Afghanistan, Not So Good

The New York Times report that Afghanistan's Opium Harvest is at Record Level.

Narcotics accounts for about 35% of Afghanistan's GDP. "This year’s harvest will be around 6,100 metric tons of opium, a staggering 92% of total world supply. It exceeds global consumption by 30%." There are 400,000 acres planted with poppies.

While the government has succeeded at destroying more opium crops, there are still more growing, particularly in the south which is controlled by Taliban warlords who are encouraging its growth. "We are seeing a very strong connection between the increase in the insurgency on the one hand and the increase in cultivation on the other hand." They offer protection in exchange for growing poppies and pay to allow transport through land. It doesn't help that a drought let it be the only crop that survived, what's a farmer to do to survive?

So the Taliban is there, in control of a large region, and making a lot of money. "President Hamid Karzai expressed disappointment at the results in a statement issued on Saturday and urged the international community to expand its commitment to strengthen the Afghan police and law enforcement agencies. The Bush administration has made poppy eradication a major facet of its aid to Afghanistan, and it has criticized Mr. Karzai for not doing more to challenge warlords involved in opium production."