Helmand province is now the biggest single drug-producing area in the world, surpassing whole countries such as Colombia.
Afghanistan now accounts for more than 93% of the world’s opiates.
Despite billions of dollars of aid and tens of thousands of international troops, the report says 193,000 hectares of opium poppies are being grown in Afghanistan
so opium production at an all time high.
opium grown in tribal war lords lands
warlords part of afghan govt
afghan govt good
afghanistan under afghan govt and NATO
opium prime source of taleban funds
Nothing wrong with the picture. Its crystal clear and has been that way for long. What I would like to see is an initiative in Afghanistan to start harvesting something else (ofcourse it would not give them high revenues though as opium does). If people can turn deserts into Oasis, can't see why things other than opium cannot be grown in Afghanistan. Its all about the money.
Nothing wrong with the picture. Its crystal clear and has been that way for long. What I would like to see is an initiative in Afghanistan to start harvesting something else (ofcourse it would not give them high revenues though as opium does). If people can turn deserts into Oasis, can't see why things other than opium cannot be grown in Afghanistan. Its all about the money.
During Taliban rule Opium production was virtually wiped out, Amreeka should not complain it knew NA thugs were nothing more then drug pushers... Dependencies on spin masters is obsolete, Info travels too far and wide these days with little control. Other wise A-Stan would have been another haven thanks to Amreeka.
so opium production at an all time high.
opium grown in tribal war lords lands
warlords part of afghan govt
afghan govt good
afghanistan under afghan govt and NATO
opium prime source of taleban funds
what am I missing here?
ham pehlay bhi bol chukay hayn lekin woh kia hay ke log 'anti-Taliban' pe ziyada bharosa kartay hayn :p
lesser of two evils. Last time I checked, heroin addicts don't don't decapitate innocent people in God's name
yaaaaaaaar, my issue is that drug growers and merchants in NATO controlled land are funding the enemy that NATO is fighting. That just seems ridiculous.
It appears all of y'all missed the point, screw the health, moral, social whatever the hell impact of drugs.
questions are
1) why the hell cant NATO and Karzai govt control drug production.
2) how can they not stop the proceeds of drugs in afghanistan funding taleban
The funding of Taliban thru drugs is a myth, actual benefactors are on a very high and controlling levels.... why was production of opium at very low (or probably lowest) level during Taliban's own era?
ham pehlay bhi bol chukay hayn lekin woh kia hay ke log 'anti-Taliban' pe ziyada bharosa kartay hayn :p
no need to pick sides betwee two evils, i.e. taleban vs the war lords/drug lords, especially since they are really the same.
The same tribal baffoons became Taleban when Taleban were in power and the same morons are now these war lords. dunno why it is so hard for ppl to figure it out.
PS: being anti-taleban does not mean you are pro-warlords, not just two choices here are there.
The funding of Taliban thru drugs is a myth, actual benefactors are on a very high and controlling levels.... why was production of opium at very low (or probably lowest) level during Taliban's own era?
cuz then they were getting funding from other sources and thus had no reason to grow opium, their kind has a knack for coming up with justifications for their actions so now they are justifyinf it probably as the lesser fo two evils.
even your lovely tribals who are supposedly so pro-islam were the place where all kinds of drug trade, arms trade, smuggling, prostitution and all was run from and channeled through as far back as 80s.
but hey man, pack some dime bags of heroin, receive the new shipment of smuggled goods, make a trade for eastern european and central asian hookers, and then go smack talk abotu establishment of the islamic empire. hypocrits of the highest degree..thats who they are.
no need to pick sides betwee two evils, i.e. taleban vs the war lords/drug lords, especially since they are really the same.
The same tribal baffoons became Taleban when Taleban were in power and the same morons are now these war lords. dunno why it is so hard for ppl to figure it out.
Exactly... so the myth "Taliban are getting funding from drugs" probably refers to the warlords who joined Taliban but now are "independent" warlords not necessarily on "accord" with govt.
cuz then they were getting funding from other sources and thus had no reason to grow opium, their kind has a knack for coming up with justifications for their actions so now they are justifyinf it probably as the lesser fo two evils.
even your lovely tribals who are supposedly so pro-islam were the place where all kinds of drug trade, arms trade, smuggling, prostitution and all was run from and channeled through as far back as 80s.
but hey man, pack some dime bags of heroin, receive the new shipment of smuggled goods, make a trade for eastern european and central asian hookers, and then go smack talk abotu establishment of the islamic empire. hypocrits of the highest degree..thats who they are.
I agree that Taliban were given lots of benefit of doubt due being conceived as 'implementers of shariah', but the fact remains that during their power 'taliban' were able to cut down opium, the amount of funding they were receiving was not equivalent of what they could've earned from opium, remember "Buddha" statues???
Exactly... so the myth "Taliban are getting funding from drugs" probably refers to the warlords who joined Taliban but now are "independent" warlords not necessarily on "accord" with govt.
I think corruption and the backhanded deals is a major reason for the ever increasing poppy production and of course lack of alternatives. You have deals made with warlords who promise to support the Karzai govt. if a blind eye is turned on their poppy production and in turn some of these warlords make backhanded deals with the Taliban who support production for a cut and they promise to protect the fields. Then you had programs setup by the Karzai govt. which promised farmers $ if they choose not yield poppy on their farms yet this $ never made it to the farmers thus they have no incentive to stop production.
Talibans success with stopping poppy production was done through brutal means, the afghan govt. can't use such methods without tearing the country further apart. Part of the solution to this problem might be regulating the production of poppy as it has a medical value in creating pain killers. With the free for all we'll see strong poppy production year after year. Even more importantly is developing the country to give the people an alternative means to make a decent living, no one should expect farmers to abandon the drug production if other work isn't available. There is a $600+ million anti-drug plan in place and it's a work in progress but how much of this is being sucked down by the hole of corruption?
One thing is certain and learned is that without securing security, viable growth and success against problems that hold nations back can't be achieved on a grand scale. Nation building isn't achieved through force alone (unless blindly brutal) a multi-prong approach needs to be developed before the first bomb is dropped.
I've officially become convinced by the lobby that says Afghan farmers should be paid for for their opium and it turned into painkillers such as morphine.
The shortage of painkilling drugs in third world countries could be remedied through Afghanistan's Opium fields. Why should Australian farmers make a fortune from legal opium cultivation for the pharmaceutical industry but poor afghan farmers be denied access to the legitimate market?
Rather than spend money on expensive anti-opium operations that do nothing but embitter the poor afghans whose precious opium fields get wiped out, the west should purchase their crop and use it to benefit the poor.
95% of the worlds opium production must be helping taliban elements to some extent (and others). without the production being allowed it could cause other warlords and factions to join the anti foreign troops movement. so its a double edged sword. i think nato are right from their prospective to allow it for now. i'd urge nato to let afghanis limit opium production when they are gone to limit anti western sentiments and thus reduce the chances of comebacks from afghan based terrorists
under the current karzai regime a weak afghanistan is a good afghanistan. i am apprehensive about supporting the fast track economic improvements to the country as it is. not only will the 'at war with pak' taliban come kayda benefit but also karzai who has anti pak ambitions. as things stand both will use their prosperity against pak
its been a suspicion of mine that the most notable failure of the nato afghanistan campaign will be the creation of a longterm low level afghan rivalry with pakistan with skirmishes of warfare included
it'll be better for pakistan if regime changes take place in afghanistan until a pashtoon dominated pro pak government takes charge
the former supporters of the taliban need to end their support for international terrorist groups and come back to the political table with a more civillised and internationally acceptable manifesto under a different party name.
with conspiracy theories aside and considering everything thats happenned, i think nato shouldnt leave till afghanistanis accept them. a peaceful ambitioned pashtoon dominated government will also be testament to having won the war on terror in afghanistan. some accountability with regard to progress on this matter needs to be set on nato
Talibans success with stopping poppy production was done through brutal means, the afghan govt. can't use such methods without tearing the country further apart.
Any proof of the usage of brutality..? i have read quite a few reports on the internet from different news and other channel and none said so... or u r just talking like BUSH...
Sometime its good to accept the reality whether its against ones own ideals... if you want to look like a sensible person... otherwise you can always carry on your ways.. doesn't hurt me atleast..:)