American Military patrolling poppy fields?

Question

I'm in the army and I see these pictures of Americans patrolling poppy fields. Are we protecting them or just looking through them? I see pictures with notes below them. Nothing indicating that they are protecting them. If we are protecting them, are we bad? Is there any good reason why we are there at all? We ARE bringing the war to the terrorists right?

Answer 1

As it is an Afghan problem the boys there have to follow the rules, so if it says to leave the fields alone then so be it.

From time to time the Afghan Govt. may order an area to be cleared but more or less that is for political reasons rather than cutting back on the production.



It is a viscous circle, we have to aid the Afghan Govt. and people build the economy and the best means for them to do that is the poppies.

Chetak

Answer 2

so much to the proclaimed war on drugs.



the troops are turning a blind eye on poppy fields, because if they started destroying them, enemy would pop out from poppy fields and pop a few pot shots at them.. then call in local drug lord to bring reinforcement, running over the pityful troops chopping their heads.



because of that, the troops patrol the area, and look the other way while the drug business runs smoothly. it's thirteen years long war. long enough to genetically manipulate some common poppy disease and start crop spraying the high revenue crops.



then of course you can hear opinions that majority of afghan production ends in Russia, thus producing positive net effect for US.

Answer 3

What's wrong with that?!

It's better than tip toeing through the tulips..;)



They probably do need protecting. Nature has that effect on us. Mostly security for people working the fields too, imo.

Answer 4

They are probably watching the fields so they don't get looted, because they really do not want to be thought of being the source of our new "heroin epidemic".

Answer 5

We have had DEA drug programs since day there. We have had billions spent on getting folks to grow other things.Heroin is huge here as well Alec.

Answer 6

Poppy fields are abundant in the 'Stan. Sometime our guys would just walk through them because well, it's better than walking on a open road. Sometimes they would accompany the Afghan Army(or Police) while they do eradication. We don't have a policy of destroying them- it's a legit form (or the only) of income for the farmers.



But no, we aren't protecting them, but we aren't destroying them, they are just part of the landscape and a way of life for the local population.

Answer 7

Because the heroin market is huge, and a certain government is raking in the bucks.