Troubling as images are of US soldiers urinating on presumably Taliban dead, there is another indication that in Afghanistan the opium cultivation/trade is also not being very effectively addressed. Washington has had difficulty for some years in making the transition from being viewed as occupying power to one more broadly embraced for assisting the country, people, economy and political methodology progress. From my personal experience, NATO and allied efforts were considerably more effective and more readily embraced by the Afghani population during the earlier stages of the conflict than now. From women’s empowerment to the war on opium, effectiveness and success has stalled. Part of this is simply local fatigue and uncertainty regarding the US presence. Any foreign force cannot afford to stay very long before being ever more perceived in negative shades, especially when in combat with local insurgents regardless of how such are also despised domestically. What makes it worse though is the impact of highly publicized abuses, from desecrating the dead to drone attacks that kill innocent civilians – such may not reach television screens or front page news in US or UK, but the narrative in Afghanistan takes a life of its own. (READ – “Losing Afghanistan?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/losing-afghanistan-by-ambassador-mo/36085 ). Opium Windfall: Farm gate Opium generated $1.4 billion last year in Afghanistan or almost 10% of GDP (a 133% increase over 2010), and was perhaps around $2.4 billion of Afghanistan exports – around 15% of GDP. According to UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime) Yury Fedotov Executive Director (former colleague and Deputy UN Ambassador of Russian Federation): “Opium is therefore a significant part of the Afghan economy and provides considerable funding to the insurgency and fuels corruption.” (See FILM REPORT – Afghanistan Opium Poppy Cultivation” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/afghanistan-opium-poppy-cultivation/26462 ). Almost 60 per cent of farmers surveyed last year said they were primarily motivated by the high prices fetched by opium poppy cultivation, which will continue to remain attractive if it reaps bumper profits, according to the survey, a preliminary version of which was released in October. (Read – Opium/Heroin Measures for Consumer Countries & Afghanistan” -http://diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/opiumheroin-measures-for-both-consumer-countries-afghanistan-by-ambassador-mo/32719 Funding Corruption, Taliban & Decay of Rule of Law: “The Afghan Opium Survey 2011 sends a strong message that we cannot afford to be lethargic in the face of this problem. We thank the Government of Afghanistan for the leadership and dedication already shown, but a stronger commitment from a broad range of national and international partners is needed to turn this worrying trend around,” says Ambassador Fedotov. It is estimated that 90% of all opium production originates in Afghanistan. They fund corruption, crime and the Taliban. The vicious circle is complete. Link to UNODC Report - www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2012/January/afghan-opium-prices-soar-as-production-rises.html?ref=fs1 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey

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