to the Taliban. Fortunately the common wisdom that he had no ties
to the Taliban was strong and he survived the decapitation of the ruling theocracy relatively unscathed. Once
things calmed down a bit and the Americans needed to hold elections to justify their invasion they came calling
and asking what they might do to ensure his support for peaceful elections.

"I have always worked for peaceful coexistence with all my neighbors and I see no reason for that to change
now. As long as I can operate without too much interference I will have the free time to make sure that all
remains tranquil for your elections" This seemed to be what they wanted to hear and they left after warning him
"Just try to stay off our radar screen and you'll be fine." That was hardly advice he needed and he saw little of
any Americans until Kharzai was installed and then the Green Berets showed up. By this point things had
devolved to their natural state and all the drug lords had fairly well delineated their territory and were busy
trading poppy juice for gold.

The first meeting was cold but cordial, at least the Americans were aware of customs and managed to take tea
without anything outrageous being said or done. "We are here because our government and yours understand
that the opium trade has gone on for thousands of years." CPT Hanson intoned "In order to ensure safety and
stability a certain amount of coordination and observation by my team will be necessary. Your assistance in
easing this process would be very helpful"

"But certainly we will be open to the helpful eyes of our American allies. What in particular do you wish to see?"
Hariri oozed.

"Well a tour of the area with one of your men would be a great place to start." Hanson asked.

"Of course, of course I will have an excursion organized immediately and refreshments for the ride." Hariri
informed them. "Hassan prepare vehicles and provisions for an afternoon. Take these gentlemen to see the
fields tended by your cousins and then show them the  village and the new school we've just built. After that
perhaps a meal by the river and Hassan you will answer their questions about our humble operations."

Jean and Dirk were back down from their trek and heading to the villa to get cleaned up prior to heading into
town for some of Jean's "entertainment". Although Dirk poked at him the whole way back Jean declined to
elaborate on this Russian they would sell the heroin to. They dismounted and unsaddled the horses and were
heading for the showers when Dirk's sat phone rang "Shit you know who that is eh Jean?" Dirk asked.

"Tell Bluto to fuck off for me Dirk, I must wash" Jean answered.

Dirk answered the phone "Sergeant Thorskillen here"

"Hey what the fuck's up Throatslitter?" MSG Belushi inquired "What are you and that French pervert up to
goats, chickens, what?"

"Nice Bluto, nice image, how was Kabul?" Dirk asked.

"Well worth the 7 or 8 days we've been driving around for, actually we do have some new info and the Captain
and I could use a sit down with you two shitbirds" Bluto stated.

"No problem boss, any heads up about what?" Dirk queried.

"Yeah that border and the wonderful folks on the other side." Bluto answered.

"Well don't you love it when a plan comes together" Dirk said "Me and Jean just got back from there and we
have it dicked. Where and when? We are still up at Shir Khan."

"Well then haul your sorry asses back to Akhnard's hooch and we will see you when we get there." Bluto
ordered.

"Roger ramjet, over, under and out." Dirk affirmed.

He then took full advantage of the spa quality shower and was soon sitting at the kitchen table with Jean sipping
a beer and listening to Valjean bitch

"That fucking Bluto, he could fuck up a wet dream that one no. Why does he always piss on my head and tell me
it's raining?" He then cut loose with a blistering tirade in French and when he paused Dirk asked him

"Man why are you always so down on Bluto?"

"Because that one can actually fuck my world up, your CPT Hanson is a nice man, but alone he can do no harm.
But fucking Bluto, that  cocksucker" Jean spat and Dirk laughed.

"Man you got Bluto all wrong man he's a good mothafucker." Dirk told him.

"We shall see my friend, we shall see." Jean droned.

Bluto hung the phone up and told CPT Hanson "Dirk says him and that fuck Valjean are up at Shir Khan and
they just got back from the border, so they should have some fresh intel. You want anyone else at this first
meet?"

"No" was Hanson's answer "Let's meet with Dirk and Valjean and see about infiltrating Hariri's security, 'cuz if
that flies then I want Dirk to run the guy as sole contact. But let's set up a la de dahdee everybody meet for day
after tomorrow at the team room and let's do what Rajiv asked. Let's find out what the kids think about this new
stuff."

Bluto called his junior commo SSG Moore and told him to round up everyone for lunch at the team room and
then turned his attention back to operations.

"Do you trust that French bastard?" he asked Hanson "I mean you know I always trust my first impression and
when I met him I instantly reached for my gun"

"I know what you mean, but seriously how much can you expect to trust the security guy for a drug lord?"
Hanson asked. "Plus Dirk has an excellent relationship and I have warned him several times to make sure to
look for Valjean's angle."

Iqbal Khan was certainly a General in the Tajik Army that was impossible to miss. First his uniform was
outrageously flamboyant having been designed by Khan himself, then military paraphenelia was everywhere
and wepaons hung from racks all over his great room. To Sheik Hariri it looked like Hitler's Eagle's Nest
decorated by the dictator of a Banana Republic. Khan was a General because the Tajik government decided
since he had as many men under arms as any of their other Generals it was easier to pay him than fight him.
They held a nice ceremony and formalized the status quo which was that Khan had effective control of the
Southern Valleys and much of the border with Afghanistan.