Article

2006-09-12 Afghanistan

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Posted by Grunter 2006-09-12 10:12|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Spray the fields with Round-Up or the equivalent. It kills all green and growing things via absorbtion in to the plant, but breaks down within days to harmless compounds, leaving no residue to poison the ground or the people. The fields can be replanted as soon as the dead plants are removed and stacked on a compost heap, giving work for the erstwhile harvesters. Do this several times during the growing season, and some of the farmers will plant things that will be permitted to live to be harvested. (The Kandahar region apparently used to be famous for their almonds, persimmons and figs, f'r instance).

Posted by trailing wife 2006-09-12 12:13|| 2006-09-12 12:13|| Front Page Top

#2 Wow, you really know your herbicides TW...;-)

Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-09-12 15:53|| 2006-09-12 15:53|| Front Page Top

#3 Works until all the people in the region are thoroughly pissed off at us because we sprayed their meal tickets. Then they learn to shoot down the planes and copters with the Roundup. It goes from bad to worse after that.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2006-09-12 16:50|| 2006-09-12 16:50|| Front Page Top

#4 The problem is not the Afghans growing it, it is the Euros and Americans buying it. We should be doing more to attack the demand side or leave the supply side alone.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-09-12 16:52|| 2006-09-12 16:52|| Front Page Top

#5 Is napalm a herbicide?

Posted by tu3031 2006-09-12 16:52|| 2006-09-12 16:52|| Front Page Top

#6 Gosh. If it isn't oil, it's heroin. One way or another they've got us we're powerless to resist.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2006-09-12 16:54|| 2006-09-12 16:54|| Front Page Top

#7 The solution to the opium problem in Afghanistan is to produce dirt cheap synthetic heroin, using our excess refinery capacity. That will destroy the industry. Alimentary, my dear Watson. Heh.

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2006-09-12 17:04|| 2006-09-12 17:04|| Front Page Top

#8 I...ummmmmm...hear that Mo was a junkie.
It's right there in the Koran! No, right there! See it! No? Well, keep looking cuz it's in there, I'm tellin ya...

Posted by tu3031 2006-09-12 17:08|| 2006-09-12 17:08|| Front Page Top

#9 Hit 'em with Agent Grape.

Posted by Foster Brooks 2006-09-12 17:12|| 2006-09-12 17:12|| Front Page Top

#10 Is that waht they used on your impersonator?

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-09-12 17:20|| 2006-09-12 17:20|| Front Page Top

#11 Agent Fermented Grape, you mean?

Posted by trailing wife 2006-09-12 17:53|| 2006-09-12 17:53|| Front Page Top

#12 tu - napalm isn't EXACTLY a herbicide, but using it on an opium field will guarantee that field won't produce another gram of heroine until some time in the future. Rinse and repeat is a necessity. There are a couple of chemicals that will render the ground sterile for generations.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2006-09-12 20:55|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2006-09-12 20:55|| Front Page Top

#13 Nimble's got a real good point. The demand for the drugs is the problem. But what's the solution? Singapore, I think, offers one - capital punishment - but I don't imagine that would be found acceptable. Treatment/therapy helps some, but not a lot of others. I kind of like the idea of cutting out all the middle men, having the gov't buy direct from the farmers at farmer price, then giving it away free to anybody who wants it - attrition should reduce demand before long (being a humane sort of person I'd also offer treatment right next door, for those so motivated.)

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2006-09-12 21:38|| 2006-09-12 21:38|| Front Page Top

#14 My main complaint with legalization of illegal drugs is two-fold: idiots giving drugs to children, and bleeding hearts expecting me to pay to support addicts because they're "disabled." Stupid is not disabled - it's just stupid.

I wonder if it has occurred to the US government that it might be cheaper in the long run to buy the heroin from places like this at market prices and just destroy it. I guess they could also give it to drug addicts - I haven't really thought about it - but I don't want to also have to pay for the addicts' medical care, living expenses, etc. I would agree to ONE round of treatment to get them off drugs, then they can suck it up and live in their self-imposed gutter. And no hand-slapping if they're caught committing crimes just because they're addicts. Things are tough all over.

Everybody's got problems. We CHOOSE how we deal with them. And we don't do people any favors by holding their hands, telling them nothing is their fault, and enabling them to remain irresponsible and a blight on the community.

And if anyone is caught giving heroin, cocaine, etc., to children, shoot them on the spot.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-09-12 22:15|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-09-12 22:15|| Front Page Top

#15 Barbara,
I said give them the drugs free; I didn't say anything about food or medical care or other support. Just drugs. They'll either die or decide to clean up. I'd offer some help if they make that choice.
I concur completely on summary execution of those addicting the kids.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2006-09-12 22:34|| 2006-09-12 22:34|| Front Page Top

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