Afghan farmers work at a poppy field in Jalalabad province, May 5, 2012.
Time: The U.S. Sent Its Most Advanced Fighter Jets to Blow Up Cheap Opium Labs. Now It's Cancelling the Program
After hundreds of airstrikes failed to curtail the Taliban’s $200 million-a-year opium trade, the U.S. military quietly ended a yearlong campaign that targeted drug labs and networks laced around the Afghan countryside.
The end of the operation, code-named Iron Tempest, comes as Trump Administration officials engage in direct peace talks with Taliban leaders that could end the 17-year-old war.
The U.S. military first began targeting Taliban narcotics facilities with airstrikes and Special Operations raids in November 2017 when opium production jumped to record highs in Afghanistan. At the time, U.S. commanders estimated the Taliban operated up to 500 drug labs, which helped fuel their nearly two-decade long insurgency.
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WNU Editor: This is an admission that after years of anti-narcotics operations in Afghanistan, the entire program is a failure.
US money to support Afghan irrigation ‘helped’ poppy cultivation – watchdog
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ReplyDeletechildish. deal with the article. stop being clearly deplorable
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ReplyDeleteSINCE YOU DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE TOPIC, I WILL PROVIDE READING FOR OTHERS...THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a few very intelligent posters who no longer post on this site, driven away by the idiocy of various manifestations of the same idiot that seems to be available 7/24. This has been the case for several years now which suggests purpose.
ReplyDeleteRight you are Bob
ReplyDeleteI notice that the name calling, the childish behavior emulates The Leader, aka Tump, and small wonder that our nation is turning from the loonies who refuse to see the gathering contempt with which they are held...Those who are thoughtful conservatives, registered in the GOP, currently express the dismay they now feel for how their party, begun by Lincoln, is now the nesting place of rabble,FULLY >EXPLAINED THIS WAY
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DeleteNot all are innocent and some are very guilty
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DeleteThanks for the link Fred. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI had a boss once that had a nasty comment that he used often. He was interviewing someone for a job and after the interview I asked how the applicant was.
His comment: When she came in I had a feeling she might be stupid, then she opened her mouth and removed all doubt.
Interesting that before the American forces entered Afghanistan the ruling folk at the time, the Taliban, had almost eradicated the Poppy crop. They soon learned the value of such an industry however.
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn what the thoughts are from people in Afghanistan concerning how obsessed the West is with curtailing the Poppy growth, but on Remembrance day seem to worship the Poppy.
ReplyDeleteMr. Huntley, I believe the poppies to which you refer are of two different varieties. Am I mistaken in my belief that those we use to honor and remember veterans on Memorial day in America cannot be used to produce heroin?
Roger
ReplyDeleteI am still looking for an answer but I found this interesting post on Quora.
https://www.quora.com/Do-all-poppy-plants-contain-opium-If-not-which-ones-dont
You may be right although from a perception perspective Afghans who live in large centers and have access to the net and have seen our Poppy ceremonies most likely have had the same difficulty I have trying to determine the answer to your question.