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Newsbrief:
Afghan
Warlords
Allied
to
US
Growing
Rich
Off
Opium
Trade,
Says
Expert
5/17/02
Opium and heroin dollars
are filling the coffers of regional Afghan warlords allied with the US,
long-time drug trafficking investigator Jack Blum told a House panel investigating
international corruption last week. "The revenue of poppies is essential
for the warlords supporting the United States," Blum told the panel.
The Washington lawyer and
international financial crime expert, perhaps best known to drug policy
people for his research into the Contra-cocaine connection in the 1980s,
laid a heavy load of reality on his congressional audience, telling them
any Afghan government would be hard-pressed to provide for its people and
support the "war on terrorism" without relying on opium and heroin revenues.
"It's a terrible, terrible
dilemma, because it is the only source of revenue the state has," said
Blum. "It's possibly one of the most complicated, atrocious problems
any one could understand." And as for chasing drug traffickers out
of the country, said Blum, fat chance. "The problem of corruption
surrounding drugs on that route is absolutely astonishing. I have
no faith that any agreement to chase or not to chase would make any difference."
-- END --
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Issue #237, 5/17/02
Medical Marijuana Wars Heat Up: Activists Announce Day of Direct Action Against DEA, Plan Emergency Response to Expected Raids | Anti-Drug Ads a Flop, Says Drug Czar, Please Give Us Money for More | MarijuanaInfo.org: New Medical Marijuana Web Site Provides Forum for Warring Views, In-Depth Exploration of Issue | Budget Crunch I: As Oklahoma Goes Broke, Drug War Fuels Ever-Increasing Prison Budgets | Budget Crunch II: Massachusetts Vote Imperils All of State's Methadone Clinics, Supporters Mobilizing | Prison Reform Advocates Blast 7 UP Commercial for Trivializing Prison Rape, Call for Boycott of Cadbury Schweppes Product | Newsbrief: Nevada Petition Drive to Legalize Marijuana Possession Underway | Newsbrief: Madison Suspends Raves at County Venue | Newsbrief: Barr Booed for Anti-Pot Remarks in Home District Event | Newsbrief: Canadian Mounties Follow US Lead, Discover Drug-Terror Connection | Newsbrief: Canada Prisons Propose Ignoring Inmate Cannabis Use | Newsbrief: Afghan Warlords Allied to US Growing Rich Off Opium Trade, Says Expert | Newsbrief: Dionne Warwick Busted for Marijuana at Airport Amidst Heightened Airline Security | Newsbrief: Pipe Bong Found in Rural Illinois Mailbox | Clarification from Dana Beal | Articles and Resources | The Reformer's Calendar
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