Inside The Afghan Poppy Wars

Is The U.S.-Led War On Drugs In Afghanistan Undermining The War On Terror?

(CBS)  It's one of the most critical battles in the war on terror, fought not on the ground in Iraq, but in the poppy fields of Afghanistan. More than one half of Afghanistan's economy is based on the opium trade. U.N. figures show 93 percent of the world's opium comes from that country's poppy fields. And the Taliban is estimated to have earned as much as 100 million dollars last year from the poppy trade. The U.S. has spent ten times as much trying to wipe out the problem - with little to show for it. Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian looks at a billion-dollar program.

---

It's been called the world's deadliest flower.

"Because that flower turns into heroin, which turns into money," said Eric Sherepita. "That money turns into weapons used against us."

Sherepita spent a year supervising a small army of private contractors and hundreds of Afghans cutting down fields of poppies all over the country - at a cost of more than $6,800 per acre.

But despite their best efforts and more than a billion in taxpayer dollars poured into the war on drugs on all fronts since 2004 - poppy production is up 300 percent in the last six years. It now totals more than 470,000 acres.

Former Assistant Secretary of State Robert Charles, who authored the poppy program, now tells CBS News it missed because it never went on the offensive.

"What we are looking at in Afghanistan is a colossal missed opportunity," Charles said.

"My biggest fear was that we would end up where we are today: with record harvests and just 10 percent of the crop eradicated; one-third of what experts say is needed to make a difference," Charles said.

And Charles is hardly alone. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told Congress: "I think it's patently obvious we have not been successful in the counter-narcotics effort in Afghanistan."

In the end, it appears the only big winners are private military contractors like DynCorp -- paid over $200 million to destroy these fields. But even contractor Sherepita, who believes in the program, sees the anger it feeds.

"Sometimes you'd meet with the locals. They'd be, you know, kind of furious. You know you're takin' money and food out of their mouths," Sherepita said.

"I've talked to elderly people who have said they might as well have just run over me with the tractor, because how am I going to feed my family?" said Norine MacDonald.

For the last three years, MacDonald has lived among Southern Afghans and seen the U.S. poppy policy backfire, she says, from the ground up. Watching farmers who had their fields wiped out switch their sympathies to the Taliban.

"The U.S.-led war on drugs in Southern Afghanistan is undermining the war on terror. It's absolutely conclusive," MacDonald said.

MacDonald's European-based advocacy group - the Senlis Council - proposed an alternative: A pilot project where farmers grow poppies legally, to produce morphine for medical use.

While there's growing support abroad for her idea - it met a stone wall at the State Department.

CBS News wanted to talk to the State Department official in charge of the poppy program, Ambassador Thomas Schweich, but he canceled a scheduled interview at the last minute. The government said no one else could do it because no one else feels comfortable talking about the subject.

Little wonder. Despite all the money spent trying to eliminate their cash crop, U.S. military analysts say the Taliban is growing in strength.

EDITOR’S NOTE: CBS News incorrectly reported that Thomas Schweich was at the State Department when this story originally aired on June 25, 2008. Schweich left his job five days earlier.

While still serving at the State Department as the Coordinator for Counter Narcotics and Justice Reform in Afghanistan, Ambassador Schweich cancelled a scheduled interview with CBS News. Earlier, he had offered to do an interview once he left the Bush Administration. However, CBS News wanted an interview with a State Department official accountable for the program and declined Schweich's offer.

[feelfree4u]

Leave it to CBS Newz to frame this story exactly backwards.

Re: "Is The U.S.-Led War On Drugs In Afghanistan Undermining The War On Terror?"

The imbecilic "War on Terror" against Afghanistan has resulted in opium production there to go from negligable, under Taliban rule, to some 93% of the total global supply.

This monumental "own-goal" in the "War on Drugs" shows once and for all that this effort is a complete farce, and is totally ineffective/counterproductive.

Besides that though, you can be sue that Uncle Sam is getting his cut, and using the proceeds to help fund al-CIA''duh operations.

[feelfree4u]

Last year was the deadliest year yet in Afghanistan, ond casualties are already up another 50% this year.

Are we winning?

If so, what?

[feelfree4u]

Following the events of 9/11/01, Taliban officials offered to hand over CIA asset, Osama bin Laden, to face charges. Their only condition was that U.S. officials present evidence of Osama''s involvement in these attacks. The Bush regime declined, because they had no such evidence, and because they intended to attack the people of Afghanistan regardless of whether or not they were involved in the 9/11 events.

What the Bush regime wanted, was to resume opium production (which was negligible under the Taliban), and to pave the way for the construction of a pipeline through Afghanistan, so that they could extract the hydrocarbon resources from the region.

Knowing that massive casualties in Afghanistan would sap U.S. public support for the invasion, the Bush regime chose to use the warlords of the region as proxy fighters. Large rewards offered by the U.S. led to innocent people being handed over to be tortured by U.S. agents in Afghanistan, Guantanimo Bay, and elsewhere.

These warlords/druglords now comprise the vast majority of officials in the subsequently installed parliament, Afghanistan is the center of global opium production, and former Unocal executive, Hamid Karzai, has been installed as the puppet ruler of the country.

We have no legitimate business in Afghanistan.

Re: "Is The U.S.-Led War On Drugs In Afghanistan Undermining The War On Terror?"
-------------------------------------
It ain''t the US led war on drugs that''s undermining anything. It''s the resources sucked into the US led war to turn Iraq into an oil colony that''s undermining everything!!

[oneworldusa]

If we have no legitimate business in Afghanistan it is because Bin Laden is in Pakistan.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "...it appears the only big winners are private military contractors like DynCorp -- paid over $200 million to destroy these fields."

Certainly DynCorp is getting their cut.

Child *** slave trafficing and war profitteering is the DynCorp way.

This organization should be disbanded and their assets liquidated to help pay reparations to their many plunder victims.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "If we have no legitimate business in Afghanistan it is because Bin Laden is in Pakistan."

Posted by OneWorldUSA


Nope. Osama is most likely long dead, and is irrelevant since there is no credible evidence suggesting that he was involved in the 9/11/01 attacks.

The plan to attack and invade Afghanistan was in the works well ahead of the attacks of 9/11/01. In fact, the final invasion plan was on George''s desk, 2 days prior to these attacks.

Many of us will recall that the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan even offered to capture Osama bin Laden and turn him over for trial, if the Western leaders could provide evidence of his involvement in the 9/11/01 attacks.

The Bush regime did not provide this evidence, because they did not have any, and because they were already determined to wage a war of aggression against Afghanistan no matter what, and to install a compliant puppet (see- Hamid Karzai).

We have no legitimate business in Afghanistan, and we should apologize, withdraw, and figure out a way to begin reparations payments to the people of that country.

Our focus must be to bring Bush regime officials and accomplices before a war crimes tribunal.

[gkc99]

In Afghanistan, it is Alcohol that is the evil drug with no redeeming social values. Opium and Hasheesh are more accepted.

So how many people die from Alcohol, which the US government makes billions of dollars from? How many die from Opium and Hasheesh?

And which country has the government that makes more money from drug dealing?

[dirtyheg]

The real terriost is the idiot who approved $6800.00 per acre to destroy the poppy fields. To suggest that the farmers are pissed and joining the Talaban because thier crops were destroyed is an understatement. If I was one of those farmers and I was not compensated after some moron was paid $6800.00 per acre for a 1 hour job I would join the Talaban also. Does any one in the goverment have any commom sense? And what about you reporters? Why are you not asking these common sense questions? Are you afraid of losing your job? What are the farmers actual getting for thier crops, $200 per acre or so?

[feelfree4u]

I don''t believe that Osama, or any sophisticated foreign "TERRA" network (other than maybe the Pakistani ISI and the Israeli Mossad) had anything to do with the events of 9/11/01, so there is no valid justification for us being there, in my opinion.


We invaded Afghanistan to:

A. Further destabilize that country

B. Revive global opium production (which was negligible under Taliban rule)

C. Establish a military launch point for a campaign of aggression in the region (see Iraq)

D. Provide an overseas location to develop U.S. torture programs and secret prisons

E. Install a U.S. corporate-friendly puppet-ruler to plunder the resources of the region (see former Unocal executive and "Mayor of Kabul", Hamid Karzai)

F. Create a state of never-ending and unwinnable "war", for profit

Based on these criteria, much of the "Mission" has been "Accomplished".

Best of luck to the people of Afghanistan to unaccomplish it.

[dirtyheg]

What ever happen to the "investigative reporter"? Are all of you waiting out side Brittany Spears house to try to get a beaver shot? Are you really that controlled? How can you feed us this *** with a straight face Ask the *** questions?

[undermyboot]

Another perfect example of incompetence and war-profiteering greed. Instead of paying $200M to Bush supporting corporations, pay the Afghan farmers to BUY THEIR POPPYS (then destroy them). Pay them twice as much as the Taliban pays. It would COST THE SAME as the failed "eradication" program, and eliminate the drug problem while keeping the Afghan people from going over to the enemy.

The $200 Million it would cost to buy the poppys would be 1/10 the cost of the war on drugs once the crop reaches the USA.

It will never happen while Bush and his corporate raiders (of thbe US Treasury) are sucking our tax money.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "CBS News wanted to talk to the State Department official in charge of the poppy program, Ambassador Thomas Schweich. But he canceled a scheduled interview with CBS News at the last minute. And the agency said no one else could do it because no one else feels comfortable talking about the subject."

Sounds like a bunch of useless chickensit losers.

Probably too lit up on Afghan smack.

Clearly a waste of precious tax revenue.

[sharondifior]

Weapons of mass destruction would eradicate all of the problems. *** you Mu-slimes- Sharon @ Exhibit Source, Inc

[sharondifior]

Weapons of mass destruction would eradicate all of the problems. *** you Mu-slimes- Sharon @ Exhibit Source, Inc

[sistatee-2009]

Stopping the drug flow from Afghanistan won''t be easy since the CIA controls it.

[sidvicious95]

Drug laws are local. You can''t enforce drug laws in foreign countries. You have to go their police and ask them to. You got no jurisdiction.

[sidvicious95]

Thats why we have trade barriers.

[sidvicious95]

America once had the highest of standards. The highest! Employees making more than minimum wage. Goods that were safe! And consumer friendly. And served a purpose! But since this international obsession we''ve had nothing but problems. And not just opium! Lead paint! Cancer causing agents! Psychopathic agents.. Everything is just going down the shyyythole because some ceo wants to manufacture overseas.

[sidvicious95]

They don''t have standards over there. Why should they?

[formrusmcsgt]

Time after time we see that the administration hasn''t a clue about achieving an objective.

They want a given result, but through sheer ignorance and ineptitude, end up with just the opposite.

[beehive21-2009]

It''s time to burn the poppy fields,who making the $$$ , Bush ? Burn em ? or die, overdosing is big among teens ?

[terrorislami]

do you not love it whe the left wingnut koolaid drinking barking moonbats feign outrage over the availablility of drugs,,, LOL

hahaha

good one,,,

[stevex47]

Limbaugh is their biggest middleman/user. He has a direct line to kabul !

[middleman8]

Over the last 40 years I have heard the U S blame just about every country in the world ( especially the poor countries )for the US drug problem. Its about time they lay-ed the blame where it belongs, Right in the G O U S A .

[terrorislami]

Posted by middleman8 at 10:25 PM : Jun 25, 2008

many countries have the DEATH PENALTY for those caught with drugs,,,

[stevex47]

Makes me think of that movie "midnite run"?

[terrorislami]

Posted by stevex47 at 10:30 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Midnight Express (1978)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077928/

Story of a man who is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison. Inspired from and dramatized upon a true event.

[nearl4511]

If Afghanistan wants a trhiving economy and to remove impetus for dissention and unrest, they need money coming into ovt coffers from every industry they can....including illicit drugs.

Unless there is some replacement for this lucrative business, they should regulate and tax it into prosperity. After all, do they not want autonomy or do they want forever to have the US as a protectorate?

It after all is the economy (stupid).

[ubrew12]

Nearl4511 said: "It after all is the economy(stupid)."

You''d think Republicans, of all people, would understand the ''invisible hand''. Or, is that just cr*p they sell the rest of us to keep us in our place?

[ubrew12]

stevex47 said: "Makes me think of that movie "midnite run"?" To this day, one of the few movies that can scare the h*ll out of you about how cruel the rest of the world can be. Truly, a nightmare voyage.

[terrorislami]

Posted by ubrew12 at 10:57 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Midnight Express (1978)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077928/

Story of a man who is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison. Inspired from and dramatized upon a true event.

[terrorislami]

do you not love it whe the left wingnut koolaid drinking barking moonbats feign outrage over the availablility of drugs,,, LOL

hahaha

good one,,,

[alphaa10-2009]

So Bush finally has discovered Afghanistan is a battle for hearts and minds?

How many years did it take him to grasp al Qaeda took refuge in Afghanistan, not Iraq?

And how long before Bush understood he dropped the ball when given the chance to kill or capture bin Laden at least three times?

[haoli25]

Now we know where he plans to build ''Crawford II''.

[terrorislami]

Posted by BajaJohn1 at 11:18 PM : Jun 25, 2008

no hablo inglis, cabeza de la mierda

[terrorislami]

Posted by BajaJohn1 at 11:33 PM : Jun 25, 2008

su madre y su padre,,,

[terrorislami]

Posted by copyat5 at 11:47 PM : Jun 25, 2008

ummmmmm nancy,,, it is the DEMONIC-RAT DOCTRINE,,,

On February 16, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On February 14, 1945, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region.

The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January 1980, which stated that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union%u2014the Cold War adversary of the United States%u2014from seeking hegemony in the Persian Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed "a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil," Carter proclaimed:

Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force. (full speech)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

[ubrew12]

copyat5 said: "If Obama wins (and he is our only hope) he will have his job cut out for him, and that''s no lie."

There''s no way the next president can ''win'' the task set before him by the republicans. The best he can hope to do is ''carry water'' to soften the blow they''ve beset upon an entire generation of Americans.

McCain wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and make the Iraq war permanent. That says he wants to put the final screws into the coffin of the next generation of Americans.

But, they are ALREADY IN the coffin. Make no mistake about that. This has been a generational clvsterfvck of decadal proportions.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Early in the era of the Taliban, the radical Islamic regime that allowed the al-Qaida terror network to flourish in Afghanistan, opium cultivation was permitted. But in July 2000, more than a year before the United States knocked it out of power, the Taliban banned the crop and introduced the death penalty for opium crimes, leading to a sharp decline in production.

Now, the regions outside Kabul are under the control of warlords, many of whom benefit from the trade. Last year''s production was nine times higher than during the final year of Taliban rule.

Without a national police force or army, President Hamid Karzai''s interim government cannot enforce its poppy ban, leaving drug-eradication workers exposed to retaliation. In June, seven of them were mobbed and killed by enraged poppy farmers in Oruzgan province, 250 miles southwest of Kabul, where authorities were making a major effort to reduce the poppy crops."

Ironic that the Taliban could do it, but Karzai cannot.

[jobonatcam]

why doesn''t the army or marines pay the farmers directly to destroy the poppy crops and cut out dyncorp completely saving the taxpayers a bundle.

[oneworldusa]

Just spray all the poppy fields with that No-Grow stuff that inhibits all growth for a year. Then do it annually.

Is this where poppy seeds for our bagels come from? If so, we need to ban poppy seeds, in fact, perhaps we should ban them altogether anyway no matter where they come from.

[terrorislami]

Posted by OneWorldUSA at 03:04 AM : Jun 26, 2008

or eliminate bagels,,,

[terrorislami]

Posted by copyat5 at 11:47 PM : Jun 25, 2008

hahaha CHANGE,,, hahaha

rightttttt,,, do you think you will like his staff of the NEW BLACK ANTHER PARTY and the NATION OF TERRORISLAM in his cabinet,,, like he has them in his campaign staff NOW,,,

poor america,,, if hussein becomes president,,,

even europe is concerned about a hussein presidency,,,

if europe is concerned,,, it must be bad,,,

[jamjholmes]

The war on drugs and terror are total rackets and are neverending.

[n8yvn29]

The Bush Crime Family and their ilk has never seen the poppy cultivation as anything more that an excuse to pay their associates to eradicate it. As long as it doesn''t get eradicated, they can continue to pay our tax dollars to their cronies to eradicate it. Win-Win situation for them.

[hunterdon6]

The farmers over there have to make a living. Make morphine out of the poppies and then it would be a good crop.

[frootloop47]

Ref: previous posts
terrorislami you are an idiot...and probably a Republican.

[frootloop47]

Inside The Afghan Poppy Wars....
interesting article.

I always thought it WAS the Taliban growing these crops to make money for their terror cause.

I agree with Demongirl. Why can''t the farmers grow other crops. Of course, they probably make tons more money for a bushel of poppies versus a bushel of wheat.

[terrorislami]

Posted by frootloop47 at 07:49 AM : Jun 26, 2008

Check out the big brain on frootloop%u2026 lol

Jules: Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with cheese in France?

Brett: No.

Jules: Tell him, Vincent.

Vincent: Royale with cheese.

Jules: Royale with cheese. Do you know why they call it a Royale with cheese?

Brett: Because of the metric system?

Jules: Check out the big brain on Brett. You one smart ************.

Pulp Fiction (1994)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/quotes