Article

2009-06-27 Afghanistan

Holbrooke: US changing Afghan drug policy

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Posted by gorb 2009-06-27 06:02|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 "Elimination of opium production has severely hampered the operational capabilities of the Taliban, depriving them of the money they need to overcome NATO soldiers. By restoring their income from the drug trade, we hope that they will be able to maintain their struggle against western forces."

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-06-27 11:20|| 2009-06-27 11:20|| Front Page Top

#2 So, how well has interdiction worked in comparison to eradication elsewhere?

Posted by Richard of Oregon 2009-06-27 11:58|| 2009-06-27 11:58|| Front Page Top

#3 This is probably a good idea but needs to be followed through with other support. For example, an opium crop can be transported from the farm on the back of a couple of donkeys with enough cash payment to last until the next year's crop.

If alternative crops are to be grown, infrastructure improvements must be made such as roads, bridges, grain storage, etc. A farmer will need to be able to harvest that crop and get it to market in sufficient quantity to earn a living. It is going to take several truck loads of wheat or maize to bring in the same amount of cash that a couple of donkey loads of opium do.

That implies the need for trucks, roads and bridges that will carry trucks, and a place to which the crop is brought for sale.

So any plan to convert the agriculture there to other crops will require a large investment in the infrastructure required to actually produce such crops on a scale where they can actually compete with opium as a viable subsistence crop for the farmers. Otherwise are are simply urinating upwind.

Posted by crosspatch 2009-06-27 20:13|| 2009-06-27 20:13|| Front Page Top

#4 I think Y'all are ignoring the price received, It seems far more likely the Opium growers will simply plant both crops, so if (Say) Wheat fails, Poppies will sustain the farm's expenses till next year.

It would be far better to simply pay a higher price than the Taliban can pay, and buy the crop.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2009-06-27 20:34|| 2009-06-27 20:34|| Front Page Top

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