Rapid Fire 2011-01-04: Afghan Contracts

• $2 billion in Afghan infrastructure projects under the US military’s Commander’s Emergency Response Program [PDF] are in disrepair, according to a report by the Washington Post. See also McClatchey’s ongoing coverage.

• Meanwhile, the US Marines are less focused on weapons, and more on local police and district government. CFR’s Foreign Policy magazine suggests that this may be the missing piece in Mexico’s insurgency as well.

• That said, firepower trends in Afghanistan are also distinctly up… perhaps it’s about both?