Opium Harvest Boom in Afghanistan

[Heibges]

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]

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

[bradclark1]

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]

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

[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

[Heibges]

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.

[bradclark1]

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

"Of particular worry is the Taliban's involvement in the drug trade. Drug profits now support elements of the Taliban and fund attacks on U.S. and NATO forces. While counter-narcotics efforts intensified last year, results to date are insufficient. More must be done."

http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2007-03-09-voa3.cfm

The talibans train of thought is they are death on their own using drugs, hash etc because it's against the koran, however it's okay to grow and sell poppies/extract because opium is used by infidels.:hmm:

[Heibges]

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.

[Tchocky]

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]

LMAO!!

Chock

[robbo180265]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

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]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

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]

Originally Posted by geetrue

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

I was right ... average income per farmer family is $3,000 to $4,000 a year

This article is five years old, but points out the problem: http://www.rawa.org/opium-again.htm

Revenue for each of the 200-250,000 families involved in poppy production is estimated
at around US$3,000-4,000 per year, Costa said.

From today's MSNBC article
2006 Opium production 6,100 metric tons
2005 Opium production 4,100 metric tons

From the above article
2002 Opium production 3,400 metric tons
2001 Opium production 185 metric tons