it should be noted that this was food/humanitarian aid (which i certainly don't object to in principle, btw), partly in kind and partly in cash. it nevertheless amounts to a subsidy of the taliban regime.
however, i thought the following worth quoting from the press release:
"Even before this latest commitment, the United States was by far the largest provider of humanitarian assistance for Afghans. Last year, we provided about $114 million in aid. With this new package, our humanitarian assistance to date this year will reach $124 million. This includes over 200,000 tons of wheat."
j
> From: Marta Russell <ap888 at lafn.org>
> Reply-To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 09:36:24 -0700
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject: Re: Trees sowed in May bear rotten September fruit
>
> There must have been something that preceded this excerpt from the LA Times:
>
> Bush's Faustian Deal With the Taliban
>
> http://www.latimes.com/news/comment/20010522/t000042732.html
>
> "Enslave your girls and women, harbor anti-U.S.
> terrorists, destroy every vestige of civilization in
> your homeland, and the Bush administration will
> embrace you. All that matters is that you line up as
> an ally in the drug war, the only international cause
> that this nation still takes seriously.
>
> That's the message sent with the recent gift of
> $43 million to the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan, the
> most virulent anti-American violators of human rights
> in the world today. The gift, announced last Thursday
> by Secretary of State Colin Powell, in addition to
> other recent aid, makes the U.S. the main sponsor of
> the Taliban and rewards that "rogue regime" for
> declaring that opium growing is against the will of
> God. So, too, by the Taliban's estimation, are most
> human activities, but it's the ban on drugs that
> catches this administration's attention."
>
> Marta
>
> Kevin Robert Dean wrote:
>>
>> Hi Dave
>>
>> I've been doing searches about Powell giving $43
>> million to the Taliban regime. The only thing I found
>> is the opposite of the claim in the LA Times article.
>> This year 2000 report says on the State Dept's website
>> claims an increase in poppy seed cultivation. Can
>> anyone independantly confirm Mr. Scheer's claims?
>> I've been getting emails questioning it's validity....
>>
>> http://www.state.gov/www/regions/sa/facts_taliban_drugs.html
>>
>> The Explosion Of Poppy Cultivation Under The Taliban
>>
>> In 1992-93, Afghanistan's poppy cultivation stood at
>> about 20,000 hectares, mostly in Nangarhar province,
>> which is located between Pakistan's North West
>> Frontier province and Kabul in Afghanistan.
>>
>> Poppy then began to invade Helmand province where it
>> has increased 800 percent since 1993.
>>
>> Helmand borders on Qandahar province, the Taliban's
>> power base, and harbors traditional smuggling routes
>> to Pakistan and Iran.
>>
>> Helmand also contains the HAVA irrigation system built
>> by the United States Agency for International
>> Development in the 1950's. This irrigated area has
>> been modern Afghanistan's breadbasket.
>>
>> Massive poppy cultivation in Helmand has developed
>> since the Taliban took control of the area, and with
>> the full knowledge of Taliban authorities.
>>
>> The irrigation system minimizes the effects of drought
>> and supports high-yielding opium poppy from year to
>> year.
>>
>> Poppy cultivation overall for Afghanistan has climbed
>> from 41,720 hectares in 1998 to 64,510 hectares in
>> 2000, mainly as a result of increases in Helmand.
>> Taliban-controlled Helmand province alone now accounts
>> for 39 percent of the world's illicit opium.
>>
>> http://www.state.gov/www/regions/sa/facts_taliban_drugs.html
>>
>> --- / dave / <arouet at winternet.com> wrote:
>>> For those who didn't follow the URL that M.
>>> Blackmore posted, here's one
>>> link that needs to be highlighted.
>>>
>>> Not that most weren't already aware - it's common
>>> knowledge of course,
>>> notwithstanding the limited degree to which it seems
>>> to "sink in" with
>>> many people - but just for the sheer ironic force of
>>> it, and the short
>>> span of time between then and now that adds emphasis
>>> to same.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> / dave /
>>>
>>>
>>> Bush's Faustian Bargain with The Taliban
>>>
>>> Published May 22, 2001 in the Los Angeles Times
>>>
>> http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/01_columns/052201.htm
>>
>> =====
>> Kevin Dean
>> Buffalo, NY
>> ICQ: 8616001
>> http://www.yaysoft.com
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
>> Donate cash, emergency relief information
>> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/
>
> --
> Marta Russell
> author, Los Angeles, CA
> http://disweb.org/
> Beyond Ramps: Disability at the End of the Social Contract
> http://www.commoncouragepress.com/russell_ramps.html