Drugs in Afghanistan Still a Problem
If you know anything about the history of Afghanistan, you know that drugs have played a negative role in the country for many years – hundreds of years. That said, the natives of Afghanistan sometimes are just trying to make a living by raising Poppy plants. Raising drugs is a serious problem, though, as it helps funds Al Queda and other terrorist organizations. And when the bad guys are funded, it puts our brave men and women in harm’s way. And that’s not a good thing.
Luckily, things are progressing in the war against drugs in Afghanistan. On January 7, 2010, Afghan National Police working with ISAF air and ground elements seized more than 800 pounds of opium in Helmand province. Four individuals were arrested in the operation. This just goes to show how many drugs are going through this country and ending up in other areas of the world.
Separately (but very closely linked to drugs in the area), an ISAF patrol operating near Nawah-Ye-Barakzai also in Helmand, discovered a weapons cache including two 155-mm artillery rounds, 15 RPG warheads and other IED making materials. This happened on Saturday afternoon, January 9, 2010. The munitions were safely destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team from the area.
As you can see, drugs and weapons are both serious problems in Afghanistan, but they are two problems that the US military and the ISAF is trying to combat. The good news is that they’re being successful, but the bad news is that there’s still a long way to go. By slowly chipping away at the drugs (and money) in Afghanistan, the enemy will have less and less resources to put toward harming US and Afghan citizens who are trying to do the right thing and help the country into the 21st century.
This is Sgt Stryker thanking all the troops in Afghanistan and signing out.
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Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
An adolescent boy listens in as members of the Ghazni Civil Affairs Team speak with village elders in Qaryeh Ye-Bahktiar, Afghanistan on Jan. 6. Members of Ghazni PRT met with villagers directly following an operation conducted by Afghan National Army soldiers in the village. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Corey
Afghan Government Leaders Join Nawa, Marjeh Citizens in Historic First Meeting
Haji Zahir, district governor of Marjeh, stands as he speaks to the group of men who came together from Nawa’s Shorshorak area and the city of Marjeh for a historic first official meeting of people and government near Forward Operating Base Fiddler’s Green Jan. 8. Leaders from Nawa and Marjeh also listened to the needs of their people and outlined their plans for success in the region. After the discussion they showcased construction projects to the group which were completed by local Afghan contractors. Photo by Sgt. Brian Tuthill
Combined Action in the Khost-Gardez Pass
(Left to right) Afghan national army Maj. Shapoor Sharafat, engineer officer, 6-1 Kandak, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jonathan Patten, executive officer, 1-40th Cavvalry, 4-25 Infantry Division, ANA Capt. Ghulam Rabani, intelligence officer, and a local interpreter, plan missions inside of the Combined Tactical Operations Center, Combat Outpost Wilderness, Afghanistan, Dec. 26. COP Wilderness is located in the Khost-Gardez pass, which is the most direct route through the mountains from the city of Gardez to Khost and is a key area of combined action efforts between the U.S. and Afghan Army. Photo by Staff Sgt. Stephen Otero
Operation Enduring Freedom
A Chinook helicopter fires warning flares before dropping supplies at Combat Outpost Sarkari Bagh, Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, Jan. 9. Photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Jones