More on Afghan Opium

UN official Antonio Maria Costa is insisting that foreign troops in Afghanistan combat the drug trade, though NATO says that is not their responsibility. They are, however, planning to increase the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. Afghanistan is such a tough place precisely because it has so many problems you can be doing really well and fixing one and the others will still come back to bite you. Provincial reconstruction is nice, but what if the political situation degenerates do to drug-funded warlordism and the reconstruction gets undone? On the other hand, some of these projects might ultimately improve the economic situation enough that farmers wouldn't turn to drugs. It's all a very tough balancing act, and I'd much rather be in Iraq.