Record poppy crop makes mockery of Afghanistan's 'jihad' on opium

[Ediacara]

Record poppy crop makes mockery of Afghanistan's 'jihad' on opium
By Nick Jackson in Kabul

18 April 2004

Blossoms of ripe opium poppies blanket the valleys of Nangarhar province - colourful proof that another war is not working: Afghanistan's "jihad" against opium production.

President Hamid Karzai's promise that 25 per cent of the opium harvest in Afghanistan would be destroyed is no closer to being realised. Last year, the harvest provided three quarters of the world's heroin, and 95 per cent of Europe's. This year a record harvest is expected. Robert Charles, a narcotics expert from the US State Department, says that 300,000 acres of opium poppies will be harvested, 30 per cent more than the previous highest. Already 10 million people worldwide are addicted to Afghan opiates.

At a conference in Berlin this month, US Secretary of State Colin Powell linked the aid package of $2.3bn pledged to Afghanistan for 2004-05 to the destruction of the opium harvest. It was then that Mr Karzai called on farmers to fight opium production with the same commitment as they would a holy war.

More at the Independent

[BostonTeaParty04]

1. did someone stock the world water supplies with Truth Serum????

I can't believe all this stuff is coming out.

yeah, we KNEW about the poppy trade ... but now the issue is before the public boldly.

Well, I am gaining hope that humankind can turn all of this around....

[ultramega]

5. I'd like to see this in an American paper.

Most of the LBN stories today have been from overseas.

[The Zanti Regent]

2. I wonder how much $$$$$ Ollie North will make from this

Remember all the $$$$ Ollie made from Contra Cocaine and Contra Crack?

It was all documented by Gary Webb--the same Gary Webb whose career was destroyed when the Screw York Times, Whoreshington Post and Lies Angeles Times joined forces to whitewash everything he exposed!

[seemslikeadream]

3. Well what a bonus to getting rid of the Taliban

Almost reason alone for some people.

[JoFerret]

4. The poverty rate is up too

since the invasion.