Big bust in Afghanistan

It's no secret that I think Obama is getting it all wrong in Af/Pak but this I suppose is something of an improvement. At least they're not going after the poppy farmers this time and it was an impressive haul.

The seizure by Afghan Army commandos and American forces took place in Marjeh, a town in Helmand Province, the American military said in a statement on Saturday. In all, soldiers found more than 101 tons of narcotics, including heroin, poppy seeds, opium and hashish. Large amounts of heroin processing materials were also confiscated, the military said.

There's something to be said for busting at this level in that the Taliban does use the drug trade to finance it's operations. But I'm not so sure the cost is going to be worth it in terms of winning any hearts and minds of the locals.

The drugs were taken in a central market area in the town. A battle ensued in which, according to the American military, 60 insurgents were killed. An American military spokesman said the allies met a surprising level of resistance, fighting the militants for four days in gun battles and by aerial strikes.

No word in the article about civilian casualties but you have to figure that some innocents must have been caught in the crossfire on this one. You have to wonder, after so many years there, why they didn't have better intelligence by now. One would think the resistance should have been anticipated. [via]

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