Report: Drug production supports Taliban
WASHINGTON (AP) - February 29, 2008 Afghan farmers grew more poppies for opium in 2007 than ever
before, the second year in a row of record production in the nation
the United States invaded after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The drug trade deters progress toward a stable, economically
independent democracy, the report said.
The Associated Press obtained a portion of the annual report on
illegal drug production and trafficking worldwide before its
release. The full report was being released at the State Department
later Friday.
The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report cited strong
links between the narcotics trade and the anti-government
insurgency. The largest and best-known insurgent group - the
hard-line Taliban - benefits with money and weapons while offering
protection to growers and traffickers, the report said.
"Eliminating narcotics cultivation and trafficking in
Afghanistan will require a long-term national and international
commitment," the State Department said.
"The Afghan government must take decisive action against poppy
cultivation soon to turn back the drug threat before its further
growth and consolidation make it even more difficult to defeat."
The report noted that Afghan President Hamid Karzai considered
limited aerial spraying to eradicate opium poppies last year, but
opted not to do it. Such action would have been extremely dangerous
and highly unpopular.