Hooked: The drugs which fuel the Taliban.
By Michael Yon
A reverse symbiosis is at work: Those who benefit most from the opium/heroin trades also benefit most from a destabilized Afghanistan, because a stable country with functioning government systems, reliable security forces, and a framework of laws is a bad climate for the drug trade. Conversely, farmers growing crops such as cotton and beans benefit from a stable government climate, which affords the opportunity to think beyond the next crop cycle. In order to make agriculture a more successful business venture, farmers need a stable government as a partner. But since the interests of poppy farmers and narco-kings are in aggressive opposition to any plan to stabilize Afghanistan, this partnership is not even in the talking stages.
Listeners of Pundit Review Radio were already aware of this, because Michael told us something quite similar back on August 13. To listen to that interview click here.
To listen to Michael’s many other appearances on Pundit Review Radio, check out our archives.