Afghan opium 'funding terrorism'

[demoleft]

Afghanistan has a monopoly on illegal opium production that has devastating global consequences, a UN report says.

UN findings say an opium market worth $65bn (£39bn) funds global terrorism, caters to 15 million addicts, and kills 100,000 people every year.

Afghanistan produces 92% of the world's opium, with the equivalent of 3,500 tonnes leaving the country each year.

The UN says corruption, lawlessness and uncontrolled borders result in only 2% of Afghan opiates being seized.

source: bbc, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8319249.stm

[TexasObserver]

1. We bomb them in their homes in their country, but they're the terrorists.

We have the most deluded foreign policy in the world.

And even if all they claim is true, opium is not nearly as harmful to our society as either alcohol or tobacco. Shall we declare war on the Carolinas?

[valerief]

2. So opium kills twice as many people around the world as insurance companies do just in America. nt