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NATO Chief OKs Attacks on Afghan Drug Producers

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:16 PM CST

(Newser) – NATO's top commander has authorized coalition troops “to attack directly drug producers and facilities throughout Afghanistan,” saying they “are inextricably linked to the Opposing Military Forces,” Der Spiegel reports. The order from US General John Craddock is not going over well with commanders on the ground. The top general in Afghanistan said such action would “seriously undermine the commitment ISAF has made to the Afghan people.”

Craddock’s reclassification of drug activity means it is “no longer necessary to produce intelligence or other evidence” that a target is “a military objective.” The trade in opium and heroin accounts for half of Afghanistan’s GDP, according to the UN. The order, which another top NATO official has flatly refused to follow, comes as the US changed its specific policy, allowing attacks on drug labs if they would not kill “more than 10 civilians.”

A British soldier aims his weapon at an opium poppy field in Habibollah Kalay village in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
A British soldier aims his weapon at an opium poppy field in Habibollah Kalay village in Helmand province, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe John Craddock.
NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe John Craddock.   (AP Photo)
US Gen. David McKiernan, commander of the NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
US Gen. David McKiernan, commander of the NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
Hamid Karzai, outgoing ISAF commander US Gen. Dan K. McNeill, German Gen. Egon Ramms, commander of Joint Command Brunssum, and the incoming ISAF commander US Gen. David D. McKiernan,
Hamid Karzai, outgoing ISAF commander US Gen. Dan K. McNeill, German Gen. Egon Ramms, commander of Joint Command Brunssum, and the incoming ISAF commander US Gen. David D. McKiernan,   (AP Photo)
An Afghan boy collects resin from poppies in an opium poppy field in the Khogyani district of the Nangarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan.
An Afghan boy collects resin from poppies in an opium poppy field in the Khogyani district of the Nangarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
A Taliban militant is seen as farmers collect resin from poppies in an opium poppy field in Naway district of Helmand province.
A Taliban militant is seen as farmers collect resin from poppies in an opium poppy field in Naway district of Helmand province.   (AP Photo)
A pile of seized drugs is destroyed in Afghanistan.
A pile of seized drugs is destroyed in Afghanistan.   (AP Photo)
Afghan border policemen view confiscated opium.
Afghan border policemen view confiscated opium.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Feb 2, 2009 11:26 PM CST
That is not a valid solution to this problem. The opium producers in many cases are linked closely to the people who we are waging war against and putting money into their pockets would in turn put funding into the oppositions cause.
bacimom
Feb 2, 2009 9:32 PM CST
Is it possible for the Afghani people whose only income is those poppy fields to legitimately produce for legal medical morphine with UN backing?

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