* Poppies irony?

Marines in Afghanistan are told NOT to touch the poppies. They are told NOT to alienate the Afghanistan farmers growing poppies for opium.... "After all, the farmers need to make a living...."


When the Taliban was in power, and with the help of American MONEY, they (the Taliban) had eradicated the growing of poppies. But since the start of the war in Afghanistan, cheap heroin again has FLOODED the illicit American drug market with NO end in sight.


The question now is: WHAT did those opium producing poppy farmers grow during the time period when the Taliban WAS in power? Since the previous Administration failed to do this, perhaps THIS Administration, along with it's war planning experts,  could take time away from pipeline building worries, and start to focus on the economical problems of the Afghanistan people?
As always, FOLLOW the MONEY...