U.S. Spent $7.6 billion On Afghanistan Drug War And It’s Worse Than Ever
[su_center_ad]Update: Afghanistan’s opium poppies have hit another high in 2014: Poppy cultivation is up 7 percent and estimated opium production is up 17 percent over last year, the United Nations reports. KABUL, Afghanistan — Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Afghanistan’s new president, has basked in a warm wave of national goodwill since taking office last month. Afghans are…
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D.B. Hirsch is a political activist, news junkie, and retired ad copy writer and spin doctor. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
tracey marie November 24th, 2014 at 9:11 am
again, why are we responsible for all of this and more? Where and how are the local countries taking care of business in the region
Roctuna November 24th, 2014 at 9:56 am
It seems to me it would be easier and cheaper to pay the farmers a competive price for their poppies, thus keeping it off the black market. Distribute what the world needs for pain meds on the pharmaceutical market and destroy the rest. At the same time, fund a program that also pays them an equal or better price for food crops to incentivize them to plant something else. At least that would put the money into the Afghan economy. If we’re going to blow a ton of money over there let’s do something that might have a chance of success instead of repeating past failures.
Budda November 24th, 2014 at 10:35 am
Legalize ALL drugs and thus control price,addictions and cost (not to mention tax revenue and job creation….and of course job loss i.e. DEA)
fahvel November 24th, 2014 at 10:37 am
my oh my, that kind of money might build a school and a hospital ad infinitum – what an incredible waste and sadly the tax payers support it.
Bunya November 24th, 2014 at 1:53 pm
It’s good to know my tax dollars are going to support opium production. Since we’ve already shelled out $7.6 billion, does this mean the drug addicts will get their fix for free?
Wayout November 24th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
Let’s see, another 7.6 billion down the drain. This time it wasn’t Bush’s fault.
Bunya November 24th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
Yeah well, it going to take a helluva lot more than 7.6 million to reach Dubya’s $3+ trillion.
StoneyCurtisll November 24th, 2014 at 7:36 pm
Did you forget that it was president Bush that began the war in Afghanistan?
Didn’t read the article did you..
If you had you would have noticed, The US has spent $7.6 billion on counter narcotics efforts in Afghanistan over the past 12 years.
12 years…
Who was president 12 years ago?
Mike Butkus Jr. November 24th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
Billions of tax dollars being spent on drug wars. Billions of tax dollars being spent on bombs to fight our endless wars in the middle east. Please explain to me how you Republicans lose your minds over taxes being spent on our poor? What are your priorities? What is the end game? What is our purpose as human beings?
Hirightnow November 24th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
You can make money selling weapons to the police.
You can make money incarcerating the convicted.
You can make money selling arms to your allies (and often, to your enemies)
You can make money selling oil to those same people.
You can’t make any immediate money from the poor.
Mike Butkus Jr. November 24th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
I see…. now I understand “In GOD we trust”
fancypants November 24th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
We saw part one ….
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3216048409/?ref_=tt_ov_vi