There was one reason for the US funding the Mujahadin and then invading Afghanistan. The incredible mineral wealth discovered by Russian geologists for the socialist Afghan government.
As soon as they invaded, US geologists were all over the place checking on the original geological surveys. I suspect the US would have exploited those resources if it could have won the war, but affter deciding that the terrain was just too difficult for complete control, they opted for their second choice - preventing anyone else such as the Afghans themselves from profiting from them.
Lots of lithium there for sure. On a somewhat related note, the Taliban -- whatever their many faults -- cracked down on the opium fields Afghanistan is famous for. After the Americans arrived, vast opiate epidemic in Europe and America. I've seen no facts to back up the connection but the timing itself is suspicious as hell.
Riff, wasn't there also a suspicion that heroin on the streets of black neighbourhoods in the US during the Vietnam war was a result of US military airlifting opium from Vietnam and sending it back to the US and covertly distributing it as a deliberate policy to weaken black communities who were seen as a threat re: The Civil rights movement?
Right. Way more than a suspicion. The CIA loves having unlimited off-book funding away from the pesky oversight eyes of congress, as lame as that is these days, and if that means empowering so-called terrorists or drug cartels, then so be it. It's all for the greater good, as they see it. We saw the same thing with cocaine in Central America with the Contras in the 80s and I'm certain these behaviors haven't magically stopped.
Here's the thing, even without any suspicions: The American military with all their resources and toys have been there for 20 years and Afghanistan is a major source of opiates. If they couldn't stop the flow drugs after all this time, then that alone is reason enough to yank their "incompetent" asses out of there, and I use that term in its most ironic form possible.
There was one reason for the US funding the Mujahadin and then invading Afghanistan. The incredible mineral wealth discovered by Russian geologists for the socialist Afghan government.
As soon as they invaded, US geologists were all over the place checking on the original geological surveys. I suspect the US would have exploited those resources if it could have won the war, but affter deciding that the terrain was just too difficult for complete control, they opted for their second choice - preventing anyone else such as the Afghans themselves from profiting from them.
Lots of lithium there for sure. On a somewhat related note, the Taliban -- whatever their many faults -- cracked down on the opium fields Afghanistan is famous for. After the Americans arrived, vast opiate epidemic in Europe and America. I've seen no facts to back up the connection but the timing itself is suspicious as hell.
The many photos of US soldiers guarding opium fields is evidence.
What a fun morning: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K4EX25OVyGw/TtdwXGaeGdI/AAAAAAAAMl0/r7Mq6NQDf6A/s1600/ACFB9.jpg
Riff, wasn't there also a suspicion that heroin on the streets of black neighbourhoods in the US during the Vietnam war was a result of US military airlifting opium from Vietnam and sending it back to the US and covertly distributing it as a deliberate policy to weaken black communities who were seen as a threat re: The Civil rights movement?
Right. Way more than a suspicion. The CIA loves having unlimited off-book funding away from the pesky oversight eyes of congress, as lame as that is these days, and if that means empowering so-called terrorists or drug cartels, then so be it. It's all for the greater good, as they see it. We saw the same thing with cocaine in Central America with the Contras in the 80s and I'm certain these behaviors haven't magically stopped.
Here's the thing, even without any suspicions: The American military with all their resources and toys have been there for 20 years and Afghanistan is a major source of opiates. If they couldn't stop the flow drugs after all this time, then that alone is reason enough to yank their "incompetent" asses out of there, and I use that term in its most ironic form possible.
*the flow of drugs. Dang, Caitlin, I hate having no edit button. ;-}
or being unable to post images like US soldiers guarding opium crops in Afghanistan.
Gary Webb's book Dark Alliance: https://archive.org/details/dark_alliance_original_series-gary_webb_cia_cocaine
Funny isn't it how this dovetailed with Biden's crime bill he was so proud of.