Opium Harvest at Record Level in Afghanistan

new york times ^ | September 3, 2006 | Carlotta Gall

[DemforBush]

There's currently a plan (albeit by SENLIS, the UN's own "Security and Development Council", so take this with a *very* big grain of salt), to bring the Afghani opium production into the legitimate market, alongside other legal opium growing nations(such as India) who produce opium exclusively for the pharmaceutical industry. A nice idea, but who knows if it is even remotely feasible.

[kinoxi]

Sometime soon lady...

[Nuc1]

"Why weren't these fields destroyed when we invaded Afghanistan?"

A good question. The answer is not pretty. Our government doesn't believe in protecting our weaker willed citizens from this attack. With absolutely no disrespect the the incredibly brave men and women fighting our war on drugs, our government is not really behind the war on drugs. The drug culture destroys individuals and families that are the building block of our civilization. It destroys our children, spiritually, morality, socially, and physically indeed the very fabric of our society. So who wins? The Communists who are trying to destroy our society from within. Islamists who gain money and power from the drugs. The drug dealers that make good money destroying our country. And apparently our leaders that must want drugs available on the street because they are not seriously fighting the war on drugs to stop their import. Know them by their acts.

[familyop]

All that whole harvest to go only to Iran, and blockade everything else from going there.

[No2much3]

The best place to destroy these drugs is where they are refined.

Stop the flow of raw opium into Pakistan or Iran.

Stop the flow of refined heroin out of Pakistan and Iran.

Kill the Dealers at the head of the chain, the same as we did with Noriaga in Panama.

Why we haven't done the same in Mexico and Columbia is the big question to ask of this administration.

NO2

[traviskicks]

tyrannical US drug laws harming our national security again.

[Terpfen]

Why we haven't done the same in Mexico and Columbia is the big question to ask of this administration.

The military's guns are kind of busy at the moment.

[kellynla]

"I really do not care if they are growing opium in Afghanistan."

Well, when you hit your knees tonight be sure and thank God that no one in your family has ever been exposed to, addicted to or worse died from illegal drugs. And while you are down there, you can also thank God that there are MILLIONS who "do care" and are putting their lives on the line daily to fight the war on drugs so people like you can have the luxury of not having to care.

PS Let us know when you break out of your selfish cocoon.

[tortoise]

Well, aren't you the master of non sequitur. Don't post if you are incapable of making a coherent and rational argument.

[dr_who_2]

They certainly are.

[American in Israel]

"holy" Islam at it's best, don't allow the street people to drink wine, but make them grow heroin to line your pockets...

Islam is so evil

[kellynla]

Since you don't comprehend and/or "care" about the connection of Afghanistan, opium, terrorism, the WOT and/or the war on drugs;
the only issue is your ignorance or naivete or both.

Now quit bothering me with your inane posts.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Why weren't these fields destroyed when we invaded Afghanistan?

Uh, because we had other higher priorities, such as killing terrorists?

[tortoise]

Since you don't comprehend and/or "care" about the connection of Afghanistan, opium, terrorism, the WOT and/or the war on drugs; the only issue is your ignorance or naivete or both.

I comprehend it quite well, I just do not share your lack of perspective and unhealthy fixation when synthesizing a useful model of reality. Kneejerk liberal emotionalism is not a healthy basis for prioritizing the problems in the world, but it is quite apparent that is roughly the sum total of the thought you put into it. No rational analysis would put that issue anywhere near "important" never mind in the Top Ten Pressing Problems That Genuinely Threaten Civilization (And Not Because Some Deluded Person Demonstrates A Classic Failure Of Risk Analysis) (tm).

There are many bigger fish to fry than opium fields in Afghanistan, even if we assumed all the tenuous connections suggested are true. In the big scheme of things, the opium fields are a nuisance and really poor proxies for largely unrelated issues to the fuzzy-headed. If the administration focused significant effort on opium fields, they would be rightly slagged for wasting resources there when more pressing matters want for resources.

[Jmouse007]

No, we purposely did NOT eradicate the fields when we could have obiterated them... didn't want to "upset" our Muslim friends by putting them out of work. Those poppy farmers and tribesmen gotta eat ya know.

Meet the new politicians... same as the old politicians....War on Drugs my foot! Come election time both parties will be shouting how we need to do more in fighting the war on druds when all that is needed are 5 B52's dropping defoliants etc... on the poppy fields in Afganistan.

[backtothestreets]

I neither use nor care for illegal drugs, and don't like taking prescribed medications. I drink alcohol maybe once a year although I have it at home. I won't get sociable with a person that's had two or more beers, or two or more people drinking beer. Having said that, the "war on drugs" is a failure.

It has been with us twice as long as Prohibition survived, and delivered more than twice the hardship on the nation. The war on drugs has produced more crime then the roaring twenties could have ever imagined.

First, the only way the massive quantities of illegal coming by way of Mexico or Canada can continue coming in is due to corruption within our government. Secondly, too many government programs are now funded not to stop illegal drug trade, but to thrive off the residual of illegal drug enforcement. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors offices, courts, and prisons have been the biggest beneficiaries of the war on drugs, yet the illegal drugs keep coming. If even half the people in all these government institutions had been placed on border patrol and enforced the law, the trafficking of illegal drugs across our borders would have ceased long ago.

The government institutions and the people they employ are just as addicted to the illegal drug trade as the junkie taking a fix.

We need a new policy. Either the borders must be secured to prohibit the trafficking of illegal drugs, or the war on drugs needs to go the way of Prohibition. Manufactured drugs like methanpetemines should always be illegal. As with alcohol, no excuse should ever be accepted from a person under the influence of drugs.

[Nuc1]

Essentially concur with your post, though I much prefer to interdict the drugs. We can too if we set our minds to it. As you point out, our leaders just don't want too.

[KarinG1]

Woo Hoo!

[Steel Wolf]

I really do not care if they are growing opium in Afghanistan.

I'd be right there with you, but the Taliban is making millions off of it, and using the money to reform and fight back. If the Taliban is making money, you know that al-Qa'ida is getting some love, as well.

[MNJohnnie]

Opium grows back.