Read more opium stories on Newserhttp://www.newser.com/taggrid/8254/opium.html2009 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorTue, 24 Nov 2009 10:27:17 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/72694/karzais-brother-on-cia-payroll-insiders.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThe brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been on the CIA’s payroll for much of the past 8 years, a time during which he’s boosted his personal power in a large area of southern Afghanistan—and been linked to the opium trade. Ahmed Wali Karzai denies the claim, made...http://www.newser.com/story/72694/karzais-brother-on-cia-payroll-insiders.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagTue, 27 Oct 2009 20:43:31 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/72010/taliban-money-men-outwit-us.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThe Taliban is thriving financially, despite the US’ best efforts to clamp down on its cash flow, thanks to a sophisticated collection of revenue streams including foreign donations, criminal activities, and drug trade profits. “I don’t believe we can significantly alter their effectiveness by cutting off their money right now,...http://www.newser.com/story/72010/taliban-money-men-outwit-us.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagMon, 19 Oct 2009 7:37:15 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/66482/opium-addiction-hooks-afghan-families.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagAfghanistan’s booming opium industry has hooked entire families on drugs, forcing them to sell land, livestock, and daughters to pay for their addiction, the AP reports. Some 200,000 Afghans are strung out on heroin or opium—50,000 more than in the US—as addiction moves from granddads down...http://www.newser.com/story/66482/opium-addiction-hooks-afghan-families.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagSun, 09 Aug 2009 16:33:00 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/66400/opium-addiction-on-rise-for-afghan-moms-kids.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagOpium is taking a heavy toll on the women and children of Afghanistan, but it's addiction, not production, that's entering the spotlight. Opium is cheaper than a meal, staves off hunger, and brings the family some happiness, one addicted mother tells CBS News as she prepares opium tea for her...http://www.newser.com/story/66400/opium-addiction-on-rise-for-afghan-moms-kids.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagSat, 08 Aug 2009 11:03:33 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/64539/after-rash-of-deaths-uk-rethinks-afghanistan.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagEight British soldiers were killed in Afghanistan last week within just 24 hours, the worst day of casualties the UK had seen in 30 years. After 15 fatalities in July alone, Gordon Brown is facing severe criticism for underfinancing the war effort, particularly for not providing enough helicopters to troops,...http://www.newser.com/story/64539/after-rash-of-deaths-uk-rethinks-afghanistan.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThu, 16 Jul 2009 9:50:00 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/63045/us-built-bridge-supports-afghan-drug-trade.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagA US-built bridge linking Afghanistan and Tajikistan that cost taxpayers $37 million has greatly benefited exporters of Afghan opium, McClatchy reports. The bridge over the Panj river was supposed to facilitate commerce between the two nations, but the surging flow of opium across Afghanistan’s northern border threatens to turn Tajikistan—...http://www.newser.com/story/63045/us-built-bridge-supports-afghan-drug-trade.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagSun, 28 Jun 2009 16:39:00 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/62981/us-to-change-tactics-in-afghan-drug-war.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThe US is changing tactics in its war against the Afghan opium trade, the AP reports. Rather than targeting crops for eradication, the US will focus on interdiction and alternative crop programs. A top administration official called eradication “a waste of money” that failed to divert “a single dollar” of...http://www.newser.com/story/62981/us-to-change-tactics-in-afghan-drug-war.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagSat, 27 Jun 2009 5:29:33 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/62822/high-as-a-kite-wallabies-draw-circles-in-poppy-fields.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagCrop circles popping up in Australia aren’t the work of extraterrestrial visitors, but of stoned wallabies, Livenews reports. Marsupials have been breaking into poppy fields—which supply 50% of the world’s opium to pharmaceuticals—and munching on the crops. Then, “high as a kite,” they spin in circles until they...http://www.newser.com/story/62822/high-as-a-kite-wallabies-draw-circles-in-poppy-fields.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThu, 25 Jun 2009 13:07:01 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/61357/brits-grab-105m-in-drugs-from-afghan-taliban.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagBritish troops have seized a huge stash of Taliban drugs after fierce fighting in Afghanistan, the Telegraph reports. Soldiers from the elite Black Watch squad discovered opium, heroin, and cannabis with a street value of some $105 million after attacking a Taliban drug factory in Helmand province. A number of...http://www.newser.com/story/61357/brits-grab-105m-in-drugs-from-afghan-taliban.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagTue, 09 Jun 2009 3:38:09 CDT