AFGHANISTAN: Expert says U.S. should buy the poppy crop to keep its profits from funding insurgency.

As the Obama Administration reshapes U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, a major issue is the poppy crop that funds the insurgency. Afghanistan is the world leader in the plant that can be made into heroin.

U.S. forces are chasing the drug lords but have declined to attack the crop in the fields. Afghan forces, so far, have proved largely ineffectual.

Defense expert John Pike, editor of GlobalSecurity.Org, has an idea: If the U.S. cannot beat the drug lords, then outbid them. Buy the crop from Afghan farmers and have it processed into medicinal morphine that can be distributed to medical facilities throughout the Third World.

"We are preparing to pour a pretty good-sized amount of new blood and treasure into Afghanistan with no other describable theory of victory today apart from sending more troops," Pike told the North (San Diego) County Times.

"Before we get too far down that road, if outbidding the drug kings is a wrongheaded idea, I would like to see someone prove that to me."

The poppy crop, Pike said, is the "stinking 800-pound gorilla" of the war in Afghanistan.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Afghan family in poppy field. Credit: Canadian Army

Comments

[Skip Lowell]

I agree with the author and comments here and urge everyone including our president and generals to consider this idea and publish their arguments right now before it is too late.

I have heard and seen on TV journal reports, Afghan farmers in front of American soldiers, begging that they not destroy their poppy crops because it was their only source of income

The Afghan farmers would have a secure revenue base that would replace the economic power of the Taliban immediately providing a safe basis for developing their agricultural diversity and well being on their own terms.

I for one believe that the underlying economics of this issue need to be incorporated into the present discussions concerning US and NATO direction in Afghanistan.

[J.D. Lape']

At last someone who has the guts to speak the truth. If we as Americans would speak with one voice, our "officials", would have to listen. Stop supporting the criminals both here and around the world. The "government" could, if they really wanted to control the drug trade, legalize all substances. That would remove the black market profits, which is the lifeblood of the criminal and terrorist community. It would also put the authorities in charge of sales to adults, control of purity and strength, and the ability to collect taxes and stop wasting "billions" of our treasure.

[newageblues]

this idea has been trying to get attention for a while. Hardliners respond with the argument that they will just grow more and sell both legally and illegally. The need for severe pain meds in poor countries is extreme, so the possibility should be looked at very carefully with an eye to making it work.

[SAM]

I've been saying this for some time; South America's coca leaves, too. Compare the purchase cost to the cost of the DEA's failed "War on Drugs" which has been a total waste of their time and billions of our tax dollars.