Drugs, Iraq and Afghanistan

The International Narcotics Control Board said drug production in Afghanistan was so widespread that it "has become a severe threat to this new democracy, as well as the stability and economic recovery of the country as a whole." Drug production in Afghanistan reached a record level in 2004, even with efforts to try to curb production. According to Hamid Ghodse, president of the Vienna-based board, to reporters on Tuesday, "Once it becomes a narcotic state, the rule of law, the democracy, everything will go out the window." He's also concerned about Iraq, where traffickers could flourish in the power vacuum.

Before we whacked that hornet's nest called Iraq nearly two years ago Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had no affiliation with each other and in some ways were at odds with each other. Al-Zarqawi pledged allegiance to bin-Laden and Al-Qaeda last year. Who said Bush wasn't a uniter? Now Osama and Abu Musab are buddies Osama wants Abu Musab to concentrate his efforts on attacks outside Iraq and preferably inside the U.S. I feel safer as each day goes by.