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reACTIONary

(6,851 posts) Wed Nov 12, 2025, 09:36 AM Wednesday

Inside the CIA's secret mission to sabotage Afghanistan's opium

Source: WaPo, no paywall

In a decade-long covert operation, the U.S. spy agency dropped modified poppy seeds in an attempt to degrade the potency of Afghanistan’s billion-dollar opium crop.

Read more: https://wapo.st/4qWea62

3 replies

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Inside the CIA's secret mission to sabotage Afghanistan's opium (Original Post) reACTIONary Wednesday OP

So, the CIA is directly responsible for growing opium poppys. Buddyzbuddy Wednesday #1

Yes and no. It would be a simpler and less expensive... reACTIONary Wednesday #2

That makes sense. Buddyzbuddy Wednesday #3

Buddyzbuddy

(1,907 posts)

1. So, the CIA is directly responsible for growing opium poppys.

Reply to reACTIONary (Original post)

Wed Nov 12, 2025, 02:21 PM

Wednesday

Wouldn't dropping Marathon's weed and grass killer be a more effective weapon to eradicate the poppy fields?
Just asking.

reACTIONary

(6,851 posts)

2. Yes and no. It would be a simpler and less expensive...

Reply to Buddyzbuddy (Reply #1)

Wed Nov 12, 2025, 04:50 PM

Wednesday

.... form of eradication, but it would have been more complicated and expensive politically. It would have created resentment against the US backed Kabul regime, thus increasing support for the Taliban. This kept the "eradication" a secret.

Buddyzbuddy

(1,907 posts)

3. That makes sense.

Reply to reACTIONary (Reply #2)

Wed Nov 12, 2025, 05:49 PM

Wednesday

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