VICE (2013)
S02E01 The Afghan Money Pit & the Pacification of Rio
Episode Overview
The U.S. has invested close to $100 billion in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, making it the largest expenditure on any nation in history. However, John Sopko, the special inspector general overseeing these initiatives, has uncovered significant waste and misuse of funds, with some money even reaching the Taliban. Shane Smith travels to Afghanistan to explore the unfortunate reality of American taxpayer dollars squandered. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro is striving to improve its image as a notorious hub of drug-related crime ahead of the World Cup and Olympics. The Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) has been tasked with pacifying the favelas, yet their military-style presence has drawn criticism for being overly aggressive. Corrupt BOPE officers and former police have formed their own militia gangs, using intimidation tactics like extortion, torture, and enforced disappearances to maintain control over many favelas. Additionally, numerous favelas remain untouched by efforts to pacify them, still under the grip of drug gangs that operate without fear of
