U.S. and Afghan Forces Seize 101 tons of narcotic drugs !

[kentuck]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/world/asia/24afghan.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss

<snip>
KABUL, Afghanistan — American and Afghan forces seized what the American military called the single largest drug cache to date in a four-day operation that began Tuesday in the south of the country.

The seizure by Afghan Army commandos and American forces took place in Marjeh, a town in Helmand Province, the American military said in a statement on Saturday. In all, soldiers found more than 101 tons of narcotics, including heroin, poppy seeds, opium and hashish. Large amounts of heroin processing materials were also confiscated, the military said.

Heroin is a major source of income for the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the American military has said it would be a major focus of future operations as more troops are moved into Afghanistan this summer under President Obama’s plan.

The drugs were taken in a central market area in the town. A battle ensued in which, according to the American military, 60 insurgents were killed. An American military spokesman said the allies met a surprising level of resistance, fighting the militants for four days in gun battles and by aerial strikes.
....more

[rcrush]

1. Now they can sell it on the streets in the US.

[jeff30997]

6. Yep cut out the middle man.

[lunatica]

2. In Afghanistan there much more where that came from

And, of course, we can continue to fight the war on drugs over there.

[kentuck]

4. 101 tons is a lot heroin and opium and hasish!

That will put a huge dent in the world illegal drug market and the funds for the Taliban. I would guess that they are very, very, pissed!

[lunatica]

12. It's a known fact that Americans are a huge consumer of drugs

We go to war to destroy what we consume. We, meaning Americans, not I myself. I don't do drugs, but I know people who do.

[Xipe Totec]

3. I'm sure the freepers are having conniption fits

no candy for a while, guys!

:evilgrin:

[BlooInBloo]

5. Sounds like good news to me; not sure why people are ripping on it.

[rocktivity]

7. funny how it's never occured to anyone to bomb a poppy field.

And what ever happened to that 350 tons of ammo that disappeared from Iraq?

:eyes:
rocktivity

[madeline_con]

9. The U.S. and Afghan allies do eradicate poppy fields. n/t

[havocmom]

8. Did it have CIA mailing labels?

[Vidar]

10. Now it can finance the CIA.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. You know, I never quite got that -

when the Taliban was in power they worked to eradicate poppy fields and cut the crop by something like 75%. Drug dealers were publicly executed.

Now, the Taliban is supposed to be in charge of heroin production? This religious-based organization that previously disrupted the heroin trade so much that it affected prices in Europe and the US, and kept prices high until they were removed from power and the US stopped the destruction of poppy fields, has done an about face just because it can make them money? Couldn't it have made them money when they actually controlled the country?

Can somebody please explain this to me?

[lunatica]

13. I think you just explained it pretty well yourself n/t

[lovuian]

14. that could pay for our deficit

its all drug trade Afghanistan