[kotzabasis]

All I can say to the critics above is that not all drugs go to the narco barons, a lot of them go to medical and scientific projects. Therefore one does not have to "legalize" the drug trade as it's already legalized for the use of the above projects. And the government of Afghanistan to keep its legitimacy will make sure that its poppy product will be sold to these legitimate institutions.

It would be impudent of me to remind professional soldiers that the offspring of military victory has as its sire necessity. If the price for such priceless victory against the Taliban and al-Qaeda is bribery and the use of opium, even if it makes some of the tribal chiefs "capitalists," so be it.