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Article: When wars collide: war on drugs vs. war on terror.(Citing)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Reason
- Article date:
- April 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Reason Foundation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As DEMOCRACY attempts to take root in Afghanistan, the poppy crop is doing so with greater alacrity. Opium cultivation was up a staggering two-thirds in 2004 over the previous year, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with only inclement weather and disease keeping the increase in the actual harvest down to 17 percent.
The Pentagon has been reluctant to have soldiers act as drug cops, but there are signs that Maj. Gen. Eric Olson's statement last summer that "at this point in time, U.S. troops will not be involved in counterdrug or counternarcotics operations" may not be the final word. It has become "absolutely clear," Lt. Gen. Lance Smith ...