http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601 According to the United Nations, opium production in <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=14981">Afghanistan has shot up 50% from the year before</a>, while eradication efforts destroy production in almost every other state in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Triangle_(Southeast_Asia)">Golden Triangle</a>. en-us Sun, 1 Jul 2007 15:02:28 EST Sat, 7 Jul 2007 20:15:26 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#9 Yep. Turkey was the example I had in mind. Sat, 7 Jul 2007 20:15:26 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#8     Sounds like a great idea, and hasn't it already worked in Turkey? Of course, law and order ain't the same in Afghanistan as it is elsewhere, but the fundamental idea sounds good.<br>     My guess is that it's an unofficial payoff fo Sat, 7 Jul 2007 12:52:10 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#7 If they legalize production I am guessing prices would drop dramatically, but probably still bring in more than average day to day life in Afghanistan.<p> Also, couldn't the pharmaceutical companies who would be saving scads of cash on the deal spend some Sat, 7 Jul 2007 12:06:33 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#6 My guess is cost/benefit ratio.  No matter how much legal opium production pays, I'm pretty sure the illegal stuff pays more.  Then you might have a number of farmers who want to produce opium legally, but there's a bunch bearded, wild-eyed fanat Sat, 7 Jul 2007 11:49:30 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#5 There has got to be <i> some </i> reason why that won't work. I mean, I've seen that suggested countless times. Why not turn that region of Afghanistan into a supplier for western pharma corps? Hell, everybody loves outsourcing manufacturing for cheap labo Sat, 7 Jul 2007 10:23:36 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#4 How do we answer if we've never ridden the white horse to begin with? Fri, 6 Jul 2007 14:52:43 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#3 <i>With all those unmanned drones it should be a simple enough matter to a) identify the poppy fields and b) go there with flame throwers.</i><p> With that kind of lever, why not provide some incentive too? Say, legitimize poppy production and trade for ph Fri, 6 Jul 2007 14:51:46 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#2 Props to p0157 for a fine story -- I detect a bit of media sleight of hand in the numbers however. The MSNB link that describes Helmand province compares opium production in 2000 to now. Why not 2001 the last year the Taliban was in power?<p> Well maybe be Tue, 3 Jul 2007 07:00:42 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/6/26/103030/601#1 Mission Accomplished! Mon, 2 Jul 2007 16:43:55 EST string http://www.treesandthings.com/search/