Afghan Opium At 'Frightening Levels'

This is the other disaster that barely gets mentioned in the news.

The production of opium in Afghanistan has "soared to frightening record levels," according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released in Kabul Monday.

Production levels of opium, from which the class A drug heroin is manufactured, are expected to reach 8,200 tons in 2007, up from 6,100 tons in 2006.

The amount of land used for the production of opium has also increased to 193,000 hectares from 165,000 in 2006, the report said.

Afghanistan is now responsible for 93 per cent of global opium production, according to the UNODC.

The Taliban once considered the production of opium a sin but they have realized that the drug trade is a great source of income to continue their terrorist activities. This is what happens when you don't complete the job you started. When the Bush administration decided to start a war with Iraq, they left Afghanistan to twist in the wind.

Unfortunately the winds are blowing towards the United States and include the bumper crop of heroin which will surely make it onto our streets and turn even more of our citizens into addicts. Another fine job by the Bush Administration. Can you think of anything they have done right? I surely can't.