In February 2002, George W. Bush announced his National Drug Control
Strategy.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020212-8.html

Here's an excerpt:


You know, I'm asked all the time, how can I help fight against terror?

What can I do, what can I as a citizen do to defend America?

Well, one thing you can do is not purchase illegal drugs.

Make no mistake about it, if you're buying illegal drugs in America,
it is likely that money is going to end up in the hands of terrorist
organizations.

Just think about the Taliban in Afghanistan - 70 percent of the
world's opium trade came from Afghanistan, resulting in significant
income to the Taliban, significant amount of money to the people that
were harboring and feeding and hiding those who attacked and killed
thousands of innocent Americans on September the 11th.

When we fight drugs, we fight the war on terror.


So how's that National Drug Control Strategy working out?

Well, in 2001, Afghanistan produced 185 tons of opium.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3476377.stm

And last week officials in Kabul told the Associated Press that in
2005, Afghanistan produced, er, 4,500 tons of opium.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060816/ap_on_re_as/afghan_opium_boom

Which is a new record.

And constitutes almost 90 percent of the world supply, up from 70
percent in 2002.

And according to the AP, "opium accounted for 52 percent of
Afghanistan's gross domestic product in 2005."

Yes, it's another smashing success for the Bush administration!


By EarlG
From Democratic Underground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/

Harry