LOWDOWN - After 11 years of U.S. military operations, Afghanistan produces 90 percent of the world's poppies and 75 percent of the planet's heroin.
After 11 years of war, $664 billion spent, 2,210 Americans dead, more than 35,000 of our troops maimed and shattered, and our good reputation spent — what have we built in Afghanistan?
According to a top international law enforcement official, you and I are building “the world’s first true narco-state.” Congratulations! “The opium trade,” he added, “is a much bigger part of the [Afghan] economy already than narcotics ever were in Bolivia or Colombia.”
You might recall that under both George W. Bush’s and Barack Obama’s war strategies, eliminating Afghanistan’s poppy production was one of America’s chief goals. That crop generates billions of dollars in annual income for the Taliban insurgency we’ve been fighting — and it fuels drug addiction here and around the world.
To combat the drug trade, Washington followed a three-part strategy.
- We destroyed thousands of acres of opium poppies.
- We tried to shift the country’s impoverished farmers to wheat and other alternative crops.
- We paid million-dollar “Good Performers” awards to provinces that achieved the coveted poppy-free status.
So, 11 years later, mission accomplished?
The numbers tell the tale: For the third year in a row, Afghanistan’s poppy cultivation has increased.
The country’s acreage devoted to poppies this year is expected to set a record. Only one province has reduced its poppy plantings this spring while they rose in 12 other regions. Three previously poppy-free provinces will likely lose that status this year.
Finally, ponder these statistics: Afghanistan is expected to produce 90 percent of the world’s opium plus 75 percent of the planetary heroin supply.
Wait, here’s one more tell-tale stat: An Afghan farmer can get 43 cents a kilogram for wheat, or $203 a kilogram for poppies. Which would you choose?
Our war in Afghanistan makes no sense whatsoever.
Why are we there?
(Columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker. He's also editor of the populist newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown. This column provided CityWatch by OtherWords.org)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 36
Pub: May 3, 2013
