Post-Invasion Chaos Blamed for Drug Surge

[bemildred]

WASHINGTON. Afghanistan's opium poppy crop this year is set to break all records, surging past the peak levels reported under the Taliban regime, top American and international counter-narcotics officials said.

At the same time, U.N. and U.S. officials are increasingly worried by signs of a nascent drug trade developing in Iraq, where smugglers are taking advantage of the continuing chaos and unguarded borders.

Instability in the wake of the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq has resulted in one booming market for the production of drugs, and a second potential market for narcotics sale and transit, officials said.

"All post-conflict situations, whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, are always characterized by a significant increase in addiction," said Antonio Maria Costa, the head of the United Nations' Office on Drug and Crimes. "The problem is definitely there."

LA Times

[displacedtexan]

1. Huh?

Whatever happened to BushCo bragging about ending the poppy economy?

[skylarmae]

2. Too bad this is old news just now being reported and tracked

This has been going on the whole time. When we first went in there
we never cleaned it up completely and now I think its up to 75% of
the worlds opium (last stat I remember). Another GEORGIE PORGIE 'piece of work'.

[xxqqqzme]

3. Moyers/NOW did a piece on

this about a year ago. They reported that, under international pressure, the taliban had agreed and had nearly eliminated the poppy crop. After the US invasion, the poppy crop is once again under cultivation and booming.

[Beam Me Up]

4. CIA needs DRUG MONEY to PROP UP FAILING US ECONOMY

Based on fictitious UNLIMITED GROWTH bottom line society predicated on illusory CHEAP NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY .

Fucked by our own right wing US National Security State run Federal Government and their corporate short sighted greed.