CIA agents are offering the potency drug Viagra and other gifts to win over Afghan warlords in the war against Taleban insurgents, the Washington Post says.
Paying for information is nothing new, but officers have started employing unusual incentives to persuade Afghan local leaders to share intelligenceabout the Taleban's movements.
"Whatever it takes to make friends and influence people - whether it's building a school or handing out Viagra," one CIA operative said.
CIA agents have offered pocket knives and tools, toys and school equipment, travel visas and medical services. Ageing chieftains often have up to four wives and are open to the Viagra pill as a way to "put them back in an authoritative position", according to another official.
Four Viagra pills transformed the attitude of one influential 60-year-old warlord. "He came up to us beaming. And after that we could do whatever we wanted in his area."
