Afghan poppy industry eludes U.S. control

[SHRED]

The "U.S. official" says, "..not an excuse to go against the constitution, to break the law...".
WTF is wrong with this dipshit?

When people get hungry and their children are starving, when debt is owed and lives are on the line over it, and when promised alternative crops never come to reality, what in the hell are these poor farmers supposed to do?
Get shot, starve, or what?
These farmers are victims of US "war on (some) drugs" policy also.





Afghan poppy industry eludes U.S. control

~snip~

Experts say more farmers are producing poppies because they have been unable to earn a living by growing other crops like wheat and vegetables. They say that the money promised by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the international community to plant these alternative crops has not materialized. Video Tour an illegal poppy farm during harvest season »

"Not only are they back to cultivating poppy because they did not receive any alternative livelihoods, but they're angry at the broken promises, and they don't trust us anymore," said Norine MacDonald of SENLIS, an international think tank focusing on drug policy.

~snip~

U.S. officials claim a lack of opportunity is no excuse for farmers to break the law.

"Look, we know you need development and that is coming, but the lack of development is not an excuse to go against the constitution, to break the law, to support the enemy," said Wankel. "I mean, that's part of the message that goes out to the people."

Wankel's goal is to wipe out enough poppy fields that farmers will think twice before they plant poppies again. Less than 10 percent were destroyed last year. The U.N. estimates that eradication of 25 percent of the poppy crop would start to turn the tide.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/07/afghanistan.poppies/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

[spindoctor]

1. I heard that they actually have stock piles now, enough to last three years at current demand

So they can spray all they want but it isn't gonna hurt the poppy farmers.

It is thought that a significant part of the poppy profits are used to finance the Taliban's cause.

So, keep fighting the war on drugs. Keep drugs illegal and the prices high. What's good for the MIC is good for all of us.