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Create economy, end Afgan war - and help the war on drugs with one change
Posted 09/30/2008 by ziplicon in World Issues | Submit idea in this category
The Afgan war is getting worse.  Two main problems are the lack of meaningful work and the extent of the poppy fields.  The Taliban gets financial support by supporting the farmers while we try to destory their crops.  That makes them against us and we have no economic opportunities to offer as an alternative.  even if we did, we'd spend years training an uneducated population.

So, why no buy the poppys from the farmers?

1. It gets the farmers and people on our side.
2. Instead of spending money seeking the plants to destory them, they would be delivered to us
3. We could then destory the plants or seek products made from them
4. The taliban would lose their civilian support AND much of their funding
5. The war on drugs would be helped - saves law enforcement money at home
6. We'd create an INSTANT economy PLUS they already have the skills and training to grow the poppy plants.
7. Even if we over pay for the plants for now, it's still cheaper than the war
8. Hopefully, eventually we could shift their crops over to something beneficial - perhaps a type of bio fuel.
9. Unlike corn and farmland, It's not taking land used for food so it's perfect for a biofuel.
10 In Anbar iraq, a similar appraoch worked wherein we hired the former enemies as security personnel.  We gave them jobs using the skills they already have. 

Bottom line is the basic American line - if you want to have influence over someone, become their best customer.  Think about it, it's not as crazy at it first seems.
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Posted by sarossell
9 months ago
Very intelligent and well thought out. Sadly, the United States economy is based on building and using expensive explosives that are required to travel a great distance at a very high expense. The simple solution to this problem while maintaining world-wide fear of the U.S. econo-military government is to just blow it all up and anyone who happens to be nearby. Your intelligent solution would give them a rash, a headache, and cancer all at the same time...you know, like Agent Orange.
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