Pubdate: Fri, 04 Jan 2002
Source: Northwest Florida Daily News (FL)
Copyright: 2002 Northwest Florida Daily News
Contact:  http://www.nwfdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/313
Author: Everett Boswell

NO-OPIUM ZONE

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of illicit opium, which is 
refined into heroin.

Afghanistan's opium crop of 3,656 metric tons accounted for 72 percent of 
the world's illicit opium in 2000. It increased to 5,000 metric tons and 
accounted for 75 percent of the world's illicit opium in 2001.

Poppy is cultivated at the expense of wheat and other food crops 
desperately needed by the people of Afghanistan, and is planted on the best 
available land with productive soils, irrigation and fertilizer, not on 
previously uncultivated or marginal lands. This month at a conference in 
Tokyo, international aid for Afghanistan is expected to total $7 billion to 
$9 billion for rebuilding the country. The question: With what conditions? 
Will there be any oversight group to ensure that elimination of the illicit 
cultivation of opium poppy is guaranteed and a condition of international aid?

Since narcotics-related income historically strengthened the Taliban's 
capacity to provide support for international terrorism, why would we think 
for a nanosecond that this is going to change without absolute conditions 
on the international aid with a powerful oversight group to monitor and manage?

How about a No Opium Zone similar to the No Fly Zones that are a necessity 
for world peace in the Middle East?

EVERETT BOSWELL

Bluewater Bay
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart