Why not take the current ethanol subsidies to Western farmers and pay them directly to Afghan farmers instead to grow food rather than opium?
More food, less support for the Taliban, and less illegal drug trade: what's not for an honest to person to prefer? Bonus: it lets the pro-ethanol pols climb down w/out losing face, and so has a chance of actually happening.
No disrespect to our troops who have done and continue to do great work over there, but if the Afghan politicians continue to vote for stupid things like this then I don't see the point of our troops being there much longer. Forget nation building, kill as many taliban and al qeada fighters as possible, find bin laden if he isn't dead already and then it is time to come home.
Posted at 2008-04-21 20:24:44 [PermaLink]