McClatchy: U.S. ignores angry reaction to secret poppy spraying test

[babylonsister]

U.S. ignores angry reaction to secret poppy spraying test
By Jonathan S. Landay | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007


WASHINGTON — In 2004, U.S.-contracted aircraft secretly sprayed harmless plastic granules over poppy fields in Afghanistan to gauge public reaction to using herbicides to kill the opium poppies that help fund the Taliban and al Qaida.

The mysterious granules ignited a major outcry from poor farmers, tribal chiefs and government officials up to President Hamid Karzai, who demanded to know if the spraying was part of a poppy eradication program. At the time, U.S officials up to the level of Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad denied any knowledge of the program.

U.S. officials declined to identify the agency that oversaw the test spraying, but pointed out that the State Department oversees U.S. counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan. The department's bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement declined to comment. U.S. officials spoke to McClatchy Newspapers on condition of anonymity because the tests remain classified.

Now the Bush administration is pressing Karzai to spray real herbicide against what's expected to be another record opium poppy crop, which is refined into heroin. There's wide opposition — from Karzai and his government, NATO allies such as Britain with troops in Afghanistan and even major parts of the U.S. government, including the Pentagon, the CIA and U.S. military commanders.

Afghanistan's opium production is one of the biggest challenges confronting the United States in Afghanistan: No matter what action the U.S. government takes, it seems likely to benefit the Taliban insurgents. Opponents fear that spraying would trigger a backlash against Karzai, who's already politically weak, said U.S. and European officials, and deliver a propaganda bonanza to the Taliban. At the same time, a great percentage of the proceeds of opium poppy farming, if unchecked, will go to the Taliban.

The officials who confirmed details of the 2004 spraying for the first time made no secret of their opposition to the program that's being contemplated.

"It was a dry run," said a senior State Department official. "People freaked out."

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/20852.html

[Disturbed]

1. Shades of Agent Orange.

Here we go again.

[David Dunham]

2. The opium-growing fields should be destroyed

[babylonsister]

3. Where's the profit in that?

:hide: