The Russians might have a point here. But they shouldn't be pointing fingers given their history in Afghanistan. Here we are fighting in the country that since our arrival has become the biggest poppy (which is the source for opium/heroin) producer, controlling most of the world's market. The heroin created with this crop ends up on the streets of America. How is this possible? I don't believe that our military would deliberately ignore the problem, or are in some kind of unholy alliance to allow the crop to grow without interference. Then again, what is being done? And why be in Afghanistan if we can't prevent this poison from growing under our very noses? One of the main reasons the Taliban have become so formidable is as a result of the drug trafficking they've become. What's ironic is that poppy production was almost completely wiped out during the period they ruled over Afghanistan. So it would seem to me that we should work harder to eradicate a plant that is costing U.S. troop lives in Afghanistan and young people on the streets of America:
Russia accused the United States on Sunday of conniving with Afghanistan's drug producers by refusing to destroy opium crops, the second time in a week Moscow has taken a swipe at the West over drug policy....full article
U.S. Marines have advanced into one of the main opium-growing regions of Afghanistan's Helmand Province since February, but have told villagers there they will not destroy the opium crop that is blossoming this month.
"We believe such statements are contrary to the decisions taken on Afghan narco-problems within the U.N. and other international forums," said a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry released by the embassy in Kabul.
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