Afghans Shoot Down Aerial Spraying

Protests from the new Afghan government have the U.S. rethinking its plans for aerial spraying to eradicate poppy crops, reports the Christian Science Monitor:

The US had earmarked $780 million this year for Afghanistan's drug fight, including $300 million for eradication and $152 million for aerial spraying due to start in March. Now, the US State Department is reportedly reworking the budget proposal, possibly removing funds for spraying.

"We don't know the side effects of spraying. Also, Afghans are not used to seeing this kind of thing [spraying], it could be seen as an attack on the people not just the poppy crops. That is a dangerous road to take," says Gen. Mohammed Daud, Head of the Anti-Narcotics Department at the Ministry of Interior.

If only Daud's level of sanity could prevail in Colombia as well.

[Link via Rational Review.]