*U.S. Interests: Hardcore Drugs

 By IgnoranceIsntBliss

We will defend our allies and our interests; - Inaugural Address of George W. Bush; January 20, 2001

Part of the scope in the war on terror is defending US interests, it is said. In May of 2006 Congress passed the improved PATRIOT Act. The improvement of concern here is the sections that added fighting methamphetamine drug abuse and manufacturing into the scope of fighting terrorism. Several months ago, I received a message from someone that knew a first hand account of someone who had the powers of the PATRIOT Act used against them in an investigation.

What does meth have to do with terrorism and our project for a new American century? Why is meth added to the list, but not the other hardcore drugs (cocaine & opiates), when the latter are actually the bigger problems? Whats the difference between meth and coke & heroin? Think about that for a moment.

The United States has found it exceedingly difficult to define its "national interest" in the absence of Soviet power. -Condoleezza Rice

Apparently, meth is somehow part of national interests, considering how it was added to the PATRIOT Act. The most fundamental difference between meth and coke & heroin is the fact that meth is manufactured domestically, while coke & heroin are imported, by a landslide. Another troubling difference is the fact that meth is used almost exclusively amongst white people, but is rather detested by blacks.

In the new PATRIOT Act, they refer to meth as the epidemic, when in reality it isnt even the most significant hardcore addictive drug in use: In 2004, an estimated 2.0 million persons (0.8 percent) were current cocaine users (Figure 2.2); of these, 467,000 used crack during the same time period (0.2 percent). 1.2 million used stimulants (including 583,000 using methamphetamine), and 0.3 million used sedatives. The rate of nonmedical use of pain relievers past month use was 2.0 percent in 2003 and 1.8 percent in 2004. [Source]

the United States Government relies on the armed forces to defend Americas interests, - The National Security Strategy of the United States of America

In October of 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan. While its rather peculiar that American officials were already threatening to attack Afghanistan before 9/11, whats even more curious is the fact that not only has opium production (in the worlds undisputed number 1 opium supplying nation) increased significantly since the invasion, and even the traffickers have squeezed down on the profits of the opium farmers. Production and exports have increased ala American industrialist style, while traffickers have farmers making as little as ¼ of what they deserve ala Walmart style.

Imperial nations have historically pursued drug interests in their ambitions. Great Britain actually waged 2 wars with China over keeping opium in production for English profits. The prime case was when in the Second Opium War, both England and France ruthlessly attacked and defeated the Chinese Qing Dynasty in a 4 year war, because the Chinese emperor had outlawed opium use, because it was a disease on Chinese citizenry. As you can see, opium influencing the agendas of imperial European/English nations is nothing new. Furthermore, the CIA and other United States government agencies have long track records smuggling hardcore drugs, most notably cocaine, to finance black ops and secret wars.

Now we have an interesting case where the United States, whose closest ally is Great Britain, has invaded Afghanistan, and declared war on only the only major domestically produced drug that competes with drugs like cocaine and heroin. Afghanistan just so happens to be the worlds undisputed number one opium producer (plus the pipeline were trying to establish there), and we just so happened to be preparing for the war in Afghanistan before 9/11. Afghani opium production and exports have since skyrocketed, and now theyre targeting domestic meth in the domestic terrorism bill. You do the math.

Resources:

Afghanistan Watch Index on Opium:

Rank of Afghanistan among world narcotics producers: 1

Percent of world's opium that comes from Afghanistan: 87 percent

Percent of drug profits in Afghanistan that went to traffickers, 2003: 56.5 percent

Percent of drug profits in Afghanistan that went to traffickers, 2004: 78.5 percent

Approximate ratio of revenues by traffickers to revenues by farmers, 2003: 3 : 2

Approximate ratio of revenues by traffickers to revenues by farmers, 2004: 4 : 1

Total proposed US development assistance to Afghanistan for 2005: $977 million

Additional proposed counter-narcotics spending per year, 2005: $780 million

Average Pentagon expenditures per month, 2004-05: $769 million

Pounds of heroin seized at Afghan border, 2002 (before interdiction efforts): 895

Pounds of heroin seized at the border, 2004 (January through September): 32,850

Pounds of opiates seized by Afghan Special Narcotics forces since October 2003: 64,000

Total pounds of opiates produced in Afghanistan, 2004: 9,260,000

Approximate percentage of total opiates seized by Special Narcotics forces: 0.7 percent

July 21, 2001: US Official Threatens Possible Military Action Against Taliban by October if Pipeline Is Not Pursued

Drugs / CIA

Cocaine Trafficking and distribution

The CIA : America's Premier International Terrorist Organization

http://www.google.com/search?q=afghanistan opium exports increase&hl=en&lr=

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/patriotact/

USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act

2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:  Detailed Tables

Substance Dependence for Specific Substances in the Past Year

http://www.nida.nih.gov/pdf/infofacts/Methamphetamine05.pdf

http://www.nida.nih.gov/pdf/infofacts/Cocaine06.pdf

http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/Infofacts/Heroin06.pdf

http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/Infofacts/MDMA06.pdf

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