Cyprus-Forum.com

[cyprusgrump]

What exactly is your point...?

Your British Empire made it's money from genocide against whites/white slavery/Black slavery and the drug trade.

And that relates to the war against drugs how exactly...?

Unless of course you are trying to claim that only blacks deal/take drugs...?

Or point out the irony of the British spending so much keeping drugs off the streets...?

Perhaps you can enlighten us?

[cyprusgrump]

[yialousa1971]

Published on Sunday, December 3, 2006 by Agence France Presse
Despite NATO, Afghan Opium Cultivation Grows 61 Percent
by Maxim Kniazkov

Opium poppy cultivation shot up a whopping 61 percent in Afghanistan this year in a setback for US and NATO efforts to clamp down on the country's illegal drug industry, according to new figures released by the White House.

The anticipated record crop is seen as another boost for the resurgent Taliban as the Islamic guerrilla movement is often accused by US officials of using proceeds from drug sales to buy weapons and attract new recruits.

The annual US government estimate for Afghan opium poppy cultivation shows that approximately 172,600 hectares (426,503 acres) of poppy were cultivated throughout the country this year, an increase of 61 percent over 2005, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said Friday.

Two southern Afghan provinces -- Helmand and Oruzgan where the Taliban has been the most active -- are responsible for the bulk of the increase. Poppy planting there was up 132 percent from last year, compared to an 18-percent increase in the remaining 31 provinces.

The White House did not hide its concern.

"While 2006 was a record year for poppy eradication, the news that net cultivation has increased is disappointing," John Walters, director of the drug control office, said in a statement.

He acknowledged the booming industry posed a threat to Afghanistan's internal stability, adding that "increased emphasis and continued reductions are necessary" to reduce the country's drug trade.

Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson shared his concern, arguing that "stopping the cultivation and traffic of opium is paramount in establishing rule of law in Afghanistan."

She vowed to continue working with the government of Afghanistan and NATO allies to bring the opium industry under control.

The estimate is based on detailed satellite imagery of Afghanistan produced by the US government.

The detected cultivation levels mean that Afghanistan will be able to produce next year 5,644 metric tons of opium, up 26 percent from an estimate issued last year.

If all that raw material were processed, Afghan drug dealers will be able to bring to market approximately 664 metric tons of pure heroin, the White House office warned.

By comparison, in 2001, the last year of Taliban rule, Afghanistan had only 1,685 hectares (4,163 acres) dedicated to opium poppy.

Prior to the US-led invasion, Taliban leaders had declared opium cultivation a sin and ruthlessly punished all violators of their edict.

But the movement, US officials say, has now changed its approach, seeing in illegal drugs a means of financing their anti-Western insurgency.

Areas dedicated to poppy cultivation grew to 30,750 hectares (75,984 acres) in 2002; 61,000 (150,734 acres) in 2003; 206,700 hectares (510,766 acres) in 2004; and 107,400 hectares (265,391 acres) in 2005, according to White House statistics.

The White House promised a renewed effort to clamp down on Afghanistan's burgeoning drug industry.

But a UN and World Bank report released this past week said attempts to combat opium had achieved only limited success and lacked sustainability.

They have been marred by corruption and have failed to prevent the consolidation of the drugs trade in the hands of fewer powerful players with strong political connections, the report said.

"History teaches us that it will take a generation to render Afghanistan opium-free," concluded Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Copyright © 2006 AFP

http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/pri ... 203-04.htm

[Oceanside50]

What exactly is your point...?

Your British Empire made it's money from genocide against whites/white slavery/Black slavery and the drug trade.

And that relates to the war against drugs how exactly...?

Unless of course you are trying to claim that only blacks deal/take drugs...?

Or point out the irony of the British spending so much keeping drugs off the streets...?

Perhaps you can enlighten us?

I would venture to guess that a great majority of the drugs taken are by white/professionals who have the money...there was a study done not too long ago that stated that the average seller makes no more then minimum wage.

Why not turn your focus on legal drugs abused even more widely Valium, Xanax,percs and other pain killers that doctors prescribe to no end.....

[cyprusgrump]

Drugs winning!

[Schnauzer]

Published on Sunday, December 3, 2006 by Agence France Presse
Despite NATO, Afghan Opium Cultivation Grows 61 Percent
by Maxim Kniazkov

Opium poppy cultivation shot up a whopping 61 percent in Afghanistan this year in a setback for US and NATO efforts to clamp down on the country's illegal drug industry, according to new figures released by the White House.

The anticipated record crop is seen as another boost for the resurgent Taliban as the Islamic guerrilla movement is often accused by US officials of using proceeds from drug sales to buy weapons and attract new recruits.

The annual US government estimate for Afghan opium poppy cultivation shows that approximately 172,600 hectares (426,503 acres) of poppy were cultivated throughout the country this year, an increase of 61 percent over 2005, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said Friday.

Two southern Afghan provinces -- Helmand and Oruzgan where the Taliban has been the most active -- are responsible for the bulk of the increase. Poppy planting there was up 132 percent from last year, compared to an 18-percent increase in the remaining 31 provinces.

The White House did not hide its concern.

"While 2006 was a record year for poppy eradication, the news that net cultivation has increased is disappointing," John Walters, director of the drug control office, said in a statement.

He acknowledged the booming industry posed a threat to Afghanistan's internal stability, adding that "increased emphasis and continued reductions are necessary" to reduce the country's drug trade.

Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson shared his concern, arguing that "stopping the cultivation and traffic of opium is paramount in establishing rule of law in Afghanistan."

She vowed to continue working with the government of Afghanistan and NATO allies to bring the opium industry under control.

The estimate is based on detailed satellite imagery of Afghanistan produced by the US government.

The detected cultivation levels mean that Afghanistan will be able to produce next year 5,644 metric tons of opium, up 26 percent from an estimate issued last year.

If all that raw material were processed, Afghan drug dealers will be able to bring to market approximately 664 metric tons of pure heroin, the White House office warned.

By comparison, in 2001, the last year of Taliban rule, Afghanistan had only 1,685 hectares (4,163 acres) dedicated to opium poppy.

Prior to the US-led invasion, Taliban leaders had declared opium cultivation a sin and ruthlessly punished all violators of their edict.

But the movement, US officials say, has now changed its approach, seeing in illegal drugs a means of financing their anti-Western insurgency.

Areas dedicated to poppy cultivation grew to 30,750 hectares (75,984 acres) in 2002; 61,000 (150,734 acres) in 2003; 206,700 hectares (510,766 acres) in 2004; and 107,400 hectares (265,391 acres) in 2005, according to White House statistics.

The White House promised a renewed effort to clamp down on Afghanistan's burgeoning drug industry.

But a UN and World Bank report released this past week said attempts to combat opium had achieved only limited success and lacked sustainability.

They have been marred by corruption and have failed to prevent the consolidation of the drugs trade in the hands of fewer powerful players with strong political connections, the report said.

"History teaches us that it will take a generation to render Afghanistan opium-free," concluded Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Copyright © 2006 AFP

http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/pri ... 203-04.htm

One could easily attach the content of the above (including the 'Video') to the 'Times are Tough' thread and view the policy of government in a new light, it may well be that the suggestion to legalize drugs has less to do with 'Health Issues' and more to do with a desire to stupify the younger generation.

Since the future for them (in common with those 'Older and Wiser' that have recently experienced hardships) looks rather bleak, perhaps it would serve as a useful diversion from reality were they to be encouraged to become addicted.

In a future society where the general population is convinced that they are 'Feeling Good' when in reality they are actually suffering, how much easier it will be to control and manipulate them.

Such a state of affairs would enable the politicians to advance their 'Military Campaigns', assured that their positions and policies are more easily accepted, since everything would appear to be 'Fine' to the grateful public who are freed from the anxieties of not being able to determine their futures.

The advancement of technology has had a devastating affect on the 'Labour Force' the world over and the increasing population can only make matters worse, SO, better to kill off millions by waging wars, allow millions more to kill themselves (whilst enjoying the process) and at the same time EARN from it all.

Not a very happy vision of the future BUT......... quite possible I reckon.

[cyprusgrump]

One could easily attach the content of the above (including the 'Video') to the 'Times are Tough' thread and view the policy of government in a new light, it may well be that the suggestion to legalize drugs has less to do with 'Health Issues' and more to do with a desire to stupify the younger generation.

Since the future for them (in common with those 'Older and Wiser' that have recently experienced hardships) looks rather bleak, perhaps it would serve as a useful diversion from reality were they to be encouraged to become addicted.

In a future society where the general population is convinced that they are 'Feeling Good' when in reality they are actually suffering, how much easier it will be to control and manipulate them.

Such a state of affairs would enable the politicians to advance their 'Military Campaigns', assured that their positions and policies are more easily accepted, since everything would appear to be 'Fine' to the grateful public who are freed from the anxieties of not being able to determine their futures.

The advancement of technology has had a devastating affect on the 'Labour Force' the world over and the increasing population can only make matters worse, SO, better to kill off millions by waging wars, allow millions more to kill themselves (whilst enjoying the process) and at the same time EARN from it all.

Not a very happy vision of the future BUT......... quite possible I reckon.

I agree that there has been an attempt to 'dumb-down' the populace... the nanny state-ism that I complain about is part of that too...

I also agree that there is a powerful body of thought that the planet is over-populated and unsustainable - requiring a cull...

Worrying times indeed...