I heard on the news the other day that soldiers are now attacking poppy fields in afghanistan saying (our leaders) that profits are used to front terrorism...well I say let afghan gov't deal with it.....where's bin laden? is he not still the objective...
2007-05-07 05:53:58 · 8 answers · asked by sayasyoulike 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
it is true. Ex-Taliban/Al-Qaeda forces use the money from "milking" latex from the unripe fruits to make Opium to sell on the world market. Afghan forces, while numberous are generally kept in population areas to put on a good "face" for the people. In the outer districts where the Afghan forces do not have a substantial presence, farmers grow the poppies either by coercion or choice (much more lucrative than regular farming).
By targeting the poppy fields, you destroy the source of funding for the insurgents/terrorists and at the same time can cut into the world opium trade.
And it is not just US Troops. Unlike Iraq, there are a lot of NATO troops in Afghanistan. In fact, it is now a NATO operation, although America still has the largest number of troops there.
2007-05-07 06:06:38 · answer #1 · answered by Answerking 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Our soldiers are destroying poppy fields in Afghanistan because the heroin trade is so all-pervasive in that country. The government is not able to stop it because they have little or no control of vast areas outside of the large populated cities. This is where tribal customs still prevail. Tribal leaders and war lords control these areas because they are more popular and more effective than the government. This is a country that is still in the medieval ages as far as allegiances of the people go.
We are in the slow process of changing the minds of the people of Afghanistan so that they will accept and trust a representative form of government. This could take generations. It is very difficult for the Afghan people because they only know that governments are corrupt and ineffective in reaching out to the people. Tribal customs which have been around for thousands of years are not going to be easy to erase, if at all.
Meanwhile, our troops must do something to stop the production and selling of heroine, most of the proceeds of which goes to the terrorist organizations.
2007-05-07 06:13:31 · answer #2 · answered by GunnyCee 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Taliban is making billions of dollars from the opium trade. It is in our best interests to deprive the resistance forces all sources of revenue, including that which is extorted from illegal operations.
2007-05-07 07:47:13 · answer #3 · answered by trigunmarksman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How blind do you have to be not to see the connection between the drug trade there and terrorism? Isn't destroying their revenue a bit kinder and gentler than killing the B@stards?
2007-05-07 06:29:36 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, because so many Americans have drug habits and haven't connected the dots that their drug habit ultimatley funds terrorism designed to kill their stoned butts.
2007-05-07 05:58:25 · answer #5 · answered by KERMIT M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh no! Leave the poor opium alone!
Anyways, it's just another excuse to keep our troops overseas instead of bringing them home. Just another way to make a little money. This is what our govt. does.
2007-05-07 05:59:48 · answer #6 · answered by yvkujhbkuyb 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Where'd you get that from? The New York Lies (Times) or perhaps the far left MSNBC? I would like to know where you got this.
2007-05-07 05:58:16 · answer #7 · answered by box778899 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
because we are supporting nato
2007-05-07 07:18:31 · answer #8 · answered by Justified 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋