Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jan 2002
Source: Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register (WV)
Website: http://www.intellnews.net/
Address: 1500 Main St., Wheeling, WV 26003
Contact:  2002 The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register

AFGHAN HEROIN TRADE SHOULD BE PREVENTED

It appears eliminating one blight on humankind, the al-Qaida terrorists and 
their Taliban government sponsors in Afghanistan, may have opened the door 
for another evil to make a comeback.

Though the Taliban for a few years used their country's large-scale heroin 
trade to help fund their government, they cracked down on it about 18 
months ago. Taliban leaders banned cultivation of opium poppies needed to 
make heroin. With the Taliban virtually eliminated, many Afghan farmers are 
returning openly to cultivation of poppies. Some who never gave up the 
practice have begun shipping heroin again. Much of it will find markets in 
Europe and the United States. Already, Pakistani soldiers have intercepted 
one major shipment of heroin and morphine coming out of Afghanistan. 
Doubtless, more is in the pipeline.

Officials in the U.S.-led alliance that toppled the Taliban realize they 
walk a tightrope in dealing with Afghanistan. Too many demands on that 
nation's new government could turn it into another enemy.

Still, it is not unreasonable for the United States to insist that the new 
Afghan regime take steps to stop cultivation of opium poppies and cut off 
the traffic in heroin. In exchange, Washington and other European 
governments could consider assistance to Afghan farmers who need to find 
profitable replacements for heroin. As matters stand, the lure of big 
profits for growing poppies is virtually irresistible to some farmers in 
the Middle East.

Americans went to war in Afghanistan to destroy one great evil. They should 
not allow their efforts to be turned against them by those eager to resume 
trafficking in heroin and other illegal drugs. Heroin was, in a way, a 
vicious terrorist long before Osama bin Laden was born. U.S. officials 
should make it a priority in their relationship with the new Afghan 
government to find ways to shut down the heroin industry.
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