Afghanistan addicted to drug profits

The United States invaded Afghanistan two years ago to rid the country of the Taliban leadership and bring about a resemblance of peace to a country which had suffered over two decades of almost random violence. It has been only partly successful. The lead up to the Oct 7 anniversary saw the most bloodshed spilt since the overthrow of the Islamic militia, with more than 300 people killed since the start of August. The killings have been indiscriminate, including aid workers, American soldiers, international peacekeepers, government officials and new government troops along with the rebels. snip

People on the ground, namely aid agencies, reported this week that narco-terrorism was by far the main cause of violence in the provinces, and not the Taliban or al-Qaeda. Afghanistan produced 12% of the world's opium in 2001 under Taliban rule. Last year, it produced 76%. The country director of the charity Care said this week that revenue from the poppy trade amounted to more than all the humanitarian assistance combined.

Given the huge profits, warlords have become drug barons with very little respect for human life. Their violence has become so vicious that all 90 international relief groups in Afghanistan have pulled out of the southern provinces where most opium is grown. If poppy growing is allowed to flourish as it has done these past two years, the ability to control it later, let alone abolish it, will become harder and harder. With a growth in profits from the illicit drug trade, warlords will become more powerful and their control of their regions more lasting.

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