The Good War: Should we get out of Afghanistan?

2009-09-03 19:09:43

#26

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

This is what we're dealing with..

"A drug raid in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province in July netted a huge stash of hashish and opium — and led to the arrest of an Afghan Border Police Commander."
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/09 … commander/

Not exactly France liberating nobility.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-05 00:10:57

#27

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6692|North Carolina

What I don't understand is why we don't just burn all the opium crops?

We literally know where most of them are, but we don't do shit about it most of the time.

2009-09-05 00:17:00

#28

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

Because Karzai is pandering to the farmers.

The good news is that cultivation has dropped significantly.
http://www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idU … 4M20090902

Still a long way to go though.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-05 00:25:50

#29

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6692|North Carolina

I'm starting to feel like Afghanistan was a country we should've just vaporized and left.

2009-09-05 00:37:11

#30

Spearhead: Gulf coast redneck hippy; +731|6977|Tampa Bay Florida

hmm lets think about this one..

No.

2009-09-05 01:06:17

#31

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,817|6393|eXtreme to the maX

What I don't understand is why we don't just burn all the opium crops?

Because they are mixed up with the normal crops, and the average afghan has to make a living.
Take away their livelihoods and the average afghan WILL pick up an AK and go infidel-hunting.

It would be a lot easier and cheaper just to buy all the opium.

Fuck Israel

2009-09-05 01:10:32

#32

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

Dilbert_X wrote:
What I don't understand is why we don't just burn all the opium crops?
Because they are mixed up with the normal crops, and the average afghan has to make a living.
Take away their livelihoods and the average afghan WILL pick up an AK and go infidel-hunting.

It would be a lot easier and cheaper just to buy all the opium.

And do what with it?

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-05 01:26:03

#33

mcminty: Moderating your content for the Australian Govt.; +879|7009|Sydney, Australia

Poseidon wrote:
Locoloki wrote:
no.

read "lone survivor"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Murphy

Brother of a kid who goes to my school. He was one of the guys killed in the operation. Extremely sad.

Damn. Medal of Honor as well..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amcintyre/3209762060/

I'm sure I've said it before, but here's a guy who taught me at cadets. Was killed in Helmand Province at the end of last year.

--

I think it would be wrong to just pull out, since the ANA is really a joke when compared to the Taliban/insurgency. Their country will fall back to its old ways. However, I see the current conflict going nowhere. You know, reports of voting fraud and uncertainty about the election. If our forces were to just leave, then the government wouldn't stand a chance.

Also agree with Dilbert's point on the opium production (and Kerry's question ).

2009-09-05 01:31:03

#34

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

It makes more sense just to pay them not to plant... welfare checks. Or better yet, pay them to plant something of value.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/07/a … rs_072109/

This of course only works so long as they don't take the money and plant poppy's anyways.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-05 02:50:19

#35

Bird Killer: Member; +3|6824|Seoul, South Korea

Instead of giving these farmers welfare checks, the U.S. forces are already teaching and supplying these once opium farmers to raise wheat and other cereals instead. As for existing opium supplies, the U.S. government should just buy them and dispose after, but only if it's known that the producer is no longer growing any more, else the government is simply another customer.

Last edited by Bird Killer (2009-09-05 02:52:22)

2009-09-05 02:53:44

#36

Red Forman: Banned; +402|5688

another waste of our efforts from 2001-02. glad i lost friends so we would have to go back and do it again. get out of that shithole. now.

2009-09-05 03:07:13

#37

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|6869|SE London

AussieReaper wrote:
And there's still no dead/captured Osama Bin Laden.

I wouldn't say that. I expect he is dead.

2009-09-05 03:18:21

#38

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,817|6393|eXtreme to the maX

km wrote:
And do what with it?

Either burn it or use to produce drugs.

Seems dumb to be paying the Turks to grow the stuff and at the same time forcing it underground in Afghanstan so the Taliban can profit from it.

Letting Afghan farmers grow it and deliver it to collection points seems much easier to me than sending out troops to chop down the crops.

Instead of giving these farmers welfare checks, the U.S. forces are already teaching and supplying these once opium farmers to raise wheat and other cereals instead.

Thats going to be a long haul, and the Taliban will need to be out of the picture first.

Last edited by Dilbert_X (2009-09-05 03:20:59)

Fuck Israel

2009-09-05 08:06:24

#39

BN: smells like wee wee; +159|7055

Its time to get out and I mean fully out. No bases, and nobody left behind. The new government has been elected.

They have a domestic terrorism problem which is up to them to solve, not for a foreign army to tackle.

2009-09-05 09:19:47

#40

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

Dilbert_X wrote:
km wrote:
And do what with it?
Either burn it or use to produce drugs.

Seems dumb to be paying the Turks to grow the stuff and at the same time forcing it underground in Afghanstan so the Taliban can profit from it.

Letting Afghan farmers grow it and deliver it to collection points seems much easier to me than sending out troops to chop down the crops.

Instead of giving these farmers welfare checks, the U.S. forces are already teaching and supplying these once opium farmers to raise wheat and other cereals instead.
Thats going to be a long haul, and the Taliban will need to be out of the picture first.

Why not pay them to plant something else? It seems more productive than buying and burning.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-05 18:01:58

#41

Red Forman: Banned; +402|5688

BN wrote:
Its time to get out and I mean fully out. No bases, and nobody left behind. The new government has been elected.

They have a domestic terrorism problem which is up to them to solve, not for a foreign army to tackle.

i agree with the wee wee smell-er

2009-09-05 21:46:09

#42

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,817|6393|eXtreme to the maX

Why not pay them to plant something else? It seems more productive than buying and burning.

In the long run yes.
In the short term opium is the most profitable crop they can grow in the crappy soil and climate of Afghanistan - so thats what they will do.

Fuck Israel

2009-09-05 22:06:01

#43

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

But if the plan is to buy and burn then you assume that they will sell it the the government at a price that is sufficient to the farmer. If you are going to pay that price why not pay it for something else..(wheat, pomegranates or nuts). Something is better than nothing.. even if you are forced to pay more.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-09-05 22:08:45

#44

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6440|what

The warlords control a lot of those crops, and the one thing you don't want to do is get the warlords and tribal leaders pissed off. Burning would result in more martyrs imo.

2009-09-05 22:10:17

#45

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6888|132 and Bush

You want to get them paid and productive.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

BF2S Forums The Good War: Should we get out of Afghanistan?

Dilbert_X wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Locoloki wrote:

AussieReaper wrote:

km wrote:

Dilbert_X wrote:

km wrote:

BN wrote:

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