Pubdate: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 Source: Virginian-Pilot (VA) Webpage: Copyright: 2002, The Virginian-Pilot Contact: http://www.pilotonline.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/483 Author: Jack Dorsey, The Virginian-Pilot SCHROCK SAYS STEMMING AFGHAN OPIUM WON'T BE EASY U.S. Rep. Ed Schrock expressed doubt Thursday that the Afghan government will fulfill its vow to rid the nation of its soon-to-be-harvested opium poppy crop. ``My personal hope was to eradicate that stuff,'' Schrock said Thursday in a telephone interview from an air base in neighboring Uzbekistan. ``But this is the largest cash crop in the country and it will be a hard sell'' to convince Afghanistan's people to abandon it, Schrock said. Schrock, a Republican who represents Virginia's 2nd District, which includes portions of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, left Monday for an eight-day tour of Afghanistan. Joining him were congressional members from Massachusetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, Texas and Florida. Schrock is scheduled to return to Washington on Monday. Starting Monday, the Afghan government's decree said, farmers will be offered $250 per ``jirib'' of poppy, an Afghan land measure equaling about one-fifth hectare, or a half-acre. Poppy farmers this growing season have said they expect at least $1,700 per jirib of opium. But enforcing the drug ban will be difficult, Schrock said, ``because their police system is pretty much nonexistent. He said enforcing the law ``is something I guess other countries, including America, are going to have to help them out with.'' The congressional delegation initially visited Moscow, where Russian leaders thanked the United States for leading the fight in Afghanistan against terrorism. ``The Russians are delighted we are having the victories we are having,'' Schrock said. ``They look at this like we are fighting their battles, that we are winning the battle they couldn't several years ago.'' They, too, are concerned about Afghanistan's opium poppy harvest, due for harvesting within weeks. ``That will raise hundreds of millions of dollars so these terrorist guys can continue their activities,'' Schrock said. ``That is a real concern to Russia, especially because a lot of those drugs coming into their country account for a lot of the crime they have up there -- and they want to see a stop put to that.'' As expected, said Schrock, Afghanistan's infrastructure is in ruins. ``It is just a total disaster,'' he said of rural Afghanistan. ``It seems like every building we saw was shelled or destroyed. The road system is cratered by bombs. People are roaming aimlessly. I guess they have no place to live.'' Schrock had discussions with U.S. troops and said they are performing well. ``They feel they are being supported and they are aware of the public opinion here,'' he said. ``We made it clear to them that Americans are very happy with what they are doing. But we know it is tough for them.'' Schrock said he was able to deliver medical supplies donated by Sentara Healthcare and school supplies donated by students from John B. Dey Elementary School in Virginia Beach. ``I couldn't bring it all. There was too much,'' he said. ``But we gave them a ton of stuff.'' Especially appreciated were school supplies for children who are just now going back to classes. For the first time in years, young girlshave been allowed in school. ``They didn't have anything, and they need all the help they can get,'' he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart