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Afghanistan/South Asia |
Amnesty Weighed for Afghan Drug Smugglers |
2005-01-10 |
Afghan leaders are considering offering amnesty to drug smugglers who get out of the country's booming narcotics industry and invest their profits in national reconstruction, senior officials told The Associated Press. The proposed amnesty could blunt a U.S.-sponsored crackdown on traffickers and opium poppy farmers and raises tough ethical questions for a government also seeking reconciliation with followers of the ousted Taliban regime. Under pressure from the United States and Europe, President Hamid Karzai has declared a "holy war" against the narcotics trade, which has grown rapidly since the Taliban fell three years ago after a U.S.-led invasion. Karzai has said it is his top priority during the five-year term he won in landmark September elections. On Sunday, Karzai's office would not say whether an amnesty was being discussed. But two senior officials told the AP that debate on the proposal had begun. Karzai was "considering the issue," said Haneef Atmar, his rural development minister. "He finds it extremely difficult to bring any kind of amnesty for these people. But as a very responsible leader, he is always looking at all policy options." |
Posted by:Fred |
#9 lol! |
Posted by: 2b 2005-01-10 2:18:32 PM |
#8 What if you killed the lobster, but didn't eat it? |
Posted by: Shipman 2005-01-10 2:10:52 PM |
#7 Funny you should mention that, 2b... |
Posted by: Raj 2005-01-10 1:32:21 PM |
#6 that's like buying the lobsters in the supermarket tank and letting them go so the poor things won't be boiled alive. It does nothing but provide the lobster sellers capital to expand their markets into many other areas. Plus, you increase their supply when you throw the lobsters back. Collecting taxes from drugs that are going to be sold anyways. I think it's a good idea. More power to them. |
Posted by: 2b 2005-01-10 12:02:54 PM |
#5 So what? Buy that too, and burn it. Consider it international aid. |
Posted by: mojo 2005-01-10 11:37:27 AM |
#4 That will just encourage more to grow Mojo. |
Posted by: MacNails 2005-01-10 11:03:33 AM |
#3 Hello? How about buiying up the crop directly from the farmers? Bound to be cheaper than the drug war. |
Posted by: mojo 2005-01-10 10:57:04 AM |
#2 Legalized money laundering. |
Posted by: raptor 2005-01-10 9:52:55 AM |
#1 Um, amnesty if they use the heroin profits to rebuild something? Gee, that doesn't sound "responsible" to me, it sounds rather opportunistic and asinine. How about shoot them in the fucking head and confiscate their property and money? I like the ring of that just a wee bit better. Might even send a message, who knows? Certainly worth a try first, before trying the stupid appeasement wrist-slap thingy. |
Posted by: .com 2005-01-10 7:33:00 AM |