Afghanistan Opium Crop Sets Record

[Mark E. Smith]

U.S.-backed eradication efforts fail

The Washington Post 12/2/06

Opium production in Afghanistan, which provides more than 90 percent of the world's heroin,
broke all records in 2006, reaching a historic high despite ongoing U.S.-sponsored eradication
efforts, the Bush administration reported yesterday.

In addition to a 26 percent production increase over the past year -- for a total of 5,644 metric
tons -- the amount of land under cultivation in opium poppies grew by 61 percent. Cultivation
in the two main production provinces, Helmand in the southwest and Oruzgan in central
Afghanistan, was up by 132 percent.

White House drug policy chief John Walters called the news "disappointing."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15999301/

At last, a business besides big oil and armaments that President Super Fly can claim prospered
under his administration.

[LynnTheDem]

1. Gee...the Taleban had no problem eradicating opium.

Saddam had no problem restoring electricity & oil output.

bush; biggest fuck-up ever.

The Republic Party; bad for everyone and everything.

[madrchsod]

8. they did`t "eradicate" poppy production they slowed it

the opium was not transported out of the country, it was warehoused in many areas. i found this out on a hashish forum warning hash smokers to watch out for hash that had opium in it because hashish smokers in europe were becoming addicted
now it`s all being dumped on the world

[Deja Q]

2. The 'War on Drugs' seems to be doing...

well, something. I can't say it's doing good because that would mean the opium would have been turned into a smoking cinder, with all the local inhabitants getting high off that stench...

[jody]

3. Free market economics at its finest. n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. In other news, the CIA is fat and happy.

[leesa]

5. WooHoo! Now we can buy that war in Iran!

[Turbineguy]

6. "despite ongoing U.S.-sponsored eradication"

The best dope fertilizer there is. Bullshit from Bush

[LynnTheDem]

10. LOL!!!

I needed that laugh, thanks!

:hug:

[krispos42]

7. Thank god

Now my heroin will be cheaper to offset the higher pump prices!

:sarcasm:

[Earth_First]

9. This ought to fund the CIA for another few months... n/t

[threadkillaz]

11. It appears the British are "back in the game"

The Opium Wars were two wars fought in the mid-1800s that were the climax of a long dispute between Britain and China. In the second, France fought alongside Britain. This dispute was around the opium trade which was perceived from a variety of cultural and economic vantage points, as is often the case with global economic conflicts. The Chinese Emperor (Dao Guang) had banned opium in China due to its harmful effects on Chinese citizens and its denigratory impact on the Chinese culture; the British Empire, however, saw opium as a profitable good for commercial trade, as its import would help balance Britain's huge trade deficit with China. The Opium Wars and the unequal treaties signed afterwards led in part to the downfall of the Chinese Empire, as many countries followed Britain and forced more treaties to increase trade within China.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Wars

[Turbineguy]

12. Hmmm....

You may be spotting a new Bush foreign policy direction!

Getting the Chinese hooked on opium will cause Walmart to collapse. The price of gas would drop too. On the other hand, increasing addiction in the US stimulates car stereo and purse sales.

3 out of 4 ain't bad especially since the Bush Adminstration usually gets 0 out of 4.

So it looks like increased opium production would be a republican goal with a "sorry!" to Walmart.

Double Dose:sarcasm: