Talibans ban poppy cultivation (Iran, weapon, border, Obama)
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I know that. But there's a reason. They have been selling plenty the last few years - even though it has declined somewhat since 2017. Something has changed since last August as to why they need the money.
Talibans sort of funny about that one. 2001 they rather abruptly decided to crack down on their previously lucrative poppy revenue ostensabily to appear more legiitimate to the outside world. That or possible it was an OPEC move. Since the Taliban was by far the largest single producer of opium and was sitting on large stockpiles of it, the one-year reduction in production by the Taliban ratcheted up those prices nicely. We'll never really know how serious they were about the sudden 180. Previously the Taliban was pro-poppy as it was good money source and only hurt kafirs (non-believers) and infidels. Killing them off while extracting money from them was really win-win. Less kafirs/infidels, more moneys in the pockets of the righteous. Anyway, then they kind of got kicked out for a bit when the US invaded Afghanistan.
But aside from that one year drop it's really not clear that the Taliban really is opposed to poppy production at all. Since 2019 they've increasingly controlled much of Afghanistan with the puppet American-backed government steadily losing control of the country. Poppy production you might expect to have dropped off with the Taliban controlling much of the country since they're opposed to its production. It's definitely down from 2017 but it's not like that's been a steadly decline. 2017 was just a bumper crop and it settled back to normal levels for 2018-2020, not sure about 2021. I guess we'll see. Now that the Trump surrender has been completed they'll solidify control pretty quickly. But really to me it seems unlikely. The drug trade is still their bread and butter although they have some additional revenue streams in the form of mining, extortion and kidnapping, and of course ehem charitable giving.
US doesn't really get our opium from Afghanistan anyway. Mexico was always the big supplier, and these days it's not as large a market anyway. It's synthetics nowadays with fentantyl.
I guess my point is I'm less inclined to take it at face value that it's the New Taliban, all friendly and cuddly like puppies 'n stuff and definitely not the old Taliban anymore than many of the other posters here. Sure, that's what they say but I'm not necessarily buying what they're selling. If they really are the new friendly Taliban that's all for not profiting off the drug trade as their bread and butter money source I'm mostly just suspicious what they're up to instead. Apparently it's not re-opening all the girls schools. Gotta redesign the uniforms first, priorities doncha know.
After all this time there is still a lot of misunderstanding. They are a different kind of people. A lot different from Arabs or Asians. Back in the 90s they had completely banned poppy fields and they are staying true to this commitment.
Will be intereresting to see the social effect in North America. Will the junkies go clean or will they all switch to meth.
yeah, I know all that. But, that country has zero industry to live off. Maybe those lithium mines, but that's about it. Hash and opium gave living to many many families and for many many years. I do understand - and respect - good intentions and religious zealousy - but you have to feed your people somehow. As a Russian guy said, watching his wife to try to squeeze herself into her prom skinny dress, you can't put desired onto existing. They will need to come up with a suitable substitute or, deal with black market and gangs. As example, look at China. Death penalty for anything, drugs related and what? Did it go away? No. Just went under.
Also, Taliban are way far from controlling the entire country and, just wait, until they will have to start paying for all those fancy guns and ammo for them, graciously donated to them.
You can yell baklava all you want to, does not make it taste sweet in your mouth. Harsh reality of necessity to have money in country with zero industry and nothing buy dying farming will take its toll sooner, than later. Just like it already is with sanctions on Russia.
PS, also, don't forget that Afghan has very powerful warlords that, in many cases, rose to power off opium and hash. They sided with Taliban, when needed but, if their PERSONAL interests will be pinched - will Tlibs go for never ending civil war with them?
Poppy cultivation will be replaced with potatoes and other vegetables. They were growing opium because it is more profitable, but the price of food will now go down in Afghanistan.
It's interesting that when the US occupied the region, the poppys were growing everywhere, the price of smack plummeted, addiction soared... But when the evil Taliban has power, they snuff this stuff out. This is one reason many around the world are distrustful of the USA as of late. We say one thing (drugs are bad mmmkay, we should eradicate them) and do the opposite by setting up Afghanistan to be the world largest producer of opium, heroin, etc while addiction in our own nation explodes and drug laws are relaxed.
It’s easy to eradicate poppy fields when you tell the farmers that you will execute them if they continue planting and cultivating and you actually mean what you say and they believe you.
The Taliban isn’t bound by LOAC or public opinion.
The US was making inroads for awhile, they were using B-52 strikes to deter opium production. They hit fields and they hit production facilities. It was absolutely working. But then the western liberal media started reporting that “innocent” farmers were being harmed and used public opinion to stop the strikes.
Potatoes and other vegetables? In Afghanistan? Basically, a rocky desert scorched by sun? Seriously? And the irrigation system for all that magically will appear on its own and won't cost a penny?
Folks, get real. How successful is cocaine ban in Latin Americas? It simply goes underground.
Ah, forget it. Let them try, nothing wrong with that.
I somehow doubt that will come to fruition. Way too much money in it.
Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of heroin. It supplies Europe and parts of Asia. It’s the country’s #1 export. 20 years of US occupation did not put a dent in it.
80% of the population lives in rural mountainous areas under tribal rule. Not likely local war lords will take kindly to any authority who seeks to eliminate the source of their income.
After all this time there is still a lot of misunderstanding. They are a different kind of people. A lot different from Arabs or Asians. Back in the 90s they had completely banned poppy fields and they are staying true to this commitment.
Will be intereresting to see the social effect in North America. Will the junkies go clean or will they all switch to meth.
Russia invaded and occupied Afghanistan for a decade in the 80’s. The US fought a proxy war with Russia on US soil. The US supplied the weapons and defence contractors to teach Afghan rebels how to use them. This attracted jihadists from all over the world. Bin Laden was one of them and al-Qaeda was formed.
Russia pulled out and the country descended into another series of civil war.
The US made noise about eliminating poppy production when it invaded. It was nothing more than some photo ops.
It’s easy to eradicate poppy fields when you tell the farmers that you will execute them if they continue planting and cultivating and you actually mean what you say and they believe you.
The Taliban isn’t bound by LOAC or public opinion.
The US was making inroads for awhile, they were using B-52 strikes to deter opium production. They hit fields and they hit production facilities. It was absolutely working. But then the western liberal media started reporting that “innocent” farmers were being harmed and used public opinion to stop the strikes.
So as usual, we were our own worst enemy.
Petraeus was the father of Counter- Insurgency, winning the support of civilians, rather than seizing territory. Bush 2 put him in charge of Afghanistan. So the US spent $ billions annually building roads to nowhere, building schools the locals did not want, providing electricity that no one could maintain and overlooking poppy cultivation, the primary export and means of support.
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