Drug Eradication: Too Little, Too Late

"According to a recent report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime [certainly not a "right-wing extremist" organization. -RT], 19,047 hectares of poppies were eradicated in Afghanistan this year, 24 percent more than in 2006. Meanwhile, the number of opium-free provinces more than doubled, from six to 13. Those victories were somewhat overshadowed by the news that the total amount of land devoted to opium poppies in Afghanistan rose from 165,000 to 193,000 hectares, an increase of 17 percent. Due to “favorable weather conditions,” estimated opium production rose even more, hitting an all-time high of 8,200 metric tons, 34 percent more than the previous record, set last year." The number of people in the United States abusing drugs are about twice as many now as when the "drug war" began. Tell me again why we are "fighting a war on drugs." (Jacob Sullum/The Atlasphere, 11/26/07)