Poppy field

Is there a silver lining to be found somewhere in this economic crisis? Darn skippy there is and it makes me smile. It’s not just normal Joe or mister millionaire exec getting the screws now the Taliban are feeling the crunch too.

It seems that the jerks that make financial donations to the Taliban and it’s affiliats have been loosing money due to the “the subprime mortgage crisis” just like everyone else and now the pinch is on. You can read all about it here.

To add to their woes black market and copper prices are rising to the point where ammunition is moving beyond affordability - “a rocket shell that used to cost $20 US now goes for $100″.

Oh but that’s not all. We’re going to go after their drug money now. As defense minister Mackay mentions “there is no question that there is direct linkage between the funding of terrorist activity and the poppy crop and the funds that are elicited from that poppy crop.” (found here) It may seem odd to you that this stance comes now instead of forever ago but it was a rather large controversy among NATO nations as “international law forbids nations from using military force against criminals, including drug traffickers.” NATO has sorted themselves out and is now moving to remove yet another source of income and a large one at that.

What does this mean? Less money in the pockets of those that would seek to oppress, terrorize and subjugate. As a Canadian soldier this makes me smile and I say “hit ‘em where it hurts!”