Article

2006-03-19 Afghanistan

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Posted by Dan Darling 2006-03-19 00:41|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The campaign to destroy opium poppy fields was begun March 8 in southern Helmand, the producer of most of Afghanistan's opium crop -- which makes up nearly 90 percent of the world total -- and also one of the provinces worst-hit by a Taliban-led insurgency.

No coincidences here. A head-on collision of interests: Order vs chaos.

Posted by Griper Phulet7709 2006-03-19 05:09|| 2006-03-19 05:09|| Front Page Top

#2 Has anyone considered what will happen if they do erasdicate 90% of the world's opium? Crime and violence will skyrocket globally. All the drug lords profiting from heroin won't take to being cut-off, nor will the junkies. The economic impact and loss from cash circulating from drug sales, affects far more than the Helmand farmers, who have no alternative method of income. The land is even more barren since the refugees took to eating roots that helped prevent erosion during the worst of the war with the Soviets. The solution to the poppy problem takes more than a government campaign or it will be all-out chaos, and probably why Britain backed off their military from destroying the fields. Maybe the UAE should build a Las Vegas in the Afghani desert, as nothing else will grow in that God-forsaken barren hell-hole.

Posted by Danielle 2006-03-19 14:15|| 2006-03-19 14:15|| Front Page Top

#3 It's a tough one. The problem with leaving the fields is that the Taliban then use drug monies to keep up their fight.

Posted by lotp 2006-03-19 14:41|| 2006-03-19 14:41|| Front Page Top

#4 So legalize it. I doubt Afghanistan will be the low cost producer.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-19 14:49|| 2006-03-19 14:49|| Front Page Top

#5 The Britts are not eradicating any fields themselves. The Afghan Army is. As long as there are poor farmers, poppies will be grown in Afghanistan. They have tried alternate crops, lots of things will grow there, but nothing comes close to paying what poppys do. If they were somehow able to take out all the Afghan fields, it would solve a lot of Europe's heroin... America's heroin mostly comes from Mexico.

Anyhow, the Taliban have been in the drug trade for some time... this is just a means for them to make money. Contrary to popular belief, they are extremely strapped for cash and this is a big money maker for them.

Posted by armylife 2006-03-19 15:10|| 2006-03-19 15:10|| Front Page Top

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