[Rambo]

$400m Taliban hash stash uncovered

AFGHAN counter-narcotics officials said they uncovered 260 tonnes of hashish hidden in 2m-deep trenches in southern Afghanistan in what one said appeared to be the world's largest-ever drug bust.
The hashish, found in the southern province of Kandahar on Monday, was worth more than $400 million and would have netted the Taliban about $14 million in profits.
The hashish weighed as much as 30 London double-decker buses. The previous record was set by Colombia's security forces when they uncovered 81 tonnes of coca.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "This was the largest-ever single find of narcotics in history. It reflects the efforts of the Afghan Government against the drug trade, and was so large that two aircraft were brought in to destroy the underground bunker in which the hashish was being stored."
THE US-led coalition in Afghanistan yesterday deflected accusations it killed 11 Pakistani soldiers in an air strike, releasing video footage it said showed its forces targeting insurgents.
Furious Islamabad has accused US-led forces in Afghanistan of launching an unprovoked and "cowardly" attack on the checkpost in Pakistan's volatile Mohmand tribal zone, further straining ties between the "war on terror" allies.
But US officials said Washington insisted its forces had carried out a "legitimate strike" on Wednesday, and given Pakistan advance warning.

$400m Taliban hash stash uncovered | Herald Sun

[Rambo]

^ lol the so called good muslims

[Jaysh]

A blatant lie. The Taliban destroyed the drug trade single-handedly.

[ChotooMotoo]

Originally Posted by Jaysh

A blatant lie. The Taliban destroyed the drug trade single-handedly.

The Old taliban did. The new one isn't nearly as organized. Taliban has also become kind of a blanket term for all militants in Afghanistan (at least the way the western media reports it).

[MossadConspiracy]

Originally Posted by Jaysh

A blatant lie. The Taliban destroyed the drug trade single-handedly.

Salam

If thats true, it doesnt necessarily mean that they are still avoiding the drug trade. Perhaps when they were in power the narcotics trade was a source of funds for their enemies, but now it is a source of funds for them. Perhaps they support it simply to weaken the Afghan government and its initiatives to stop cultivation and trade of drugs to bring the countryside under its control. Maybe the Taliban today have some new leaders. etc

I dont know anything about this current drug seizure, so I cant comment about it, but there are lots of reports about the Taliban being involved in the current drug trade in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and actively fighting the anti-opium agricultural policies that are attempted in parts of Afghanistan where theyre active.

ws

[jinnzaman]

$14 million in drug money?

Damn. I totally studied the wrong side of the law.

[Jaysh]

The accusations that the Taliban deal in drugs is one that is used to portray them as hypocrites. Yes, there was some drug trafficking going on whilst they ruled, just as there is drug trafficking in America today...do we say that the American government is drug trafficking just because it is happening inside their borders by individuals?

The fact is that the Taliban halted opium production to zero whilst they were in power. Something that was unheard of.

Yet, the media continues to neglect this accomplishment, and instead portrays an opposite picture, which is part of their campaign against Islam itself.

[jinnzaman]

I don't think people are talking about the drug trade during their rule, but their taking part in the drug trade now that they've lost power. Do you have any evidence that they're going around and fighting drug dealers and the drug trade as insurgents?

[Jaysh]

Originally Posted by jinnzaman

I don't think people are talking about the drug trade during their rule, but their taking part in the drug trade now that they've lost power. Do you have any evidence that they're going around and fighting drug dealers and the drug trade as insurgents?

I am not saying they are actively fighting drug dealers. They have bigger things to worry about right now. I just don't see them actively involved in the drug trade. In any case, the Taliban of today are different than the Taliban of yesteryear, that is true. But nonetheless I am weary of this polemic used by the West. I have no evidence, just from experience, since they lied about this during the rule of the Taliban, so what would make us trust them now?

I just want to clarify that I am not a fan of the Taliban, and I oppose their being allied with Al-Qaeda. Nonetheless, one should be just and give credit where credit is due.

[ChotooMotoo]

Originally Posted by Jaysh

I am not saying they are actively fighting drug dealers. They have bigger things to worry about right now. I just don't see them actively involved in the drug trade. In any case, the Taliban of today are different than the Taliban of yesteryear, that is true. But nonetheless I am weary of this polemic used by the West. I have no evidence, just from experience, since they lied about this during the rule of the Taliban, so what would make us trust them now?

I just want to clarify that I am not a fan of the Taliban, and I oppose their being allied with Al-Qaeda. Nonetheless, one should be just and give credit where credit is due.

It certainly doesn't help that a) the western media labels practically ALL insurgents as Taliban, and b) there are some groups who label THEMSELVES as Taliban to scare people, and then go out and do really crappy things.

[Variable]

The Taliban were also party to an international landmine treaty and from day one have (and continue to) employed landmines in indiscriminate fashion in Afghanistan. They and their supporters sound principled until the going gets rough, and then all bets are off.

[Jamroll]

I think it'd be useful to simplify the terms and groups to aid understanding:

Old Taliban - strict, harsh, but generally a force for good. Brought law and order, but had some practices that raised eyebrows especially for those unfamiliar with Afghan culture

New Taliban - unpredictable, random, al-Qaeda tribute band, seemingly causing chaos and confusion everywhere

US government definition of Taliban: Any Pashtun with a gun (which is pretty much 99.9% of them) Scratch that... any person with a turban and a gun.

[Variable]

Originally Posted by Jamroll

I think it'd be useful to simplify the terms and groups to aid understanding:

Old Taliban - strict, harsh, but generally a force for good. Brought law and order, but had some practices that raised eyebrows especially for those unfamiliar with Afghan culture

New Taliban - unpredictable, random, al-Qaeda tribute band, seemingly causing chaos and confusion everywhere

US government definition of Taliban: Any Pashtun with a gun (which is pretty much 99.9% of them) Scratch that... any person with a turban and a gun.

Seeing as there are segments of the population who are scared to death of returning to life under them, I don't think I'd count them particularly as a 'general force for good'. They also supported the Al Quaeda before the invasion of Afghanistan.

[Jamroll]

Originally Posted by Variable

Seeing as there are segments of the population who are scared to death of returning to life under them, I don't think I'd count them particularly as a 'general force for good'. They also supported the Al Quaeda before the invasion of Afghanistan.

You don't have to count them as a force for good, but a lot of people did. They got rid of the feuding warlords, cut opium production, and slammed down hard on bandits and organised crime amongst other things. I'm sure all these groups - warlords, heroin producers and gangster firms - are scared to death of returning to life under them, but then again I don't think that's such a bad idea.

Also, there's a difference between supporting al-Qaeda and being al-Qaeda. They seem to be moving into the latter.

[roberto]

Originally Posted by Jamroll

You don't have to count them as a force for good, but a lot of people did. They got rid of the feuding warlords, cut opium production, and slammed down hard on bandits and organised crime amongst other things. I'm sure all these groups - warlords, heroin producers and gangster firms - are scared to death of returning to life under them, but then again I don't think that's such a bad idea.

Also, there's a difference between supporting al-Qaeda and being al-Qaeda. They seem to be moving into the latter.

Your credentials are an exact match for those required for the job of a UK Social Worker

Good luck in your new job,or are you one already