You make a good point in that the situation in Lebanon is inextricably linked to the Syrian Civil War and the collapse of its economy. Syria has become one of the world's largest narco-states. I find it ironic that Islamist countries who profess religious purity supply most of the drug trafficking in the Middle East and Europe.
"Although the civil war in Lebanon is theoretically one between various Christian and Muslim sects, there is close cooperation between all groups when it comes to the mind-boggling profits being made from the drug business. The local trades are mostly Christian Lebanese who buy entire harvests from one Muslim village after another. In return for `protection' by Syrian soldiers in areas controlled by Damasus, they hand over half their profits to officers working under Kenaan.
I was told by an intelligence source: `The entire Lebanon is really a country of 24 fiefdoms, each one ruled by its own Mafia chief whose wealth and power spring from the drug trade. The Lebanese civil war is really about who controls the best cannabis and poppy fields as well as ports from where to export the drug harvest. It also explains why the Syrian government refuses to withdraw from the Bekaa and has even strengthened its vast armies stationed there."
But, it is not just the cultivation of cannabis and opium that supports the Assad regime but the production of cheap amphetamines for the Middle East market. "Captagon is a highly addictive amphetamine-type drug largely produced and consumed in the Middle East, especially Syria and Lebanon. Its illicit trade has created a business estimated to be worth as much as $57 billion...
Europe is not a “significant consumer market” for Captagon, the report said, with most of the market lying in some Middle Eastern countries and in the Arabian Peninsula, notably Saudi Arabia, which has been the destination for some of the largest Captagon shipments in recent years."
What is becoming evident is the radical Islamist movement (Iran included) while professing to promote "pure" Islamic principles has morphed into a vast narco trafficking operation nearly as large as the petroleum trade in the region. Again, the Muslim world needs to unite in an effort to clean up their own house rather than waiting for the West (Israel included) to step in and do the dirty work. Not only must the cultivation of drugs be curtailed, but the chemical processing of drugs as well.
The tolerance for festering collapsed economies in the region is the reason for drug cartels to take control and provide a 'shadow economy' keeping autocratic and violent cartels in control of much of the region. This is a lot bigger than Israel's problem with Palestinians. Peace in the Middle East can only be realized with a massive coordinated drug crackdown on the cartels masking as legitimate states.
The question is, why hasn't Israel done this already?
Of course, the useless idiots on western college campuses would undoubtedly redouble their protests, claiming "genocide" against innocent drug lords...............
Al Jazeera at al would spin it as an Israeli war crime of destroying agriculture to cause famine and harship. There'd be interviews with crying farmers and wide shots of fields of decimated crops. That the crops were poppy and corn not would be conveniently omitted.
Yes and like others have asked, why haven't we? I feel as if the West has become so passive, and so negligent. This pertains to everything from keeping our bridges and subways and roads maintained to spraying Roundup on poppy fields!!! I just don't get it. What has happened to us?
Sounds like a good idea but didn't know heroin was still relevant these days when the far more potent fentanyl is everywhere. That benefits the Chinese via the Mexican cartels and the US hasn't done much about it. Still, worth a shot with old fashioned poppies.
This gives new meaning to ASE's thoughts on roses:
”What is essential is invisible to the eye."
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
“People have forgotten this truth," the fox said. "But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose.”
Is it still relevant our days? Hezbollah is mainly armed by Iran now, Syrian regime is not a factor anymore, so how much will such an action affect Hezbollah funding?
You make a good point in that the situation in Lebanon is inextricably linked to the Syrian Civil War and the collapse of its economy. Syria has become one of the world's largest narco-states. I find it ironic that Islamist countries who profess religious purity supply most of the drug trafficking in the Middle East and Europe.
"Although the civil war in Lebanon is theoretically one between various Christian and Muslim sects, there is close cooperation between all groups when it comes to the mind-boggling profits being made from the drug business. The local trades are mostly Christian Lebanese who buy entire harvests from one Muslim village after another. In return for `protection' by Syrian soldiers in areas controlled by Damasus, they hand over half their profits to officers working under Kenaan.
I was told by an intelligence source: `The entire Lebanon is really a country of 24 fiefdoms, each one ruled by its own Mafia chief whose wealth and power spring from the drug trade. The Lebanese civil war is really about who controls the best cannabis and poppy fields as well as ports from where to export the drug harvest. It also explains why the Syrian government refuses to withdraw from the Bekaa and has even strengthened its vast armies stationed there."
https://irp.fas.org/congress/1990_cr/h900727-syria.htm
But, it is not just the cultivation of cannabis and opium that supports the Assad regime but the production of cheap amphetamines for the Middle East market. "Captagon is a highly addictive amphetamine-type drug largely produced and consumed in the Middle East, especially Syria and Lebanon. Its illicit trade has created a business estimated to be worth as much as $57 billion...
Europe is not a “significant consumer market” for Captagon, the report said, with most of the market lying in some Middle Eastern countries and in the Arabian Peninsula, notably Saudi Arabia, which has been the destination for some of the largest Captagon shipments in recent years."
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-key-transit-hub-for-captagon-trafficking-new-report-finds/
What is becoming evident is the radical Islamist movement (Iran included) while professing to promote "pure" Islamic principles has morphed into a vast narco trafficking operation nearly as large as the petroleum trade in the region. Again, the Muslim world needs to unite in an effort to clean up their own house rather than waiting for the West (Israel included) to step in and do the dirty work. Not only must the cultivation of drugs be curtailed, but the chemical processing of drugs as well.
The tolerance for festering collapsed economies in the region is the reason for drug cartels to take control and provide a 'shadow economy' keeping autocratic and violent cartels in control of much of the region. This is a lot bigger than Israel's problem with Palestinians. Peace in the Middle East can only be realized with a massive coordinated drug crackdown on the cartels masking as legitimate states.
The question is, why hasn't Israel done this already?
Of course, the useless idiots on western college campuses would undoubtedly redouble their protests, claiming "genocide" against innocent drug lords...............
Indeed! Why?
Or for that matter the recipients of these dangerous drugs, the USA?
Al Jazeera at al would spin it as an Israeli war crime of destroying agriculture to cause famine and harship. There'd be interviews with crying farmers and wide shots of fields of decimated crops. That the crops were poppy and corn not would be conveniently omitted.
What are we waiting for? 27 years later, and Roundup is the answer!! Just don't spray legitimate crop fields, and who could argue with this?
LOL -- I immediately thought the same thing - Roundup!
Brilliant then and now!
Simple things, put together, make a big difference. All it takes is the will to do it.
Yes and like others have asked, why haven't we? I feel as if the West has become so passive, and so negligent. This pertains to everything from keeping our bridges and subways and roads maintained to spraying Roundup on poppy fields!!! I just don't get it. What has happened to us?
Defoliants........bring it on. Israel would be doing the world a favour in more ways than one.
Afghanistan could use some few doses too
Waiting for this to happen! The sooner the better!
Brilliant!
Brilliant ….. 🤩
This time the thing to bomb is captogen
Why hasn’t this been done?
Sounds like a good idea but didn't know heroin was still relevant these days when the far more potent fentanyl is everywhere. That benefits the Chinese via the Mexican cartels and the US hasn't done much about it. Still, worth a shot with old fashioned poppies.
This gives new meaning to ASE's thoughts on roses:
”What is essential is invisible to the eye."
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
“People have forgotten this truth," the fox said. "But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose.”
--Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupery
Poppies are fuel.
Is it still relevant our days? Hezbollah is mainly armed by Iran now, Syrian regime is not a factor anymore, so how much will such an action affect Hezbollah funding?
If they're growing it and they're selling it . . . it's bringing in part of their income. Sp, why not start with destroying this?
As much as heroin is a scourge, IMO the nuclear facilities still greatly outweigh and should be prioritized over the poppy fields.