NATO TO LET POPPIES GROW, TARGET OPIUM LABS

VICTORIA -- Canadian troops in Afghanistan will soon target
opium-processing laboratories and high-level drug barons in an effort
to cut off funding for the Taliban, says Canada's top soldier.

But Canadian Forces personnel will not conduct operations to
eradicate poppy fields, says Gen. Walter Natynczyk, chief of the defence staff.

Earlier this month, NATO defence ministers agreed to target Afghan
drug networks in an attempt to reduce the amount of money the Taliban
has to fund its insurgency.

NATO officials estimate the Taliban receive between $80 and $100
million a year from the drug trade, either by taxing the production
and transportation of opium, or from payments from drug lords who
want protection.

The U.S. had been pushing for NATO to become more involved in
targeting drug dealers, but it ran into opposition from nations such
as Germany and Spain. Those countries have raised concerns that
counter-narcotics operations are outside NATO's mandate in
Afghanistan and could prompt a backlash from Afghan farmers who make
a living from growing poppies.

In the past, the destruction of poppy fields has prompted attacks by
Afghans on troops and private security contractors.

As part of a compromise, NATO troops will be able to target drug
networks only if they receive authorization from their own governments.

In addition, only drug dealers who are providing money to insurgents
will be targeted.

"NATO is asking us to play a role in that, so we're going to move
down that road," Natynczyk said.

Afghanistan is now the world's largest opium producer.