Afghanistan's opium cultivation jumped 64 percent to a record 324,000 acres this year and drug exports now account for more than 60 percent of the economy, the United Nations drugs office said November 18, 2004. A Pashtun boy is shown walking near poppy fields near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on April 9. Photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters
Perhaps this is appropriate that I spotted this tonight. After all, Turner Classic Movies was showing The Wizard of Oz. Who can forget Margaret Hamilton's enunciation of the word "Poppies?"
But is this just 64% increase? Not according to sources in Australia, a fervent US ally, using US satellite surveys. They peg the increase at 239%.
Would that the Bush Administration could work that kind of miracle on our economy!
