Afghanistan produces over 90% of the world’s opium, the main ingredient in heroin. Many Afghans, among its predominantly rural population of around 28 million, simply grow and cultivate opium poppies across some of its vast territory that is equal in size to the state of Texas. Most of Afghanistan is very arid and mountainous, not fit for any agriculture or productive human activities.
The export value this year of Afghanistan’s entire opium crop is estimated at between $4 and $5 billion. It is generally smuggled out of the country on various ancient trade routes or by modern transportation methods, ultimately finding its way to dealers and users across the globe and in the U.S. Another use for opium is to produce morphine, a very useful and legal medical drug.
The Department of Defense informed the Administration that from 2001 to 2008, the U.S. has spent over $190 billion for the war in Afghanistan. If troop levels are increased significantly as proposed, we could easily spend up to $65 billion a year in Afghanistan. Other NATO countries assisting us in Afghanistan have spent additional billions of their own currencies towards our collective effort to eradicate the Taliban and Al Qaida.
Unfortunately our top generals admit that the Taliban is winning now, and making serious inroads into neighboring Pakistan. Al Qaida’s various sleeper cells are spread around the globe (possibly including Cleveland, Ohio) but definitely it is not a major player in Afghanistan.
Religious zealots and jihadist terrorists can plan and organize terror attacks anywhere around the world. The Internet is a great leveling agent for the exchange of information. Safe havens can be set up quickly anywhere on the planet, and just as quickly dismantled and moved elsewhere. The 9/11/01 terrorists did not plan or train for the attacks in Afghanistan, but principally in the U.S. and Western Europe.
So what the hell are we doing in Afghanistan? Would it not be better and far cheaper to simply buy up the entire opium crop each year from the various Afghan warlords? Then they could use the paltry $5 billion as they see fit without the need for us to occupy their third-world country with religious and social customs dating from the 15th Century.
We could use some of the opium to produce much needed morphine for worldwide distribution and sale. Some we could sell to other governments to convert it to heroin in order to treat drug addicts in safe clinics around the world. What cannot be used in legally in the U.S. or internationally should be simply be flow out of Afghanistan and dumped into the Indian Ocean. Then we would repeat these steps annually.
I would strongly advocate spending only $5 billion a year to control a dangerous substance, produce a needed one, and thereby saving $65 billion every year fighting a pointless war in Afghanistan that merely supports an utterly corrupt and discredited regime. The larger savings by avoiding needless loss of life or serious injuries to our soldiers would be incalculable.
Sometimes the right decision is so simple and just staring us in the face that we sometimes ignore it. President Obama, please wake up and Listen to your Vice-President. Thank you.
Marc Pascal in Phoenix, AZ