Pubdate: Tue, 24 May 2005
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 The Australian
Contact: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/files/aus_letters.htm
Website: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35
Author: Catherine Philp
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/poppy+eradication
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Afghanistan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

US BLAMES BRITAIN OVER AFGHAN POPPIES

US OFFICIALS are holding Britain "substantially responsible" for the
failure of a poppy eradication program aimed at curtailing
Afghanistan's soaring heroin trade.

Britain has overall charge of the counter-narcotics assistance
program, but the US has mounted a creeping takeover after last year's
bumper poppy crop.

The eradication program is largely financed by US taxpayers, while
Dynacorps, a US civilian security company, trains the Afghan force
responsible for destroying the crops.

In a leaked communique to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the
officials at the US embassy in Kabul said the British administration
was to blame for a failure to reach the levels of eradication that
they had hoped for.

They complained that the British were often targeting less important
growing areas. Since beginning work last month, the eradication force
has destroyed fewer than 102ha. The original target was 15,000ha.

The communique also criticised Afghan President Hamid Karzai for
failing to take a strong line against opium farmers, partly for fear
of a backlash in elections this year.

Mr Karzai, in Washington to meet US President George W.Bush, rejected
criticism of his efforts, saying his Government had worked hard to
eradicate poppy fields. He blamed Western countries for a lack of support.

Mr Karzai has committed himself to destroying the heroin trade, but
favours an approach that concentrates on finding other crops.

Britain was put in charge of counter-narcotics efforts because most
Afghan heroin ends up in Europe.

Britain prefers to find alternative livelihoods for farmers, but
Washington favours aerial crop spraying.

Last month, the US-trained eradication force's first outing ended in
fiasco and two deaths. The team was ploughing up a field when farmers
threw themselves in front of the tractors.

The Afghan authorities later struck a deal whereby the farmers agreed
to allow a third of their crop to be dug up in return for
non-resistance.

The profits of the heroin trade, now at record proportions, fund many
local commanders and warlords who object to Mr Karzai's rule.

At his meeting with Mr Bush, Mr Karzai is expected to demand that
"very, very strong action" be taken against US soldiers who tortured
two Afghan prisoners before leaving them to die.

He is also expected to ask that his Government be given greater
control over US military activities in his country and that all
remaining Afghan prisoners be handed over to Afghan control.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake