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

I'm not sure you can destroy poppy fields - they are a hardy weed that can survive most efforts at eradication. Sowing the opium poppy after one crop is destroyed isn't such a big deal either. Short of permanently making the land unsuitable for any other crops - which would make us real unpopular with the Afghan population as a whole - there's not much we can do to prevent replanting.

Besides, we're not in Afghanistan to fight drug trafficking, we're there to kill Taliban and al Qaeda. Fighting drugs will be far more difficult, because whereas only tens of thousands of Afghans were involved with the Taliban and al Qaeda, millions of Afghans are involved in growing and processing the opium poppy. The bottom line is that the drug war is a separate problem (a problem of poverty and weak central government) and can't really be a priority for our troops until we've decisively stamped out the Taliban. That may not be for the next ten years.
12 posted on 09/02/2006 6:21:21 PM PDT by Zhang Fei
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To: Zhang Fei

"I'm not sure you can destroy poppy fields?"

tell that to the U.S.A.F.
those of us who survived Viet Nam know better. LOL


13 posted on 09/02/2006 6:25:07 PM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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