“Canadian troops fighting Taliban militants in Afghanistan have stumbled across an unexpected and potent enemy — almost impenetrable forests of marijuana plants 10 feet tall.”
“The challenge is that marijuana plants absorb energy, heat very readily. It’s very difficult to penetrate with thermal devices. … And as a result you really have to be careful that the Taliban don’t dodge in and out of those marijuana forests,” General Rick Hillier said in a speech in Ottawa, Canada.
“We tried burning them with white phosphorous — it didn’t work. We tried burning them with diesel — it didn’t work. The plants are so full of water right now … that we simply couldn’t burn them,” he said.
Even successful incineration had its drawbacks.
“A couple of brown plants on the edges of some of those [forests] did catch on fire. But a section of soldiers that was downwind from that had some ill effects and decided that was probably not the right course of action,” Hiller said dryly.
One soldier told him later: “Sir, three years ago before I joined the army, I never thought I’d say ‘That damn marijuana’.”
Air strike? Wasn’t the daisy cutter more or less meant to level real forrests? Sure its US, not canuk, buts i don’t see them “just saying NO” to a request like that. But still then, even if its all nicely plowed down, how to dispose of it efficiently without ‘ill effects’.
Couldn’t you just drive a dozer through the field?
Hmm, does nbc mask stop mj effects?
Trick one is to find a bug that loves the plant introduce it to the area and give it some time to work.
Trick two find a botanist give him some time for a solution.
yeah, because introducing foriegn species has always worked well in the pass…
It has taken Afghanistan 25 years to cultivate a ground cover that resists erosion, “tells” of weapons being in the area, and a natural water source for such a desert region. The United States has no legal right to damage or destroy any crops of any nation! That is a violation of the Geneva convention to destroy locally grown crops and livestock.
Agent Orange did a pretty good job last time….didn’t it?
Let’s think it through first this time.
Why don’t we just ship a load of pot-heads over there. Offer them free weed and thousands of people would jump at the chance and they would get through it in no time.
And yes, a NBC mask will stop the smoke.
Harvest it and sell it to offset the O&M shorfalls….
“It has taken Afghanistan 25 years to cultivate a ground cover that resists erosion, “tells” of weapons being in the area, and a natural water source for such a desert region. The United States has no legal right to damage or destroy any crops of any nation! That is a violation of the Geneva convention to destroy locally grown crops and livestock.”
Sorry, when the bad guys are hiding a field of “crops” that can be replanted, and regrow there is no reason not to destroy the crops, to uncover the bad guys. Then when the bad guys are all dead, or stop blowing up innocent people then the regular people of Afganistan can go back to farming.
But what about the Canuk troops? Can THEY scorche teh earth, duuude? Since they’re the military forces mentioned?
Glycophosphate (agricultural “Round Up”) and Bronc max are readilly used in my area for preparing farmland before planting.
Takes about a week to kill the plants, then burn up the field. It does not sterilize the soil.
You can even mix it with water that is not potable.
“Sorry, when the bad guys are hiding a field of ‘crops’ that can be replanted, and regrow there is no reason not to destroy the crops, to uncover the bad guys. Then when the bad guys are all dead, or stop blowing up innocent people then the regular people of Afganistan can go back to farming.”
Is this an actual war you’re describing? Or one you play with legos in your living room?
Just nuke the whold damned country! Thats what i’d do
Yeah! Destroying farmer’s crops is the way to win hearts and minds.
My country tis of the
sweet land of stupidity.
Some of these comments sound like they came from Dopers or some so called Arm Chair General (Military Gamer) who has never been on the receiving end of a bullet shot by a REAL bad guy. I have and its not very fun. If they’re so smart (or intelliegent(Ha! Ha!)) why don’t they enlist in the military so our troops can learn from them.
All my brother and sister in harms way, you are in my thoughts and prayers every day.
Before the US military “liberated” Afghanistan, the Taliban had virtually eliminated opium poppy production there. Perhaps the real mission of the US military is to ensure a resurgence of opium production in Afghanistan for distribution and consumption in the US. The US government benefits in 2 ways by protecting the burgeoning opium business in Afghanistan – 1st, there’s billions of dollars to be made by the criminal element in American society (many of whom are politicans at the federal level), and 2nd, spaced out Americans are much easier for big brother to control. It’s a bloody shame that American soldiers are fighting and dying in the “Opium War”.
It’s simple…locate enemy, drop MOAB, vaporize the hippies with their weed, protect US troops, repeat often.
Reply To:
Some of these comments sound like they came from Dopers or some so called Arm Chair General (Military Gamer) who has never been on the receiving end of a bullet shot by a REAL bad guy. I have and its not very fun. If they’re so smart (or intelliegent(Ha! Ha!)) why don’t they enlist in the military so our troops can learn from them.
All my brother and sister in harms way, you are in my thoughts and prayers every day.
Posted by: John P. Wilch (TSgt, USAF Ret) at October 14, 2006 08:11 PM
Reply:
Ooh Sgt. Wilch,
the whole idea is war is bad. no disrespect but you have the wrong idea. You keep thinking dopers are bad and you keep taking your celebrex, and vicodon like a good boy, ooh one more thing…you morons need to create more laws to keep us from ourselves. and war mongering is good. I think im gonna enlist to show you how to NOT shoot innocent people. Its people like you Mr. Wilch that make oil wars possible…smile and nod. or if its more comfterable for you salute and say yes sir.
Hey jpw growing pot you can conceal on rocks so the heat from the rocks distorts the signature at night when the cops look for it.So reverse effect at night the vehicle blocks and bodies will be cooler than the dope,you pick up the lack of heat and toast the bad guys..This will save the crops so you dont get in a political pisser but effectivly deter the smucks. semper fi
What have we just learned ? A justfiable means for marijuana use?,Think of using that plant as use in military usage for protection,building its cells for applications such as fire protect garments, disguising heat signatures.In the old days it was common use for ropes and such as the fibres are very strong.In reference to the plants use there for cover, Id induct fast robot mowers/cutters remote controlled and slash down the so called forest for they use it for cover.Not sure about the plants use for using from air detection for with no light signature no other detection known that I know of can penetrate.They might show a light spot but I doubt it. Maybe flyovers with high speed cameras over known or perceptable positions.Its a tough one but a lesson that this plant as its shown has practical usage and not the one thats against the law, good luck and keep your head down.
smoke weed everyday
I can’t believe this crap…You want to get rid of a green (as in wet) field of plants (regardless of legality?) Of course diesel and phosphorus didn’t work. If it’s all that important, call in napalm strikes. Also, you flag-wavers, this aren’t, for the most part, ‘dopers’ cultivating. These are dirt-poor farmers that are smart enough to recognize that they can grow 1 acre of pot (or opium, for that matter) and make the same money that they would growing 10-20 acres of something the US occupying force finds acceptable. Let me guess you ’soldiers’ are good conservatives all around and ask you: what about free markets? There is a market, and if there wasn’t, the cultivation would stop. Maybe the US should have made sure the job was ‘done’ in Afghanistan before it bailed and left the citizenry to fend for itself. And by bailed I don’t mean left, I mean that the forces left aren’t (obviously) enough to get the job done, if patches of marijuana are really such an issue.
I use Cannabis sativa medically to treat my anxiety and depression, I find sativa varieties very effective while also being non lethargic without the usual tiredness the next day experienced from indicas. Indicas can be very relaxing with warm body sensations but I find that if I need too accomplish something I’m best to stick with a sativa. Cannabis Rudralis(sp?)although an early producer is usually not as potent and some of the top notch indica and sativas but some varieties are autoflowering and mature months earlier than some of the traditional varieties.
I’ve heard that cedar trees have a similar heat signature to cannabis whether this is true or not (i’ll have to get back to you on that one)but planting next to cedars requires more soil maintenence due to higher soil acidity in traditionally wet bog like environments, but a bit of dolomite lime (or a bunch of ground up limestone helps to counteract this effect. If you’re growing short dark indicas growing next to spruce trees etc. should help to conceal them. I’m speaking not from experience but knowledge passed from those with cannabis horticultural experience, the big busts that are covered in newspapers that reveal techniques of concealment for some reason always seems to be asians that grow too big trying to maximize profits. All I can say is supply and demand, economics profs often use cannabis as lecture examples of how drug prohibition, boosts market value making it more lucridive and attractive to students and the like trying to make it through school etc. with minimal debt. Say goodbye to student loans cannabis is a great alternative although a risky endevour if you plan on pursuing a career that requires no criminal record I’d say avoid it or start plants from seed or clones and partner with friends willing to take more risks. If you are an American I strongly suggest buying led growlights they are the future of illegal cannabis horticulture using a fraction of the energy consumed by MH and HPS ballasts. theres a company from Florida that carries the best bulbs as far as lumens per sq foot http://ledgrowlights.com/
I wish I would have been there when they burnt it all up!!!!!!!
Better to legalize Mj. in the liquor stores!! Then it could be taxed and have restricted consumption just like liquor(not beer in the grocery store). This would reduce the legaltrade of coke, Mj., herion and other illegal drugs. Most people that use drugs would much prefer to go to the liquor store in daylight and wave at the local police man than take a chance in a dark alley and risk being robbed or killed in a drug related crime. The people in Afgan. could bale it up and sell it legally to a local bonded warehouse to be processed(remove seeds) to be sold and distributed in bonded warehouses worldwide after taxes had been paid.
Better the gov’t of Afgan. get the tax money than the Taliban!!!
Better to legalize Mj. in the liquor stores!! Then it could be taxed and have restricted consumption just like liquor(not beer in the grocery store). This would reduce the legaltrade of coke, Mj., herion and other illegal drugs. Most people that use drugs would much prefer to go to the liquor store in daylight and wave at the local police man than take a chance in a dark alley and risk being robbed or killed in a drug related crime. The people in Afgan. could bale it up and sell it legally to a local bonded warehouse to be processed(remove seeds) to be sold and distributed in bonded warehouses worldwide after taxes had been paid.
Better the gov’t of Afgan. get the tax money than the Taliban!!!
i think that marijuana should be legal. Its not hurting anyone so why is it a big deal to put people in jail for blazing up. I think that pigs(cops) should go find something better to do than bust somoene for smoking.
i think that marijuana should be legal. Its not hurting anyone so why is it a big deal to put people in jail for blazing up. I think that pigs(cops) should go find something better to do than bust somoene for smoking.
****Blaze every Day NIGGA******
i think that marijuana should be legal. Its not hurting anyone so why is it a big deal to put people in jail for blazing up. I think that pigs(cops) should go find something better to do than bust somoene for smoking.
****Blaze every Day NIGGA******
Drug laws are tools of selective prosecution, allowing police to look the other way if you’re a friend, well connected, grease their palm, etc. or conversely force you to hire lawyers, be denigrated in the press, have your assets confiscated, etc. Without such tools, we’d have a more egalitarian society where scotch and beer drinkers would have no legal means of suppressing those they don’t approve of.
Without random drug testing, employers would be forced to document failure to perform duties as specified. It’s much easier to force a drug test and summarily expel those that aren’t ’smart’ enough to use drugs whose metabolic byproducts are flushed in a matter of hours.
Society suffers not merely from drug prohibition, and the consequences of criminalizing victimless activities, but from deep seated prejudice and fear of people unlike themselves. One cannot eliminate tools of repression and selective prosecution without first addressing the underlying fear of diversity.