Afghanistan, much like Britain is always at war, unfortunately for the Afghans, mostly with itself, but essentially, Helmand was a peaceful province prior to 2001, heroin free, ruled under the vice like grip of the Taleban.Without advocating withdrawal from Afghanistan, or trying to pretend that an Islamic State governed by Sharia Law is in anyway Utopian, the fact remains that when the Taleban were in power they had agreed to evict Osama Bin Laden from the country, and were in the process of ridding Afghanistan of Al Qu-aida camps when the ISAF/US invasion took place.
With the Taleban defeated ISAF forces then had (theoretically) 100 days to demonstrate effective change to the people of Afghanistan. In this they failed, and so lost the people they had liberated. ISAF then placed Karzai in power and now as a result of the complex tribal situation corruption is rife, especially amongst those empowered by ISAF, and it is nigh on impossible to create any real judicial, or democratic society in which the peoples of Afghanistan can trust.
The Taleban aren’t like Al Qu'aida. They don’t follow the ideologies which assert a complete break from the foreign and western influences in Muslim countries, and they don’t aim to create a new Islamic caliphate. They just want to control Afghanistan.
The patriarchial society and dowry system that goes with it mean that the locals borrow the $10,000 needed to marry off their daughters from racketeering insurgents, this debt is then re-paid in poppy yield over so many years. This perpetuates the poppy, which funds the insurgents, which enables the war that ISAF created.
When the Taleban were overthrown the Afghan farmers began t0 recultivate poppy. This was immediately, via various supply chains, dispatched to the streets of Britain, but did you know that Pistachio trees are indigenous to Afghanistan? The main exporter of Pistachio nuts is Iran, a country, which makes no secret of its anti-western feelings and openly funds extremist terror groups. The Afghans are farmers and they need a crop, suited to their terrain that could yield an export opportunity for them. I can't help wondering if it would be more effective to make sure we buy Afghan products instead of sending them our young men.Author: Mrs Clare Macnaughton
Afghani stuffed peppers (with pistachio nuts)
3 comments:
and dowry system that goes with it mean that the locals borrow the $10,000 needed to marry off their daughters from racketeering insurgents, this debt is then re-paid in poppy yield over so many years.
Suppose we made the loans instead, putting the insurgents out of business?
We lend money to people who have not the slightest intention or ability to pay back, so lending to Afghani farmer who might conceivably return the money is rather better business than some we have been writing.
As part of the loan deal we could stipulate that the brides must be above a certain verified age and have access to medical treatment, which would produce a marginal improvement in their lives.
Whilst I wouldn't want to encourage opium production, it is also a fact that the world needs a certain amount of it for legitimate pharmaceutical purposes. We are going to have to buy it from someone, so why not buy it from them if it stabilizes the region.
The Aussies (I think) have looked into the pharmaceutical side possiility but I think the sales margins don't make it viable.
You are the only person who has picked up on the dowry aspect of this issue. Most people focus on the nuts!! Typical bloody men - always thinking about their nuts!
i say boycott pistachio nuts ,no more money to Iran whilst it treats its people in such an inhumane manner.
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