How influential is America's presence in Afghanistan?

Question

...if they are able to raise record breaking poppy crops, and, one must assume, export record breaking amounts of heroin.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070804/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_afghanistan

Please think carefully before answering, Bush supporters.

Answer 1

poor countries realize that they won't be able to survive by growing wheat, coffee , etc. ie; the price of coffee is down and the price of imported items are up. interestingly Starbucks coffee is sold as if it is gold! they start growing opium or cocaine so they don't starve. so we push them towards that route. it is a way to pay for CIA's favors! soon it will be brought into all countries by the good old boys who use to bring in slaves before! there is a Strong co-relations between heroine and war. specially in a country like Afghanistan, most soldiers try to scape the reality and pains of war with using heroin. they'll come home and need a fix. they'll be in a different war then. they end up on the street or locked up in some kinds of institutions. they are now criminals!

Answer 2

No one ever said the American MILITARY presence would change Hell into a Garden of Eden. Heck, 200 UN inspectors couldn't find Saddam's missile launchers ( Iraq is the size of California, can you imagine 200 people trying to find a missile launcher in a state that size?! ). What makes you think our soldiers are going to stop farmers from growing Poppies? Never said they could be made to stop. If we can find crops for them to grow that pay well, yes, if not ( and so far, no one has ), they'll manage to as long as the demand is there. American has limited influence both religiously and governmentally. Only militarily do we have an overwhelming influence. And that won't change a farmer's mind about growing a crop, if it's the only one that pays enough to support him and his family.
So, if this is a supposed slap at Republicans, it doesn't wash. This is a local issue. We're not there to be their nanny, unlike the way Democrats think. If we can change their minds with an acceptable farming alternative, fine, if not, well, we won't. But it's not our blame to accept. It was happening there before we came, and probably will be after we're gone. Blaming any current administration for them growing poppies is BS, as I said it's an Afghani issue, not ours. It may affect the Taliban's livelihood, and we'd like to change that, of course. Hopefully with more dignity and reason than has been happening.
Oh, and since you're obviously targeting Bush supporters, why don't you, Liberal lover, make an alternative SUGGESTION as how to fix it, or be more influential? If YOU can't come up with any substantial reasons, then you're no better than those you may be bashing. Don't criticize a decision if you can't come up with a better one...basic rule of business.

- The Gremlin Guy -

Answer 3

Hamid Karzai, the President of our Afghanistan only arrived there with the US Troops. Before that he was a buddy of Dick bin Dubai Cheyney, hanging around Huston and Washington trying to sell his idea of a pipeline across central asia. His Brother is arguably the biggest heroin trafficker in the world.

The Competition being General Dotsum, Defense Minister of our Afghan Government and Chief of the Northern Alliance. The Northern Alliance controlled the Heroin Traffic before we arrived and now that they are the Afghan Army Business is good.

Answer 4

First off, Yahoo News is not news, it is more like a crappy headline sort of thing. America's presence isn't very influential in Afghanistan, they simply just are focused on themselves and their country. And no they need other chemicals to create large amounts of heroin. Simply to put it, Korea makes 100X the amount of Herion probably because their government funds it.

Answer 5

I heard that our troops raise the demand and supply of that poppy crops. If influential means to grow more poppy, yes. When there is more demand it is obvious that there will be more supply. Simple Economics 101.

Answer 6

US used Afghanistan to profit from the opium poppies to have money for their war efforts.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, probably not influential enough.

Answer 8

Very.

Answer 9

Not very.