A Blast from the Past

The military is going into Marjan which is down in Helmand.The area is a Taliban stronghold, in the middle of prime poppy territory. And why is it such great poppy territory? Well, 50 years ago the US established the Helmand River Authority (very original name--nice going). They put in more irrigation canals than you can believe. The whole place really is a wonderful area for agriculture, er, poppies.
Meanwhile, I am over in Farah, restoring canals like a demented Venetian. Our theory? If we can get water to these guys, they will quit raising poppies and start raising legitimate products.
Ya, I am not so sure about the theory either. It helps sometimes not to think it through too closely.
Anyway, the NY Times ran a blast from the past--an article from 50 years ago about the installation of the canals in Helmand, where today the Taliban are using them as moats to protect them from the Marines. Check it out here: http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/marja-50-years-ago-model-villages-and-american-money