A mighty victory to rival Vietnam

[mistermack]

As the US prepares to leave Afghanistan, they just said on the news that the opium harvest is going to be the biggest on record.
Good news for junkies. But what the fuck has the war achieved?
I'm sure America will declare a victory. They always do.

[Clinton Huxley]

Biggest opium production increase in Helmand, which Blighty responsible for. Yay, us.

[Mysturji]

Because spending billions and getting shot ploughing up and burning 3.5% of the opium is so much more righteous than buying all of it for just a few million.
You can't have a good war without a bad guy.

[mistermack]

Because spending billions and getting shot ploughing up and burning 3.5% of the opium is so much more righteous than buying all of it for just a few million.
You can't have a good war without a bad guy.

That's a good idea. I don't know why they don't.
They could purify it, and sell it at home, and save lives in both countries. And make a fortune for the taxpayers. And put the traffickers out of business.

And if they built up big stocks at home, they could have the Afghans by the balls, by being able to cut off their income at a stroke. Who's going to buy their heroin on the black market, when you can buy the good stuff off the government?
Brilliant.

[piscator]

The Taliban had almost eliminated poppy cultivation in Afghanistan by 2001, which is sort of ironic since they found a buttload of opium in OBL's house in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

[Blind groper]

The proposal to buy up the entire opium harvest has been debated in American political committees. The decision to not do that was made on the basis of the 'ideals' of the religious right. In other words, they were stooooopid!

[JimC]

How long will it take the Taliban to take back control of the country?

Not very fucking long, I suspect...

Will there be a dramatic reprise of the "embassy roof evacuation" that happened in Saigon, I wonder?

[Blind groper]

Most of the NZ contingent has left. When they did, we took all our interpreters and their families back to New Zealand as well, and they will become NZ citizens in due course. This was done because we knew damn well that, without the protection of those they were interpreting for, they and their families would be killed.

The departure of the American and allied forces will be followed by the most awful human rights abuses - killings, torturing, and maiming anyone suspected of cooperating with the invaders.

The end result, as I have been saying for years, is that the whole invasion of Afghanistan will result in making things way worse.

[Audley Strange]

As the US prepares to leave Afghanistan, they just said on the news that the opium harvest is going to be the biggest on record.
Good news for junkies. But what the fuck has the war achieved?
I'm sure America will declare a victory. They always do.

Much sand and many rocks were dispersed along with the towns and humans.

[Warren Dew]

Well, we did get rid of the Al Qaeda training bases ... back in the first three months of the war, more than a decade ago.

[Clinton Huxley]

Lady Sale could've told 'em the whole adventure weren't worth the candle.

[Audley Strange]

On the bright side guys, the world is a safer place and Islam went through it's reformation to modernity without much bloodshed because of operation infinite revenge.

[Mysturji]

The proposal to buy up the entire opium harvest has been debated in American political committees. The decision to not do that was made on the basis of the 'ideals' of the religious right. In other words, they were stooooopid!

Indeed. So fucking stupid, they couldn't even imagine that if they bought it... the stuff is theirs to do with as they wish - even to destroy.
Meanwhile, having effectively bankrupted the Taliban and won hearts & minds, we could then suggest the opium farmers try growing something else, like saffron, cinnamon, chrysanthemums etc, for which we would pay even more.
This is your brain... on religion