United States to begin Chemical Warfare operations in Afghanistan

http://www.chycho.com/?q=node/1053

The United States is planing to implement a massive chemical-spraying program in Afghanistan, emulating the failed Plan Columbia program that has been in operation for the last decade in Latin American.

“The recent appointment of a former US ambassador to Colombia as envoy to Kabul is seen as the most overt move by Washington to ensure that spraying takes place in Afghanistan. William Wood, who has acquired the nickname ‘Chemical Bill’ among British and other Nato officials for his fervent belief in chemical spraying, was in the team which implemented ‘Plan Colombia’, which involved aerial spraying in the Latin American state in an attempt to eliminate cocaine production.

The policy in Colombia came under severe criticism with claims that it damaged legitimate crops and ultimately failed in its aims of destroying the coca crop. However, during his confirmation hearing before Congress, Mr Wood said the Colombian option may be repeated in Afghanistan and General Peter Pace, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, has also voiced the opinion that it could be a template for Afghanistan.”

What this report fails to mention is that along with jeopardizing the health of the indigenous peoples, the fumigation process is also mutating the natural vegetation in Colombia, giving birth to herbicide resistant coca plants dubbed "Super Coca".

The concern about the chemicals used during the spraying, which includes Monsanto’s Round-Up Ultra, are not in dispute. Even the manufacturer of the chemicals “cautions against aerial application at altitudes greater than 10 feet above crops because higher altitudes increase the risk of drift. Monsanto also warns that ‘even very small amounts of Round-Up herbicide brands may damage crops if allowed to drift into fields adjoining the target area.’”

Former Senator Paul Wellstone summarized the dangers of the chemical-spraying program best in the following excerpt from a speech he gave in 2001: “Round-Up is a ‘non-selective’ herbicide, it kills legal food crops and the surrounding forest, in addition to coca plants. Furthermore, farmers and their supporters contend that glyphosate is hazardous. I’m beginning to believe they’re right.

Round-Up is classified by its manufacturer, Monsanto, as ‘relatively safe.’ However, the EPA classifies Round-Up as ‘most poisonous,’ while the World Health Organization classifies it as ‘extremely poisonous.’ Directions on glyphosate products, like Round-Up, warn users not to apply the product in a way that will cause contact with people ‘either directly or through drift.’ These instructions and warnings are not being taken into consideration.

What’s more, according to the Round-Up website, the herbicide is not recommended for aerial application and is not supposed to be applied near or in bodies of water. However, in Colombia, much of the coca cultivation takes place alongside rivers and ponds, and these bodies of water are routinely fumigated. A November 2000 report by the American Bird Conservancy notes that Round-Up is extremely toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms.

Putumayo, where the spraying has been principally concentrated, reports over 4,000 people with skin or gastric disorders, above and beyond normal averages. In January and February alone, over 175,000 animals were killed in that region. All had been sprayed with Round-Up and Cosmo Flux, a Colombian-made mix.”

As we continue to fund, with our tax dollars, the operations in Afghanistan, we should be asking ourselves if conducting chemical warfare on a civilian population and creating “Super Opium Poppy” plants is an agenda that we wish to support in the occupation of Afghanistan?

If you would like to obtain further information on Plan Colombia and its effects on the environment and its populace then watch the following documentary: Plan Colombia (1:00:24)

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