Opium Wars

Eng 100

Boydstun

15 Feb. 12

Opium Wars

1. One of the many reasons why there’s a Campaign in Afghanistan is because, “The flow from opium trafficking supported by the Taliban, which use the proceeds to fund attacks on Western troops.” Chief of police Kintuz accepted this task knowingly that it would be a struggle to cease there operation. Opium trafficking that occurs in this country is high, due to the fact of these people ways of life of not knowing anything else. The farmers count on the opium because it is there source of income and the Taliban pays them substantially good for them to survive. Also, in a village of “Sar Ab in Yamagan district, where there is lack of medical clinic led the use of opium as their only medicine.” Mohammed Khalid stated, "I have no idea why they're eradicating. I'm just a poor farmer, and all I have time to think about is how to feed my family." Instead of seeing it as a drug affiliated he would “Use the seeds to make cooking oil and burn the stalks as firewood and for ash to make soap. It provides everything,” he says. Other areas, "They promised the Argo district's governor that they'd give us bags of wheat seed and fertilizer," he replies. "But they haven't." The remark is similar to one by an elder of the nearby Tashkan district: "The government said, 'We'll build roads, bridges, and canals, and you'll forget poppies forever.' That was five years ago. They've done nothing." So evidently other farmers wants to stop the opium crisis and live a better life but without the help of the government they are restricted to keep harvesting opium in order to survive. These people aren’t scared of the Taliban, although the thought of not providing for the family is what really makes them do the opium harvesting. Around 2001, the crackdown on opium was in effect but there were holes that made opium still flow and the Taliban knew the appropriate individuals to be bought off. It wasn’t until later in 2010 when the marines arrived to try...