OPIUM TRADE IS STILL AN AFGHAN PROBLEM

Buried amid news of the looming Iraqi conflict, the brief article,
''Rebels attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan,'' reminds us of the
ongoing violence in Afghanistan. While positive changes have come to
the country, it still is plagued with strife more than a year after
the start of the war on terrorism (''News, Wednesday).

This violence will continue until the Afghan drug situation is
addressed.

While the government of President Hamid Karzai has mounted a farcical
drug-eradication effort, Afghanistan remains among the world's leaders
in opium production.

In October, U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks, the head of Central Command,
stated that American troops would not become involved in
drug-interdiction efforts, leaving that situation in the hands of
non-governmental organizations and the Afghan government.

Instead of such a shortsighted approach, America needs to support
multifaceted programs to eliminate drug production and trafficking in
Afghanistan.

Through U.S. support of crop-substitution programs, farmers would have
viable alternative sources of income -- reducing the attractiveness of
opium production. An active U.S. role in drug interdiction and
eradication could dramatically reduce the quantity of opium on the
world market.

Attacking the drug network in Afghanistan would strengthen the Karzai
government by eliminating a major force working to undermine the
democratic process there. A stronger government would be better suited
to enforce law and order and reduce the ongoing level of violence and
instability that our troops face on a daily basis.

Heidi Bonnett, research assistant,

National Defense Council Foundation,

Alexandria, Va.