Posted on 07/31/2009 3:32:59 AM PDT by rellimpank
Drug policy still makes enemies of the common folk
Imagine a foreign army occupies the state of Indiana. Its commanders are concerned that local Hoosiers don't like the foreigners in their midst, displaying that dislike practically every night by setting off murderous roadside bombs every time a patrol goes by.
And because the local people are at odds with the occupation forces, they offer those troops precious little help or intelligence as they pursue their military mission.
The commander brings in some experts to find out why his troops are so unpopular. They interview the local farmers. And the answer comes back: "It's the corn."
"What? The corn?"
"Yeah, the stuff the Indians called 'maize,' " the experts explain. "It's the major agricultural crop around these parts. It's the way the locals make their living."
"And? So?"
"Your men have been burning it."
(Excerpt) Read more at lvrj.com ...
Corn is not a drug.
Sorry if the drug farmers there are inconvenienced by the defense of the rest of the world to their flooding the world with opium product.
How about tobacco in North Carolina then ...
It is when converted to moonshine...
War torn areas are always drub havens. Does anyone remember how the “golden triangle” was the place for drugs during the Viet Nam era? How did the Afgans take their place? Did one end and the other become the easy farm?
You could insert 'rock music' instead. The 'what' is not important. The point is that the local populous has few other choices to sustain themselves. When you start to threaten a people's livelihood you make deep enemies.
If I were in their position I would probably be doing exactly what they are doing.
We need to understand that and decide which war has a higher priority right now, 'terror' or 'drugs'. Right now I think it is 'terror'. That will probably change down the road.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
>Corn is just an example to substitute for poppies.
No, it is not. - it is an attempt to impose “moral equivalence” here, and I reject the entire concept.
Sorry, I do not agree with any of your post.
The area has always been such, much like the cocoa growers in central America, and it is time to change that.
It has nothing to do with "war torn areas."
Thank you for your post
I agree that there is no moral equivalence between corn and poppies and that it is wrong to make that comparison.
I still think that the war on terror is more important that the war on drugs for right now.
If they can find a way to do both without alienating the Afghan populous, more power to them.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
I’m just wondering if there are any other legitimate uses for the poppy seed/plant other than opium?
Seems that if there was another use, that should be the direction we would encourage.
Unfortunately, there is a much large demand for recreational opiates.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
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