Why not destroy all the poppies in Afghanistan

[EVAY]

I feel kinda stupid asking this, but it is a real question. Why doesn't the U.S. just burn up or otherwise destroy all the poppy fields in Afghanistan that are being used to grow the poppies for the heroin trade that supplies so much money to warloads and terrorists? I'm serious. We have a United Nations presence over there. Why don't we just do it and deny all that money-making power to them?

I feel like there is going to be areally obvious reason why we are not, and I will feel foolish for asking, but at least I'll at least know.

Thanks in advance.

[LnGrrrR]

I feel kinda stupid asking this, but it is a real question. Why doesn't the U.S. just burn up or otherwise destroy all the poppy fields in Afghanistan that are being used to grow the poppies for the heroin trade that supplies so much money to warloads and terrorists? I'm serious. We have a United Nations presence over there. Why don't we just do it and deny all that money-making power to them?

I feel like there is going to be areally obvious reason why we are not, and I will feel foolish for asking, but at least I'll at least know.

Thanks in advance.

For one thing, it would make the price of drugs absolutely skyrocket, and you'd see some REALLY violent drug wars.

[balli]

Because the poppy growing farmers aren't necessarily our enemies, at all, they're just providing for the demand, scratching out a living- it's not like the farmers are the kingpins. We go in and start burning down farmer's livelihoods and we got a much bigger problem on our hands than a resurgent Taliban. Even if those poppys help strengthen said Taliban.

Plus, I think poppy production is way down recently? Maybe not, but I thought we had convinced a lot of farmers to start growing other high value crops.

[Winehole23]

Plus, I think poppy production is way down recently? Maybe not, but I thought we had convinced a lot of farmers to start growing other high value crops.What gave you this impression? Mine is the opposite.

[whottt]

Poppys are an important plant...


It's not like making these plants illegal or destroying them prevents people from growing them and or prevents people from making the harder drugs.


I say make them the designated Opium grower for the world and let the pharmceutical companies do business with them.

BTW, I don't even think it's illegal to grow poppys in the US....

[balli]

What gave you this impression? Mine is the opposite.
I don't know, lots of strands in old duders head, but I thought I remembered reading it somewhere and/or hearing something on NPR maybe. I don't know, I'm probably wrong. I'll check...

(FWIW)


Afghan Opium Poppy Production Expected to Fall
By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
01 February 2009

The United Nations says that production of opium poppies in Afghanistan is likely to decrease this year. The country remains the world's largest producer of opium. The drug trade is a major source of revenue for Taliban insurgents and is also increasing official corruption in Afghanistan.
U.N and Afghan officials say that low prices of opium and high prices of wheat flour along with drought and pressure from the government have brought down poppy cultivation in most of Afghanistan in 2008.

Releasing findings of an annual winter survey at a news conference in Kabul, top U.N representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide anticipated a further decrease in opium cultivation this year. He says that out of 34 Afghan provinces the number of opium-free provinces could rise from 18 to 22 because of the effected anti-drugs campaign.


"That means that poppy production is no longer in Afghanistan wide problem but it is a problem that is mainly limited to a small number of provinces in the South," said Kai Eide. "And also in the South there are prospects for a significant reduction, which will be a major blow to those who are behind the opium industry."

The top U.N representative urged international donors to bring in additional resources that will help the Afghan government to ensure that reduction in poppy cultivation leads to development in Afghanistan. He says that poppy production has increased in Afghanistan every year since 2002 but now a major reduction is within reach and this year could be a turning point.

"This prognosis must be seen as opening a window of opportunity to deal the poppy industry a significant blow," he said. "But that window of opportunity must be really used effectively by the government and by the donors. And if we do not make full use of that opportunity we could face a backlash soon rather than further progress."

The U.N report says that the price of opium has fallen by about 20 percent over the last year mainly due to overproduction during the past three years. It says that the high price of wheat was the main reason farmers cited for not growing poppies this year.

In the wake of increased insurgent attacks around the country, NATO defense ministers at a meeting in October authorized troops in Afghanistan to launch direct attacks on the drugs trade. But so far there have been no public reports of this order being implemented.

Afghan anti-narcotics minister, General Khodaided, while addressing Sunday's news conference, reiterated that assistance from foreign forces in anti-drugs efforts could be of vital importance.

"NATO forces or coalition forces must take part in interdiction," said Khodaided. "They must hit the convoys of the enemy because drug dealers, drug traffickers, terrorism and al-Qaida; they are the same, they are the enemies of Afghanistan"

Afghanistan's seven key drug producing provinces in the south and southwest produced 98 percent of the country's total output in 2008. The Taliban-led insurgency is most active in these areas.

The United Nations estimates the total export value of last year's poppy crop to have been nearly $3.5 billion. It says that taxes on farmers and traffickers might have helped Taliban insurgents collect up to $500 million.

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-02/2009-02-01-voa18.cfm?CFID=301146789&CFTOKEN=66027923&jsessionid=0030eaecdb52628ec0b25cc65546513f1133

[Winehole23]

Thanks for the link, balli.

[boutons_deux]

the surge did shit in Iraq, it was Petraeus buying peace from the Sunnis for $300 months to 1000s of them.

killing the poppies would really piss of the farmers who have no other source income. US already has a big enough problem of more and more Afghans turning agains the occupiers and fighting them along side the Taleband and AQ.

[MannyIsGod]

i can imagine the scale of a bombing campaign that involves destroying thousands of square miles of farm field in Afghanistan and under no circumstances do I envision this as plausible or even desirable.

Carpet bombing the entire nation is going to kill more people, destroy more homes, and drive more people into the arms of the insurgents.

Do you ever stop to ask yourself WHY people are fighting the US forces there and examine their point of view?

[101A]

I feel kinda stupid asking this, but it is a real question. Why doesn't the U.S. just burn up or otherwise destroy all the poppy fields in Afghanistan that are being used to grow the poppies for the heroin trade that supplies so much money to warloads and terrorists? I'm serious. We have a United Nations presence over there. Why don't we just do it and deny all that money-making power to them?

I feel like there is going to be areally obvious reason why we are not, and I will feel foolish for asking, but at least I'll at least know.

Thanks in advance.


How would we control the Black man without the drugs?

[Wild Cobra]

Here comes Agent Orange....