Afghanistan will produce another record poppy harvest this year that cements its status as the world's near-sole supplier of the heroin source, yet a furious debate over how to reverse the trend is stalling proposals to cut the crop, U.S. officials say.
As President Bush prepares for weekend talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, divisions within the U.S. administration and among NATO allies have delayed release of a $475 million counternarcotics program for Afghanistan, where intelligence officials see growing links between drugs and the Taliban, the officials said.
U.N. figures to be released in September are expected to show that Afghanistan's poppy production has risen up to 15 percent since 2006 and that the country now accounts for 95 percent of the world's crop, 3 percentage points more than last year, officials familiar with preliminary statistics told The Associated Press.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/05/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Taliban
#1
This is a fine record. Every since we've been pushing the Talibs away, just one record crop follows another. Do we not still have the recipe for Agent Orange? It has a proven record and I'm sure a coupla passes at one week intervals would shrink the poppy petals into shriveled, dry nothings. Why aren't we using it ?
#2
As the article notes, Wooz, it would drive a lot of the people there into the arms of the Talibunnies. Sometimes your choices aren't good ones.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/05/2007 2:31 Comments ||
Top||
#3
For how much money we piss away on the spectacularly unsuccessful War on Drugs, wouldn't it be cheaper just to go in and buy the entire crop at some incredibly overpriced rate that the Mafias will not pay? Take the crap and burn it or sell it at a loss to hospices and drug manufacturers.
Enough of this pissing and moaning about a drug that only the most imbecilic lunatic would bother to ingest. Hell, follow the European model where they dispense it free to the existing addict population and let them kill themselves off. Think how the Mafia would take it in the shorts big time if an entire Afghan opium crop was taken off of the market in one fell swoop.
#4
We cannot go on supporting Karzai. At least twice, he has attacked NATO bombing of targets where his beloved Pashto drug dealers reside. And he directs his troops - and their NATO allies - away from the poppy fields. In stark contrast, there is major poppy eradication being done in the other growers region, north of Kabul.
And Karzai is favoring his Pashtos, even though Taliban gets its 10% take of heroin revenues.
Prior to Taliban, Afghanistan exported raw opium; now it is a major heroin producer. Under our watch, Helmand District is supplying the bulk of the European market. US supplies come from Sinaloa, Mexico, and the Far East.
We don't need this crap one bit. When the full story gets out, the Hillarys and Obamas are going to feast on this issue. Whether we do a Somoza on Karzai, or whatever, he is toast.
#6
They're capitalist. They want to make money to feed their families and make life a little better for them. Build friggin bio-mass gas processing plants in Afghanistan and start making fuel. At least you'll get more than paying US farmers for not planting crops as done for generations.
#7
Maybe the problem is on the demand side and not the supply side. If the price of heroin dropped, I suspect these farmers would grow something else. So who's the final buyer of all this horse and how do we break 'em? Focusing on demand is how China killed the pium trade. Give repression a chance.
#10
We've got 3 ideas on the board.
1. Agent orange.
2. Buy the entire crop.
3. Intercept the incoming buyers.
Number one is easy, and number three may be quite difficult. If we could control the market by intercepting the buyers, that would be the way to go with this, but I don't think we can. So, number 1 it is with an offer to make financial arrangements to support the farm with crop changes from here on out.
We simply cannot allow this crop to reach the customers.
#11
So, number 1 it is with an offer to make financial arrangements to support the farm with crop changes from here on out.
We simply cannot allow this crop to reach the customers.
wxjames, from all appearances it seems you meant to go with the second suggestion, which I made. If so, I thank you for including the crop change out cycle. It was something I was musing on as well. Unfortunately, poppies pay more than any other normal bulk agricultural crop so there are few alternatives.
As Steve noted, we probably do not want to drop the hammer on this right now because it will polarize things during a most fragile period. The article's crop worth estimate of 38 billion dollars probably breaks down to the final sale price of 90% diluted street bags so I'd think the entire crop could be bought for a few billion. We spend that much in a month or two in Iraq so diverting this crop with a small expenditure makes a whole lot of sense.
The big issue is finding an incentive to make the farmers change crops. I have little doubt that poppy corruption reaches to the very highest levels in Afghanistan's government. That sort of money usually creates the same narco-politics seen in Columbia. We need to figure out some sort of really high value crop (i.e., specialty spices or herbs, cashmere goats, angora rabbits, artisan rugs, etc.) and put in place mechanisms for change over and, eventually, adequate law enforcement to interdict the flow.
While Bobby makes an important point regarding this being Europe's problem, they will do absolutely squat about it. We need to choke off the numerous layers of criminal enterprise that profit from all this human misery. That profit reaches our shores via Russian mafias, bankrolled by overseas operations. In truth, Nimble Spemble has the real solution. Buy the crop and distribute to our nation's junkie population. Make heroin so cheap that the bottom drops out of the market. The reduced crime rates, lower incarceration levels and decreased confinement costs would probably pay for the whole operation. Sadly, our nation still has many lingering Puritanical issues over such an apparently hedonistic approach.
As I mentioned before, if people want to blow their brains out with one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs there is to use, I say let 'em. There's no stopping addicted humans from getting their fix. Provide ready rehab and counseling at the distribution points along with fresh needles and supervised consumption areas. This would also reduce the spread of AIDS, hepatitis and a host of other needle-related diseases.
Not pretty? Try touring a "shooting gallery" sometime. You'll swear God's on vacation when you do. Human beings are unsurpassed at self-inflicting the worst sorts of misery in their lives. They are also one of the most clever species at thwarting the efforts of everything short of a police state. This is proven in both Afghanistan and here at home. It's time to rethink our drink.
#12
I believe I've been misinterpreted. My solution is capital punishment for all those found with heroin on their person or in their blood stream. No parole, no appeal, no exception. In the absence of imposing this sentence judicially, I suggest tainting the product with poison as early in the process and as often as possible. If these junkies want to die early, why not let the government help?
The only other workable alternative is legalization. Frankly, I'm indifferent.
#14
The only other workable alternative is legalization.
Didn't mean to misinterpret you, NS, but per your suggestions, legalizationin the absence of murdering a portion of our population with government collusionis one of the only ways to remove the profit motive that drives organized crime. Be sure that such a program would have to undergo restrictions and prohibitions that'd make alcohol regulation look like licensing a cotton candy booth. Eliminating any capital gain remains one of the only ways to exclude criminal elements.
#15
My solution is capital punishment for all those found with heroin on their person or in their blood stream. No parole, no appeal, no exception.
So, a young prostitute who has been unwillingly injected with heroin by her pimp in order to make her complaintthat runs to the policeshould be executed? A youth at a party who unknowingly smokes a joint laced with powdered heroin should be given the needle? Welcome to Singapore.
#16
We need to help Afghan farmers find alternatives to poppy and keep the Taleban from forcing them to grow it. Spirit of America is trying to help them to grow other crops like saffron.
#17
The solution is simple: tell the Afghan farmer that we will guarantee him a profit for any crop except poppies. Also tell him that if he raises poppies, we will come in and destroy his entire crop, and he gets nothing. Start moving troops and equipment into areas within the poppy cultivation area, and crack down HARD on the talibunnies. Shoot Karzai if he pitches a tantrum. We're in this da$$ed war for OUR good, not theirs, and it's about time our prerequisites are met, not some stupid "let's all go along to get along" bull. Oh, and pack the entire State department, Condi and all, up and ship them to Afghanistan for several 'brutal Afghan winters'. Those that survive MAY get the chance to come home...
Our whole problem with the islamic mind is that we're too nice. They don't respect nice, they only respect power. Time to show them who's the meanest, nastiest SOBs on the planet unless people do things that don't make us angry.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/05/2007 19:07 Comments ||
Top||
#18
Spirit of America is trying to help them to grow other crops like saffron.
Which is a great choice. At a retail cost of $1,000 per pound, the wholesale price could easily rival what the farmers receive for their raw tar. Also, saffron is a prized spice throughout the entire Islamic world and therefore does not carry any implications of appeasing the West or being forced to rely upon its consumption of the crop.
We have a bunch of junkies in our midst who will do anything for an illegal fix. So they steal and do whatever necessary to meet the demands of the crooks who supply them. To fix this problem we have to bomb the crop of an Afghan farmer with Agent Orange!
It's crazy. The problem is not the farmer in Afghanistan. It's the junkie here and our unwillingness to let him shoot up. One of those things needs to change. Then, when the profit disappears, all the middle men will disappear. Until then, there's still a dollar to be made by those so stupid they get in the drug business.
#20
So, a young prostitute who has been unwillingly injected with heroin by her pimp in order to make her complaintthat runs to the policeshould be executed? A youth at a party who unknowingly smokes a joint laced with powdered heroin should be given the needle? Welcome to Singapore.
Funny how you're up to making exceptions when it's drugs, but not when it comes to muslims...
#24
Zen, re #22.... may not seem like that at present time and someone can pull out stats that would present drug abuse as far more dangerous in the present context. That being said... people can get off drugs. But say you live in an Islamic state and try to get off Islam. Authorities would facilitate your wish expediently and terminally.
God forbid the Islam with its sharia jurisprudence should win... then the drug problem would seem like a no problem at all.
CAIRO - Egypt will lift by next June the state of emergency in place for more than 25 years, even if new anti-terrorist legislation is not passed, Judicial Affairs Minister Mufid Shehab was quoted on Saturday as saying. Whether the law on terrorism is passed by this date or not, the government will lift the state of emergency by the end of June 2008, Shehab said, according to state news agency Mena. The new legislation is set to be presented to the National Assembly before that date, he added.
Suckers.
During presidential elections in 2005, President Hosni Mubarak pledged to lift the state of emergency, but a year later said it would remain in force until new anti-terrorism legislation was passed.
Suckers.
The state of emergency was first proclaimed in 1967. It was briefly lifted in 1980 for eighteen months, before being reimposed after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat by Islamist militants.
Opposition parties and non-governmental organisations fear that any new legislation will also attack human rights. Last March, rights group Amnesty International criticised an amendment to the constitution, proposed by Mubarak, that would enable the authorities to arrest suspects, search their homes, intercept their mail and eavesdrop their conversations without a judicial mandate.
You mean Mubarak & Son would pass laws to perpetuate their thugocracy?
Egypt has also been slammed at home and abroad over recent revelations of torture in police stations, and has routinely been criticised for its arbitrary arrests of dissidents and restrictions on civil society.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/05/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Yeah, and the check's in the mail...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/05/2007 19:07 Comments ||
Top||
A biosecurity failure at a research laboratory has been pinpointed as the likeliest source of Britain's foot and mouth outbreak. An inquiry by scientists is centring on fears that the virus escaped from the Pirbright laboratory site in Surrey, the only centre licensed to work with the foot and mouth virus. It is feared that the virus, carried on the wind, infected cattle grazing in a field three miles away.
A private pharmaceuticals company, Merial Animal Health, which has been developing a foot and mouth vaccine, shares the Pirbright site with the government-funded Institute for Animal Health (IAH), which holds 5,000 strains of the virus.
The Institute of Animal Health director Martin Shirley today said the IAH operated under strict bio-security procedures licensed by Defra, and there had been no breaches of the laboratory's strict biosecurity procedures.
Continued on Page 49
JERUSALEM - Israel is considering plans to build a nuclear power station in its southern Negev desert, the Israeli infrastructure minister was quoted as saying on Saturday. Israels Army Radio quoted the minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, as saying at an engineers conference: The Israeli government will make a historical decision concerning the creation of a nuclear power station ... in the Negev. The Ministry of Infrastructure was unavailable for comment on the report, which appeared on Army Radios website.
Army Radio said the plan to build the nuclear power plant was supported by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and would be considered by the government in a few months. A spokesman from Olmerts office declined to comment.
In the Army Radio report, Ben Eliezer said the decision to build a nuclear power station stemmed in part from Israeli concerns about depleting natural energy resources worldwide and the environmental damage caused by using coal.
And their ability to get oil and coal.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/05/2007 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
And their ability to get oil and coal.
Ditto.
It's going to be a magnet for all of Iran's new fighter jets. Maybe the Evil Zionists wouldn't mind that, but it's going to be a problem. If for some reason they don't actually have any nukes, this could change all that, so let the whining commence. I wonder what the US and others will have to say about this compared to Iran's desire to set one up for Peaceful Purposes(TM) only.
#2
If they do build such a plant, hopefully its design will recognize the threat and make it very, very hard to destroy in such a way as to release radioactive material.
#6
Another way to look at it - how many weapons would they have to take out of inventory to run a nuke plant?
None. Dimona produces enough plutonium each year for 5-10 weapons, or enough to fuel two reactors AND four or five weapons. I'd also expect the Israelis to use some of that power to build and operate two or three desalination plants to make the Negev bloom. That, too, with be a beam in the eyes of and extreme humilation to the paleostains.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/05/2007 21:37 Comments ||
Top||
A US space probe named Phoenix Mars Lander was successfully launched early on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and began its nine-month journey to Mars, where it will dig for clues to past and present life.
The lander blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a Delta II rocket at 5:36 am (0936 GMT) in a flawless launch that illuminated the dark night sky. Phoenix had been originally scheduled to launch on Friday, but the mission was postponed 24 hours after bad weather Tuesday prevented fueling of the two-stage rocket. If everything goes as planned, Phoenix should complete its 680 million kilometer (422 million mile) 420-million-dollar journey to Mars on May 25, 2008.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2007 11:34 ||
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Link ||
[6 views]
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#1
where it will dig for clues to past and present life.
For phuechs sake! How about a hand to bridge builders the scuba divers up in Minneapolis who are "digging for clues" for life in the Mississippi River. Sad, so very sad.
#2
re #1. The pork projects in the transportation bills would have more than paid for infrastucture rehab. Polititians have a poor record w/r to engineering & transportation planning. I would make a bet that the MinnDOT engineers wanted to rehab that structure long ago but the politicians wanted Rapid Transit and bike path widening instead so they decided to "study" the problem while they built their pet projects.
In addition, the Transportation bill stalled in congress has had a very negative efect on both state and federally funded projects. The moneys are then prioitized (what is not diverted by politico's via earmarks). The federal money is present but the Transportation bill not funded (more than onece in recent years, both parties to blame). Throw in state level politico's that want the road to their cabin paved and you get a bridge in the water.
Summary: Stealing moneys from DOD or NASA would not solve the problem as the problems are the process and are systemic rather than primarily funding. I would make a bet that the MinnDOT engineers would have delt with this and other problems long ago if allowed.
NOTE: Consultants are not neccessarily the solution to the problem. Politicians just don't want to hear bad news from competent State employee's so spend millions for outside studies that will hopefully give them the news they want.
#3
Mostly agree, TT8048, except - so they decided to "study" the problem while they built their pet projects. No. Plenty of that goes on, but that's not why the bridge fell.
"Structurally Deficient" is not anywhere near "dangerous". The thosands of structurally deficient bridges are not dangerous, either. It might just mean, "We don't build 'em that way anymore." The first thing that happens is the bridges get "posted" with a load limit, like many rural roads.
When a 100-year old bridge that is posted at 20,000 pounds (max) gets a lost truck weighing 80,000 lbs, sometimes the driver makes it. Often he does not.
Maybe somebody missed something on an inspection, or perhaps it was some unusual loads from the repair work. Usually, failures like this are a result of several small issues that were not harmful. The Titanic could've survived the iceberg hit, if the bulkheads went all the way to the top, or the Captain had not been running so fast, or the steel was not so brittle, or the rivets were not so bad, and there were lifeboats for everybody. But other than that, it was the iceberg.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/05/2007 17:47 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Bobby, I concur with your comments but I have some suspicion about this case just because it is on an annual inspection sequence and it has had at least one major study done recently. The folks in the bridge section of a state DOT don't usually spend that kind of money casually.
I'm afraid my distrust of political policys w/r to engineering decisions is showing. In some cases I have seen the political project sucks the away such that what might be a easily funded maintenance or replacement project gets put on the back burner unless that expensive consultant says it is critical.
Back to the subject at hand -- It's nice to see good scientific research being done and most younger folks have no idea how much the world has changed due to the spin-offs of the space program over the decades.
WASHINGTON - Declaring a new direction in energy policy, the House on Saturday approved $16 billion in taxes on oil companies, while providing billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy and conservation efforts. Sooo, I guess the Democrats really do want to see gasolene and oil product prices skyrocket. Taxpayer funded boondogles for the "alternative energy" cultists. This is bad legislation. I hope it doesn't pass the Senate.
Republican opponents said the legislation ignored the need to produce more domestic oil, natural gas and coal. One GOP lawmaker bemoaned "the pure venom ... against the oil and gas industry." Can I get an Amen?
The House passed the tax provisions by a vote of 221-189. Earlier it had approved, 241-172, a companion energy package aimed at boosting energy efficiency and expanding use of biofuels, wind power and other renewable energy sources.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/05/2007 10:44 ||
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[2 views]
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#1
Anyone know what precisely is taxed? Local production or at the point of sale?
#4
I listen to Larry Kudlow, so I am qualitied to teach Retail 101.
When a tax is imposed upon a corporation, the corporation can either reduce the dividend paid to stockholders, or increase the price of their goods. Corporations that pay no dividends have no choice. Conclusion : The price of gas at the punp will directly reflect the increase in taxation, and you and I, fellow citizens will pay that tax.
To the Congress I say; Election day, 2008 is approaching. Your ass is grass and we are the fuckin lawnmower.
#5
Mark my words. By 2009 there will be viable electric personal transportation for the average American consumer. There are plenty of reasons for naysaying, but trust me, it will happen.
#8
Congress could open more US territory to energy exploration, but that's off the table. Imported petroleum prices will rise very very high no matter what our esteemed and exalted congressional representatives do. Congress is taxing the companies which produce or deliver the products, this effort is always popular among the ignorant, Congress dare not tax at the point of sale lest their incumbency status be adversely affected. The tax breaks & incentives are merely boondoggles for special interests, and if they accomplish anything, will only waste more energy resources than they produce. Peak Oil is either in operation now, or very close to starting. Get your summer driving in while you still can.
#9
This is nothing but a stunt by the Dems. They are counting on GWB to veto it and save them from their stupidity.
That way they can go back to the Kos Kids and say "Look! We tried, but that evil BushHitler kept us from doing what you wanted. Please send more money!"
Pray we do not get a Democratic president in 2008.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
08/05/2007 14:43 Comments ||
Top||
#10
Could someone photo shop a barn full of Methane Gas Cows with gas reclaimers over their butts and mouths, similar similar to a milk barn?
Then put a dome above the barn similar to the Congress building. And, and, and then put Reid, Polosi, and Murtha faces on them and one blue ribbon gas cow with Kennedy's face on that one?
Well, drop the faces, I need to send this in to Congress to get an appropriation of, oh maybe 10 million dollars for this alternative fuels project, don't you know.
This congress would buy that bs idea, so I'm cashing in!
#11
We already have brand new "standards" for "energy saving" appliances. As a result, Consumer Reports is unable to recommend a new washing machine - at all. None work as good as last year's models, but they do use less electricity. I feel so much better!
Like the early low-flush toilets - they use less water each flush, sure, but ya gotta flush 'em two or three times.
Genius.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/05/2007 16:33 Comments ||
Top||
#13
These alternative and "renewable" energy sources are not economically viable so the Government, in it's infinate wisdom, will force taxpayers to throw money down a black money hole. These things will be more economical once the Government has destroyed the oil companies through killer taxation. There are only two sources of energy that are profitable at the moment. These two are also the most efficient sources. They are fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Until someone can find a way to make ethanol as efficient as gassolene that will continue to be treu except for governmental intervention on the side of ethanol. At what point do we, as taxpayers, discontinue the practice of subsidizing alternative energy sources? We won't. It's a cash cow for congressional pals and a sure-fire way to get the votes of the Gaia First crowd.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/05/2007 17:41 Comments ||
Top||
#14
The second paragraph (all of it) of the Declaration of Independence is looking better and better all the time, even with the extreme disruption of virtually everything that will occur. The current Democrap party doesn't have a combined IQ above the "moron" stage. Their willingness to do stupid things for partisan political gain make them unfit to participate in government (this also holds true for a few dozen Repuglycons as well). One of those unbreakable laws of nature is that if you push too hard, something will give. The Dummycritters are pushing way too hard against too many different points. Expect some tension to be released - very soon.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/05/2007 21:28 Comments ||
Top||
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Afghanistan will produce another record poppy harvest this year that cements its status as the world's near-sole supplier of the heroin source, yet a furious debate over how to reverse the trend is stalling proposals to cut the crop, U.S. officials say.
CAIRO - Egypt will lift by next June the state of emergency in place for more than 25 years, even if new anti-terrorist legislation is not passed, Judicial Affairs Minister Mufid Shehab was quoted on Saturday as saying. Whether the law on terrorism is passed by this date or not, the government will lift the state of emergency by the end of June 2008, Shehab said, according to state news agency Mena. The new legislation is set to be presented to the National Assembly before that date, he added.
JERUSALEM - Israel is considering plans to build a nuclear power station in its southern Negev desert, the Israeli infrastructure minister was quoted as saying on Saturday. Israels Army Radio quoted the minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, as saying at an engineers conference: The Israeli government will make a historical decision concerning the creation of a nuclear power station ... in the Negev. The Ministry of Infrastructure was unavailable for comment on the report, which appeared on Army Radios website.
A US space probe named Phoenix Mars Lander was successfully launched early on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and began its nine-month journey to Mars, where it will dig for clues to past and present life.
WASHINGTON - Declaring a new direction in energy policy, the House on Saturday approved $16 billion in taxes on oil companies, while providing billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy and conservation efforts.
