WAR: Report: Afghanistan Near Drug-State Status

A State Department report delivered to U.S. President George Bush is warning that Afghanistan is on the verge of becoming a narcotics state. The report indicated that poppy cultivation last year was more than 510,000 acres. This figure is more than 3 times that of 2003. The report also listed other countries with illegal drug exports including Columbia, Bolivia, and Mexico.



Its not surprising that many went back to farming opium which was controlled by the Taliban. The irony is that when they lost power, the Taliban turned to the poppy to raise funds for thier insurgency. At any rate, the new government and the U.S. and its allies need to clamp down on this and clamp down hard. Otherwise the biggest threat to the government may soon be from drug cartels and not the Jihadists.

[edit on 7-3-2005 by Banshee]

Why dosnt the Afgan government use dustiest to spray the poppy seeds?
Im sure the USA and other governments would send planes and pliots its not as if the crops are hidden amongst the jungle.

Uhh spray Chemicals in an area already ecologically devastated, somehow I do not think thats a good idea. How bout increasing the troop presance and harvest them yourselves and use it for medical purposes. There's an idea...

WASHINGTON - More than three years after installing a pro-U.S. government, Afghanistan (news - web sites) has been unable to contain opium poppy production and is on the verge of becoming a narcotics state, a presidential report said Friday.

The report said the area in Afghanistan devoted to poppy cultivation last year set a record of more than 510,000 acres, more than triple the figure for 2003. Opium poppy is the raw material for heroin.

The Afghan narcotics situation "represents an enormous threat to world stability," the report said.

It listed opium production at 5,445 tons, 17 times more than second-place Myanmar.
Report: Afghan Opium Production Surges

Originally posted by sardion2000
Uhh spray Chemicals in an area already ecologically devastated, somehow I do not think thats a good idea. How bout increasing the troop presance and harvest them yourselves and use it for medical purposes. There's an idea...

I agree with you, US was accused of "poisoning" the people before with the dusting, plus dusting will indeed be harmful to other types of crops anyway.

The people needs a way to make money so they turn to the most easiest and profitable way to do it.

I say, just let them grow the stuff, it's cheaper than having to pour in all that post-war reconstruction money, and you now what, maybe washinton thinks the same eventhough they officially have a war against drugs on their side of the atlantic...


[edit on 7-3-2005 by Countermeasures]

Its a well known fact that the CIA make big bucks out of drug trafficking... and what a perfect place to harvest your supply