On the bright side …


Afghanistan’s opium crop is forecast to fall by up to a half this year after 2007’s record harvest, counter-narcotics officials in Kabul said, as evidence emerged that some poppy farmers are switching to legal crops because of rising food prices.

“Anecdotally, a lot of farmers have calculated that, with wheat prices being what they are, they can make money out of planting wheat,” (Brigadier Andrew MacKay) said.

rest here