Opium Production

fusarium oxysprorum (wikimedia.org)

Drug Crop-Killing Fungi Too Risky, Scientists Say

No "Frankenfungi" for the drug warriors just yet -- we don't know enough about the dangers of using mycoherbicides to eradicate drug crops to be doing that, a panel of scientists from the National Research Council says.

Afghan opium eradication poster. Apparently, no one is paying attention. (wikimedia.org)

Afghan Opium Production on the Rebound

There's a bumper crop of Afghan opium this year.

CNN Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen on Afghan Opium Conundrum

Last week I promised to post comments by Peter Bergen (CNN terrorism analyst) responding to a question I asked of him last week about the Afghan opium conundrum.

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Chronicle Book Review: The Wars of Afghanistan

If you care at all about what's going on in Afghanistan, The Wars of Afghanistan is a must read.

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The 2011 National Drug Control Strategy: Drug Policy on Autopilot [FEATURE]

The drug czar has released the 2011 National Drug Control Strategy, and there's little new there but a renewed attack on medical marijuana and legalization. Otherwise, it's pretty much business as usual.

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Chronicle Book Review: The Power of the Poppy

"The Power of the Poppy: Harnessing Nature's Most Dangerous Plant Ally" is reviewed and found most interesting.

How Afghan Poppy Eradication Efforts Are Helping the World's Largest Heroin Dealers

It has long been known inside Afghanistan that heroin dealers in high positions benefit from the United States and Afghan governments' counternarcotics policies. Now the American public can get a glimpse. US embassy cables published recently by WikiLeaks expose the insider opinion that Afghan officials are using poppy eradication teams to weed out the competitors of major traffickers with whom they are linked.