Connecting the dots in Afghanistan

National Post Published: Saturday, December 29, 2007

I play a part in trying to stop a small but rapidly growing AIDS epidemic in Afghanistan,
in conjunction with their Ministry of Public Health. Unchecked, AIDS could undo all the
good that Canada has done there. The NATO conquest of the Taliban in Musa Qala, in
Helmand Province, uncovered $500-million in drugs and 20 heroin labs. Afghans used
to believe that drug addiction was the problem of other people. And since opium was
smoked or drunk as a tea, diseases were not transmitted. But now Afghans shoot heroin,
and this behaviour rapidly spreads AIDS.

Demand for heroin in Europe and North America allows the Taliban and Afghan
warlords to buy arms. Taliban members are also trained in Saudi-funded madrassas,
where they link up with al-Qaeda. We buy Saudi oil. Meanwhile, Iran both arms the
Taliban -- as recently acknowledged by Defence Minister Peter MacKay --and transports
their drugs, as does Pakistan. Every population en route partakes in the habit, and AIDS
spreads in new populations.

Our government needs to connect the dots between terrorism, heroin, AIDS, oil, global
warming and ourselves, to show Canadians why we have to stay in Afghanistan, and
what else we have to do.

Dr. Richard Gordon, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.

Close