According to a White House report, Afghanistan is now on the verge of becoming a "drug state." Three years after the invasion, we have basically turned the country into a haven for the drug lords and their poppy farmers.

and this is not from some pinko commie rag that Ezra or I would read - it's from a friggin White House Report . . . from the BUSH White House. Blame that on Bill Clinton.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7090585/

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Afhganistan has always been a drug state. This is not new.

We've just allowed capitalism and free markets to floursh.

We need to burn the poppy fields.

Intersting thing, Wolf, is that the Taliban - using American funds - had actually significantly cut drug production, especially in the northern provinces. Which is probably why the war lords up there were among our strongest allies in getting the Taliban out.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Hopefully I'll be somewhere downwind.
The idea that the US is anti-drug is like saying FOX news is fair and balanced. Sure they'll spray a little paraquat on some field of weed, so they can get some video clips for the news, to make the viewers feel that the super expensive war on drugs is well worth your hard earned tax dollars. But is it? The US did bring down Pablo Escobar back in the 90's, but how did they do it? by funding and arming rival drug lords. And what did this do to the cocaine market? It made coke a lot cheaper!
Plan Colombia was a plan to spray thousands of acres of rainforest with toxic herbicide to defoliate the tree's and make cocaine labs easier to find. Contracted chemical companies made millions from selling the govt. the herbicide, but what percentage of the cocaine distribution was effected? Zero. After 9/11 and all of the heavy duty security at airports, did the drug flow come to a screeching halt? Hell no, it didn't skip a beat.
Manuel Noriega was trafficking drugs back in 1972. Did the US try to arrest him then? Nope, he was still a CIA employee then. Bush sr's predecessor let him go for this reason, but when Bush became VP, he was rehired, with a nice healthy raise. There's much more, but I need to open up some wine and make some dinner.

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I am Boutros Boutros-Gali, put down your guns and listen to Bob Marley.
- Boutros Boutros-Gali

On topic, the warlords/druglords will overthrow out hand-chosen government in Kabul. Meanwhile, they fill our streets with heroin . . . which is probably an improvement over crack (according to police officials).

Ah, more of my unintended consequences (at least I hope they were unintended).

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

yeah, it's probably much easier to beat the **** out of a guy nodding out on heroin then it is to beat a guy hopped up on crack

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I am Boutros Boutros-Gali, put down your guns and listen to Bob Marley.
- Boutros Boutros-Gali

Yup. I've actually read that police officials are happy that smack is back. Just a bunch of stoned, nodding junkies. Crack addicts get up, run around, bash heads, bash car windows, etc.

Junkies just nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

And just what are they laying the groundwork for THIS TIME?

A U.S.-funded drug rehad program for Afghanistan, a new War on Drugs in Afghanistan, and a Just Say No program for Afghani kids.

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PGP key: 0xB69AE59B
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| "When you choose your friends, don't get
| short-changed by choosing personality
| over character." ... - W. Somerset Maugham
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If we wanted to win the *war* on drugs, it would have been won long ago.

So you got a choice, the Taliban, or the drug lords, whats the better of two eveils.

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"Outside of the battlefield, your enemy can be your friend"...Kojiiro.

Evil unchecked grows. Evil Tolerated, poisens the entire system.