Washington, Dec 27 (Inditop) American intelligence agents are securing cooperation from Taliban militants in Afghanistan by reportedly luring them with Viagra, the blue sex pill.
“Whatever it takes to make friends and influence people – whether it’s building a school or handing out Viagra,” a veteran Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer told The Washington Post.
According to the newspaper, pills to boost the libidos of Afghan tribal patriarchs are among a range of inducements – others include medicines, toys, school equipment, tooth extractions and visas.
In one case, a warlord aged 60 who was struggling to satisfy his four younger wives was holding back information that could be crucial to American interests.
A CIA agent sensed an opportunity and reached into his bag for a small gift of four blue pills. “Take one of these,” he said. “You’ll love it.”
Four days later, the CIA man returned to a beaming warlord, who then gave out important details of Taliban supply routes and movements before requesting more Viagra pills, which is said to act as an aphrodisiac among both men and women.
“He came up to us beaming,” an official told the paper. “And after that we could do whatever we wanted in his area.”
Viagra appears to be a better incentive than traditional ones such as money and guns.
“If you give an asset $1,000, he’ll go out and buy the shiniest junk he can find, and it will be apparent that he has suddenly come into a lot of money from someone,” Jamie Smith, a former CIA officer, told The Washington Post.
“Even if he doesn’t get killed, he becomes ineffective as an informant because everyone knows where he got it.”
“You’re trying to bridge a gap between people living in the 18th century and people coming in from the 21st century, so you look for those common things in the form of material aid that motivate people everywhere,” Smith added.
