“The worsening security situation had been highlighted by [Secretary-General of the UN] Kofi Annan as he spoke of the ‘risk of failure in Afghanistan’ for the first time. He told the UN Security Council on December 8 [2003] that ‘unchecked criminality, outbreaks of factional fighting and activities surrounding the illegal narcotics trade have all had a negative impact. The international community must decide whether to increase its level of involvement in Afghanistan or risk failure.’ ”
– Ahmed Rashid, Descent Into Chaos, Page 213