Tuesday, May 22, 2007

When The Obvious Becomes, Well, Obvious

There has been a shocking, shocking I tell you, revelation made by military commanders in Afghanistan. Apparently they now believe, after five years in country mind you, that the Taliban may be making money off the poppy trade. From CNN:

Profits from Afghanistan's thriving poppy fields are increasingly flowing to Taliban fighters, leading U.S. and NATO officials to conclude that the counterinsurgency mission must now include stepped-up anti-drug efforts.

This year's heroin-producing poppy crop will at least match last year's record haul and could exceed it by up to 20 percent, officials say, meaning more money to fuel the Taliban's violent insurgency.

"It's wrong to say that you can do one thing and not the other," Ronald Neumann, who recently stepped down as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, said of the link between anti-drug and anti-terrorism efforts. "You have to deal with both at the same time."

Afghanistan accounts for more than 90 percent of the world's heroin supply, and a significant portion of the profits from the $3.1 billion trade is thought to flow to Taliban fighters, who tax and protect poppy farmers and drug runners.

Gee, you're fighting an insurgency in a country that provides 90% of the world, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU EXPECT?

Now look, I understand that this is a little more complex than simply burning the fields down. Initially, we looked the other way when it came to poppy production because it is impossible to fight an insurgency with a restive population. Where we made the mistake was allowing the poppies to reach the heroin production process.

Right now, the simplest and most effective way to stop this is to burn down the fields, and pay the poppy farmers for their trouble as it is too late in the growing season for the farmers to grow something else. Then we must inform the poppy farmers that next year we will burn them down again with no payment to be made, however, if the farmers choose to grow food crops we will subsidize those crops. It would probably cost us about a half a billion a year.

When you consider how much money is spent worldwide on heroin interdiction and treatment, it is the cheapest half a billion we could ever spend. I'm sure we could even get other countries to pick up the tab.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

OHIO REVISED CODE(ORC)2917.11 ... Ohio's PROFANITY LAW... Using profanity is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $100 fine. In 2007, there are NO GENTLEMEN left in this world, only profane little potty mouth boys like Philip. Philip, you ruined my evening at dinner tonight with your PROFANE MOUTH !!

I have a policy that no bartender ever gets a tip that allows profanity at their bar. I broke that policy tonight, because Philip did not start in with his profane comments until I was almost done with my meal. Philip was three sheets to the wind tonight, looking extremely depressed, and in full command of his profane comments that the entire restaurant could hear.

"Profanity is a weak mind trying to express itself forcefully."

I am a LADY, no man ever uses profanity in my presence. No wonder there are very few LADIES at Mac's Cafe anymore these days. I thought Mac's business had declined because of the smoking ban. Not true. No lady wants to listen to Philip's MOUTH. Philip has run them all off with his POTTY MOUTH. He ran me off, for sure !! I will continue to go to Mac's, but if I ever see Philip there, I will ask for my bill and LEAVE.

Philip... RUN to Borders or Barnes & Noble, and buy/read THE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO BEING A GENTLEMAN... You need it BADLY, you pathetic LIBERAL LOSER.

I wonder, Philip, if you would use your profane mouth in the presence of a Democratic politician at a political rally, the Mayor of Columbus, Governor Strickland, an officer of the law, or a minister, priest or rabbi??? Why then, would you think it is proper to use it in a public establishment, in the presence of ladies and gentlemen.

Philip, you are NOT a gentleman, in my humble opinion YOU ARE WHITE TRASH, nothing more, nothing less.

Phlip said...

Amusing

JD said...

Sounds like she knows you pretty well. Wonder why she doesn't have the nerve to post her name. Afterall she did use yours and identify where you drink.

Anonymous said...

What a rambling, incoherent mess. We are all a little bit dumber having read Anonymous' rant.

Actually Ohio does not have a profanity law. The section poorly cited by Anonymous is the Disorderly Conduct statute and the maximum fine is not $100.00. I doubt Anonymous has heard of the 1st Amendment.

Phlip, keep up the public commentary and if you need one, I know a good lawyer.

Anonymous, make sure that you know what you are talking about before posting. And with skin as thin as yours, I suggest that you never leave your home.

Anonymous said...

No new posts? Did Phlip get arrested for being a foul mouthed liberal? If so, I'll bail him out. Of course I'll have to sell the baby's crib to raise the funds.

Anonymous said...

ka-ching!