Yep, I do, too.
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/18862/index.htm
“National Drug Threat Assessment 2007
National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC)”
Publication Date: October 2006
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=32867
Opium Funds Taliban Operations, Hurts Afghan Economy, Fallon Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 19, 2007 The illicit, but lucrative, opium trade is helping to finance Taliban operations while placing a stranglehold on Afghanistans economy, the commander of U.S. Central Command testified during a Congressional hearing yesterday.
In fact, some military analysts credit the recent relative lull in Taliban activity to their participation in the annual opium harvest thats under way now in Afghanistan, Navy Adm. William J. Fallon told House Armed Services Committee members.
This is opium harvest season, Im told, and thats probably one of the reasons why the Taliban have been relatively quiet in the last couple of weeks because (intelligence analysts) tell me theyre busy out in the fields harvesting their crops, Fallon told committee members.
Opium is a powerful illegal narcotic thats derived from poppy plants cultivated by many Afghan farmers as a cash crop. Heroin is an opium derivative and most of Afghanistans opium is sold on the European drug market.
Fallon said it is unfortunate that some Afghans are dependent on opium-poppy farming for their livelihoods.
Its painful to watch this, because the impact of this criminal activity runs throughout the country and I suspect its one of the reasons life is challenging in Afghanistan, because it appears that at every level, from growers to farmers on up to higher levels, theres some degree of gain from this illicit trade, Fallon said.
As desirable as it would be to remove opium as Afghanistans mainline cash crop, Fallon pointed out that a viable alternative agricultural crop would have to be identified to replace it.
I think we have to come up with a realistic alternative, Fallon told committee members. Some have proposed that orchard crops could one day replace opium growing in Afghanistan, he noted.
What I dont know how viable this is as a realistic, major muscle mover in the (Afghan) economy, Fallon said, noting that hes been told it would be very challenging to get the orchard produce to market, given the rudimentary and poor state of Afghanistans roads.
In fact, thats why ongoing work to establish a ring of paved roads that connect Afghanistans major municipalities is such an important project, the admiral said.
Everybody that Ive talked to, from President (Hamid) Karzai on down, tells me (the new road network) is absolutely essential to the economic future of Afghanistan, Fallon said.
Fallon took over as CENTCOMs chief March 16. Since then, he has traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries that come under his commands purview.