Chopping it down didn't work in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, or 2006. But the Karzai regime is afraid of the "backlash" from spraying. Will the "backlash" be less in 2008? Will the folks growing opium have less influence? Will the commanders on the ground have their pleas for more troops answered? Will the military situation change for the better?

"Bucking U.S., Afghanistan won’t spray heroin. Karzai reportedly would spray fields in 2008 if harvest doesn’t decline."

And to think - this is a Stone Age country with obsolete weapons against the US and NATO. The Afghanis have always kicked the hell out of anyone trying to invade. Americans have seen too many John Wayne movies, think they come in, line out the hicks, and leave as wise, kindly victors, admired by the poor backward peoples they've rescued from evil.

And forget those Afghanis have had thousands of years to adapt to the weather, countryside, the economy, etc. They are at home, as opposed to a guy 6 months away from riding a school bus.

Don't we in the US have a wondrous CinC? A planning - preparing - executing SOB, he is! A military genius on the order of Beetle Bailey, 'cept Beetle was funny.

Arf