drug war/terror war confusion in Afghanistan
The British online publication "Spiked" noted in a larger story, citing a March article in the Guardian, that there is confusion over whether NATO troops are fighting a "war on drugs" in Afghanistan" or a "war on terror." Philip Cunliff wrote:
[T]he British mission objective is further confused by the question of whether the British army is fighting a war on drugs or the war on terror. Former British defence secretary John Reid argued that poppy cultivation in Afghanistan is "absolutely interlinked" with the war on terror (though in fact, it was the Americans who endorsed their local alliesâ poppy cultivation after the Taliban curtailed it) (4). On the other hand, NATOâs Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General James Jones, has said: "You wonât see NATO burning crops, but you will see us gather intelligence and support the national effort as best we can."
Medical Marijuana: Five Arrested, 13 Dispensaries Raided by DEA in San Diego
Just a week after the US House of Representatives voted to continue funding Justice Department raids on medical marijuana patients and providers in states where it is legal, the feds struck again. Five people have been arrested in a series of DEA and local police raids Thursday hitting 13 medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego County. Some people are being charged under state marijuana distribution laws in the cooperative federal-local effort. More arrests are expected, local law enforcement officials said.