Opium Eradication Starts in Afghanistan

[rodeodance]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2899218

Opium Eradication Starts in Afghanistan
Opium Eradication Under Way in Taliban Heartland to Dismay of Afghan Farmers


By NOOR KHAN

DOBUNDI, Afghanistan Feb 23, 2007 (AP)— Anguish creased the weathered face of the opium farmer as a U.S.-trained eradication team swept through his farm fields in this southern Afghan village.

With helicopters buzzing overhead, dozens of tractors plowed up Sadullah Khan's sprouting poppy plants, which in two months time would have yielded the sticky resin used to make heroin and earned him, by Afghan standards, a generous income.

After failing miserably to curb opium production last year, the Afghan government has launched a renewed eradication drive, particularly here in Helmand province which accounted for more than 40 percent of the 2006's record yield of 6,725 tons. The U.S. government estimates the opium trade generates $3 billion a year in illicit economic activity.

There is some armed resistance to the campaign in Helmand, where drug gangs and Taliban militants form a powerful nexus against President Hamid Karzai's unpopular government. Still, counter-narcotics officials expect better results this year if not a resounding success.

[MissB]

1. O

[bamacrat]

2. Havent we already tried this but replanted the field because its too economically

devastating to Afghanistan. Plus this is retarded, we are there to create a puppet government not decide social issues such as drug use.

[Ezlivin]

3. That reminds me: I have some hemp eradication I need to do tonight

That evil weed must be burned; but carefully, only one bong-load at a time.

Now where's the Screaming Yellow Zonkers I thought I had a case of....?

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. O Goody! The $40m+ that Cheney dropped on the Taliban back in early '01

with the agreement that they would stop growing poppies is finally working! :sarcasm:

[William Bloode]

5. Every smart grower of illict drugs knows the three crop rule.

You always plant at least three crops. You plant one for the cops, one for the thieves, and one for yourself. Your biggest is your "cop crop". Leave 'em a big field to bust so they feel like they done something lol!

Not to mention the article states they only got "sprouting" plants. He can be right back on track with a touch of effort.

[TheBaldyMan]

6. war on drugs & war on terrorism - both doomed to failure

ironically the one group that DID reduce opium production was the Taleban.

They couldn't eradicate production in the areas controlled by our glorious allies the Northern Alliance!

[goforit]

7. Poppy Bush's profits??? Amazing!