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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth