Opium Harvest Boom in Afghanistan

Heibges · 06-26-07, 01:10 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19431056/

I'm not sure at this point what the real story is.

I'm sure it's funding the Taliban, but the CIA also has a history of using drug money to fund operations to be unaccountable to Congress, so i wonder if they have any fingers in the pie?

JetSnake · 06-26-07, 01:25 PM

The opium has been harvested for centuries there. Nothing too remarkable about it, nothing can be done to stem it.

bradclark1 · 06-26-07, 02:09 PM

The point (not having read the story

) is that the Taliban is paying farmers for a cash crop that lets the farmers make a living and plus get protection. The Taliban finances their war, the drug cartels have a steady supply at lower cost and the dopers are all happy.
It's all got to do with supply and demand. Oh, and we can't do a thing about it! Why would that be?:hmm:

geetrue · 06-26-07, 02:16 PM

I bet the farmers don't get very much compaired to the drug runners.

Chock · 06-26-07, 02:35 PM

I was under the impression that when the Taliban were in control, they banned opium production, and its resugence came about when they were kicked back a bit.

Chock

Heibges · 06-26-07, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetrue

I bet the farmers don't get very much compaired to the drug runners.

Sadly, much like agriculture in the rest of the world.

Heibges · 06-26-07, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chock

I was under the impression that when the Taliban were in control, they banned opium production, and its resugence came about when they were kicked back a bit.

Chock

I was under the same impression. That's why I thought the story was strange. Of course, the Taliban might have gotten a whole lot more pragmatic, but it makes you wonder.

Konovalov · 06-26-07, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heibges

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chock

I was under the impression that when the Taliban were in control, they banned opium production, and its resugence came about when they were kicked back a bit.

Chock

I was under the same impression. That's why I thought the story was strange. Of course, the Taliban might have gotten a whole lot more pragmatic, but it makes you wonder.

The Taliban never banned opium production during their wicked reign in power. The Taliban quickly realized the vast tax revenue to be gained. In fact the taxes raised from opium exports became the number one source of income for the Taliban in what was effectively a war economy during the 1990's in Afghanistan.

Jimbuna · 06-26-07, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konovalov

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heibges

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chock

I was under the impression that when the Taliban were in control, they banned opium production, and its resugence came about when they were kicked back a bit.

Chock

I was under the same impression. That's why I thought the story was strange. Of course, the Taliban might have gotten a whole lot more pragmatic, but it makes you wonder.

The Taliban never banned opium production during their wicked reign in power. The Taliban quickly realized the vast tax revenue to be gained. In fact the taxes raised from opium exports became the number one source of income for the Taliban in what was effectively a war economy during the 1990's in Afghanistan.

Yep, that is precisely what happened.

Skybird · 06-26-07, 04:04 PM

No news, no surprise. It is going since 2004, maybe even earlier. See:

"Trapped in the Afghan Maze":
http://freenet-homepage.de/Skybird/Afghanistan.pdf

page 12 - 18: "The two faces of Afghanistan's drug history"

Tchocky · 06-26-07, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetrue

I bet the farmers don't get very much compaired to the drug runners.

It leaves a little more spoon residue than I like, and costs slightly more, but my conscience is clearer now that I'm on Fairtrade skag.

Chock · 06-26-07, 04:21 PM

LMAO!!

Chock

robbo180265 · 06-26-07, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetrue

I bet the farmers don't get very much compaired to the drug runners.

It leaves a little more spoon residue than I like, and costs slightly more, but my conscience is clearer now that I'm on Fairtrade skag.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Jimbuna · 06-26-07, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetrue

I bet the farmers don't get very much compaired to the drug runners.

It leaves a little more spoon residue than I like, and costs slightly more, but my conscience is clearer now that I'm on Fairtrade skag.

ROFLMAO :rotfl: :rotfl:

geetrue · 06-26-07, 04:49 PM

Iraq could use some of that opium for the roadside, mosque, cafe bombers victims.

Thousands dead must mean more in the hospitals than I want to count.

06-26-07, 01:10 PM	#1
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Opium Harvest Boom in Afghanistan http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19431056/ I'm not sure at this point what the real story is. I'm sure it's funding the Taliban, but the CIA also has a history of using drug money to fund operations to be unaccountable to Congress, so i wonder if they have any fingers in the pie? __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

06-26-07, 02:16 PM	#4
geetrue Cold War Boomer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Walla Walla Posts: 2,837 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I bet the farmers don't get very much compaired to the drug runners. __________________

06-26-07, 04:04 PM	#10
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,612 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	No news, no surprise. It is going since 2004, maybe even earlier. See: "Trapped in the Afghan Maze": http://freenet-homepage.de/Skybird/Afghanistan.pdf page 12 - 18: "The two faces of Afghanistan's drug history" __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

06-26-07, 04:49 PM	#15
geetrue Cold War Boomer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Walla Walla Posts: 2,837 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Iraq could use some of that opium for the roadside, mosque, cafe bombers victims. Thousands dead must mean more in the hospitals than I want to count. __________________

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06-26-07, 01:25 PM	#2
JetSnake Navy Dude Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 176 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	The opium has been harvested for centuries there. Nothing too remarkable about it, nothing can be done to stem it.

06-26-07, 02:09 PM	#3
bradclark1 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA. Posts: 2,794 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	The point (not having read the story ) is that the Taliban is paying farmers for a cash crop that lets the farmers make a living and plus get protection. The Taliban finances their war, the drug cartels have a steady supply at lower cost and the dopers are all happy. It's all got to do with supply and demand. Oh, and we can't do a thing about it! Why would that be?:hmm:

06-26-07, 02:35 PM	#5
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I was under the impression that when the Taliban were in control, they banned opium production, and its resugence came about when they were kicked back a bit. Chock

06-26-07, 04:21 PM	#12
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	LMAO!! Chock