The Afghans Struggle

An opium drug lab was destroyed in Southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, after routing out the Taliban militants protecting it. The lab was about three miles away from a large insurgent-run heroin lab that was discovered on Sunday. No coalition forces were harmed during the operation. Coalition spokeswoman stated that ,“the Taliban lose funding,” when illegal narcotic facilities are destroyed, continuing saying that Afghan and coalition forces will continue to work together and cut off sources of insurgent funding. The U.N. office on Drugs and Crime reported that Afghan opium poppy cultivation hit an all time new record this year. The European Union pledged more than $850 million toward weaning Afghans from dependence of opium, so they can still make money while no longer producing it.
Also a coalition base in Southern Afghanistan was attacked yet again, and it was repelled by Afghan and coalition troops, who killed 11 insurgents. Attackers hit Firebase Anaconda for the fourth time this month; coalition reports confirm that from multiple directions of 72 mm rockets, small-arms and heavy machine gun fire. Coalition close air support conducted air strikes, destroying enemy fighters. About 74 insurgents died in previous attacks on the base, but along with this attack two coalition troops were wounded.
As the fighting continues in Afghanistan and the E.U. try to wean opium dependency, death tolls are going to continue to increase as is opium production until they try and stop the struggle. Individuals are also going to have to find other means of what to produce without Taliban intervention. Some say, as I agree that it might be at least twenty years until they can monitor and wean production of opium.