AFGHANI OPIUM GROWTH THROUGH THE ROOF!

So, while the Taliban (Taleban?) were in control, things sucked for people who like freedom. They were draconian in their administration of their extreme view of the Koran. Women were forced to cover themselves head-to-toe and other religions were oppressed. However, the one thing they did right was allow themselves to be bought by the USG.

See, the USG paid them to destroy their crop of opium-producing poppies--you know, the kind the Wicked Witch said would make Dorothy sleepy? Yeah, well, from those you eventually get cocaine, which was a drug I'm not sure Judy Garland was familiar with. But I digress...

What the Taliboys did was destroy their crops in exchange for cash. This kind of buy-out is what I wish the USG had tried with Saddam instead of invasion. I mean, come on--you think Saddam would have said "no" to $10 or $15 billion in exchange for implementing a democracy? Of course, not.

Now that we've invaded Afghanistan, regime-changed its ass and generally made a mess of things over there, the poppy production is BACK ON!

Not only is it back on, but it's THRIVING! At least, that's what [http://wire.jacksonville.com/pstories/world/20070717/184966187.shtml|a July 17, 2007 article] from AP.org available at Jacksonville.com is reporting. Here's a cutting:

Afghanistan's heroin-producing poppy crop set another record this season, despite intensified eradication efforts, the American ambassador said Tuesday.

Ambassador William Wood said preliminary data show that Afghan farmers harvested 457,135 acres of opium poppies this year, compared to 407,715 acres last year. The growing industry fuels the Taliban, crime, addiction and government corruption.

This is GREAT news for cocaine-users, drug dealers and the DEA, alike! Sure, it'll take a bit for the effects to be felt here in the US, but thanks to Bush's absurd interest in toppling Saddam, we're looking at a potential drug epidemic in the US, all over again! Of course, that's good news for George W. Bush, too, since it means there will be another enemy for him to lord over us: DRUG DEALERS!!

That guy is so damn LUCKY!! .

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Orignal From: AFGHANI OPIUM GROWTH THROUGH THE ROOF!