Here's another interesting view of Afghanistan: the illegal Opium-farming market.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21548230There seems to be a lot of overlay between where the opium is grown, and where the terrorist attacks are.
To my knowledge, that's the most famous export to come out of Afghanistan. And it seems like a way to combat it is to give the locals and alternative means to earn income. That would also deprive the Taliban of the $100 million or so they earn annually on the opium trade.
