OPIUM - History does repeat itself. The Japanese took over China in

[Bobbieo]

the 1930s with the opium poppy. Now, the Taliban is going to take over the world with this year's crop in Afghanistan.

God help our boys in Iraq - or is it already too late? George Bush and his god dammed oil!

[Maddy McCall]

1. ...and girls in Iraq.

Women are there, too.

[Nevernose]

2. Concidentally, China is becoming addicted to Meth

The former Golden Triangle of Burma, Laos, and Thailand (or is that Cambodia?) is now going into methamphetamine-production overdrive. They get most of their raw stock from Southern China, where ephedrine grows wild, and process it in the same plants that used to process opium. It's apparently become the main smuggled narcotic for Southeast Asia.

I found a fascinating study recently about modern Asian international crime, which not only examined the hard data, but did field interviews with law enforcement from all countries involved. The opening google search was "International Organized Crime." I wish I could find it again...

[Bobbieo]

3. They don't call meth the "devils drug"

for nothin' My son was a meth addict for three years and I've seen what it can do to the body and a family. He's a recoverin now, but it is still one day at a time. Heroin is bad enough but meth is far worse.