Iran

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

A nice thought -- but the difference between the money Yusuf Afghani can make from a field of wheat and a field of opium poppies is nothing short of astromomical, whether legal or no. Nobody has been able to wipe out this dollar difference nor even to close the gap.

Not so because they have to pay the Taliban most of the profit for protection and marketing. But you couldn't know that, not being there.
I think I'll go with the opinion of the people that are there dealing with Bush's mistakes.:p

Competing with opium requires teaching Afghan farmers how to earn more money with alternative crops once we have demonstrated the credibility of an eradication program. Experimental farms in the southern region have had success with “cotton, fruit and certain vegetable crops,” according to Rashid. CDAG projects have overseen agricultural development that includes apricots, raisins, pistachios and walnuts, rice, corn and cotton.

Mr. Koch and others who know both the climate and the people in Afghanistan say that persuading the farmers to use drip systems for irrigation, or to train grapevines to trellises so that the vines and rows can be planted closer together, is a serious obstacle. But, these methods are essential to make vineyards a viable alternative to the poppy plant because the higher crop density increases profits. Despite inertia, it is possible to persuade farmers to try new ideas by subsidizing the work and giving them access to mentors like Koch, who can increase the odds of success with those first critical harvests. The confidence that is the chief by-product of success is also the only antidote to inertia. In just a few years, the vineyards depicted in the next two photographs will compete with opium poppy. Although he can’t say for certain at this point, Michael Koch believes that in the long run, these vineyards can probably earn more than opium poppies.

jump

The tragic irony with all of this is that after winning stunning military victory after stunning military victory in the early war – crushing and vanquishing the Taliban – instead of setting in to seal the victory, we squandered it and ran off to Iraq, and the Taliban re-inflated and returned. At the current rate we, the Brits, Aussies, Canadians, French, Germans, Italians, and all the rest who are there, will lose the war in Afghanistan. We must change course with great haste.

The alternative crops approach can work, and there are other ideas for alternative economies not mentioned here. People are thinking about it. But we are not moving fast enough on long overdue and badly mismanaged reconstruction efforts. We are not taking the opium threat seriously, and so we literally are subsidizing a deadly enemy with poisoned blood and dirty money. Western money will flow into Afghanistan whether we invest it wisely or not. We’ve seen what happens when we ignore the place.

[Griff]

Not to drag this back in but, I saw some cable tv last night. The nut is serious about attacking Iran, isn't he?

[tw]

Originally Posted by Griff

Not to drag this back in but, I saw some cable tv last night. The nut is serious about attacking Iran, isn't he?

He was serious about attacking China over a silly spy plane. How many saw what should have been obvious back then? He (really Cheney) is that Stalinmanic. Iraq was Pearl Harbored. Next on his well publicized list is Iran. Only a brown shirt did not see veins hanging from his teeth in 2001 - over a silly spy plane.

But then I even read his book. The word nut no longer applies. We long passed 'nut' when he (actually Cheney) wanted to attack China over a silly spy plane. He even promotes China as a next 'evil' - and brown shirts (ie Urbane Guerrilla) love it.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by tw

But then I even read his book. The word nut no longer applies. We long passed 'nut' when he (actually Cheney) wanted to attack China over a silly spy plane. He even promotes China as a next 'evil' - and brown shirts (ie Urbane Guerrilla) love it.

Well, well, well: the thread is officially over. Tw just stooped or slumped down to calling somebody a Nazi.

As for the "silly spy plane" thing, the only person talking like an attack on China was contemplated is again our very own delusive, dear ol' tw. He also fails to understand what's behind the Heinleinian remark "Men are not potatoes." Those of us who do understand this are shaking our heads at tw's take.

Your communist sympathies, and your virulent anti-Americanism, have never been more on display than in this post, tw. Always your bias is away from America and her worthwhile traits and towards all the evils of Communism, which you would like us to believe are good things. But then, you usually cover yourself with your own shit when you reveal your thoughts. Nithing.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

Well, well, well: the thread is officially over. Tw just stooped or slumped down to calling somebody a Nazi.

UG is using his menza grasp. Clearly a brown shirt could only be a Nazi. Because 1930 brown shirts supported the Nazi party, then 2002 brown shirts are also Nazis? Cheney would be angry with UG for his assumption.