OPIUM FOR THE MASSES

28-08-2007

Quite what the British and other international military forces are achieving in Afghanistan is somewhat hazy this morning. Is it because of the fog of war - or the clouds of opium smoke?

Probably the latter if the latest UN figures are to be believed. They show an 18% increase that the opium crop over the last 12 months, maintaining an upward trend since the Taliban were toppled in 2001.

The largest increase has been in Helmand province, where British troops are in charge of battling the insurgency.

Their failure to contain the crop is likely to have consequences on the streets back home as the vast majority of heroin in this country comes from Aghanistan.

Many US experts favour a spraying programme to destroy the poppy fields, but this has been rejected by the Brits who fear it would damage other crops and alienate the locals.

(Also see "Aghanistan - The Choice For Des Browne" by former Defence Minister Tom Watson http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/1408074.html)