11 people were killed today in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan, including 3 Americans. The Taliban has been regrouping there, and outside of Kabul there is no progress. Over the past year, more than 1,000 people have died in violence there
Yes, Afghanistan has a new president Hamid Karzai, but he has no power outside the capitol city. He is referred to with contempt by the Afghani warlords as “The Mayor of Kabul”.
Whatever happened to the hunt for Osama Bin Laden? Why did we stop fighting in Afghanistan before the country was secured, in order to attack Saddam?
Right now we have 20,000 US troops in Afghanistan, and 140,000 troops in Iraq.
Does 20,000 sound like a lot? It’s not. That’s half the size of the New York City police force.
The terror factor in Afghanistan, Iraq
Fresh kidnappings, bombings targeting foreigners prompt new level of concern.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0830/dailyUpdate.html?s=ent2
U.S. still losing war on opium production
Monday, August 30, 2004
U.S.-led forces and Afghanistan’s provisional government are losing the war against opium production, which in the next two years is projected to increase 200 percent.
That means more wealth and power for Afghanistan’s narco-warlords and, without question, more revenues for al-Qaida.
Poppy fields flourished after the fall of the Taliban. Since then, “there has been very little progress to date in U.S. and coalition efforts against drug trafficking,” says Rep. Henry J. Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House International Relations Committee.
Government sources interviewed by The Washington Times say traffickers this year alone will produce up to 7,200 metric tons of opium gum. The annual gross: $2 billion.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld this week said U.S.-led forces are preparing a coordinated attack on Afghanistan’s narcotics trade, but he offered no specifics. It’s also been reported that October’s presidential election has hindered anti-drug operations as President Hamid Karzai tries to keep the peace with powerful warlords. Experts say that will make it more difficult to maintain any new government’s stability – or, for that matter, to protect the security interests of the United States.
The United States must revisit its counternarcotics strategy. Otherwise insurgents may become the least of our troubles in Afghanistan."
Poppy production is up to an all-time high, and Europe and America can expect to be flooded with opium and heroin in the next year, which will help fund terrorist activities.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/editorial/s_246003.html