TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE

A Shakespearean delight this is not. Entomological warfare involving bees it is.

Entomological warfare is biological warfare using insects to the attack the enemy. This article is limited to the use of bees.

Bees have been used as weapons of war since man’s earliest beginnings. Right up to today. Research constant and ongoing.

The cave man used bees. When the cave man had an enemy hiding in a cave, he threw a bee’s nest into the cave. His opponent quickly came out.

In 2600 B.C., a Mayan city was under siege. Soldiers within the city made sham soldiers. Mannequins. The mannequins were outfitted with clothes, war bonnets, spears and shields.

Gourds were used as heads. The gourds were filled with bees, wasps and horseflies. When the enemy was close to the embattlement, the gourds were smashed. The enemy was overcome by the bees and other stinging insects.

The Mayans also made hand grenades from beehives.

The Romans used bees as weapons of war constantly. The Romans would catapult bee hives into enemy ranks and fortifications.

Today’s Romania was once known as Dacia. Roman legions were attacking. The Dacians catapulted bee nests into the oncoming Roman legions.

A turn about. Dacia won the battle. However eventually lost the war.

The Third Crusade took place in the 12th century. King Richard utilized hives of bees against the Saracens. Catapulted.

The 13th century found Austria and Hungary at war. Both sides used bees against the other.

In the 14th century, the Moors were close to defeat by Portugal. The Portuguese army was at the walls of the city. The Moors won the battle by throwing down beehives upon the Portuguese.

At the Battle of Alba in the 18th century, the Turks were close to entering the city. Those defending the city erected barriers/walls of beehives to prevent the enemy from entering.

A sea battle was won because of bees. A small pirate vessel of only 50 men was engaged in battle with a large galley of 500 men. The pirates were losing. Some of the pirates climbed the masts and threw bee nests down upon the larger galley.

The pirates won the battle.

Honey comes into play. Honey and water are mixed to make mead. Good booze! Intoxicating. drunkenness guaranteed.

Slavic St. Olga’s son was killed by the enemy in 946 A.D. Olga set up a banquet with much mead. Then she and her guests left. The enemy believing it was victorious came to the party and meaded up. Became drunk. Olga and her supporters returned and slew them.

In 1489 A.D., the Tartars and Russians were at war. The Russians were being beaten. They made mead. Left it all over the city before fleeing. The Tartars came in and got drunk. Vomiting drunk. The Russians returned and slaughtered them.

To modern times.

The American Civil War. In the Battle of Antietam, the Confederates inadvertently laid down a barrage of cannon fire on a nearby bee farm. The 132nd Pennsylvania Infantry were routed. Not by the Confederates. By the bees.

During World War I, both sides utilized bees as weapons of war. Two ways. The first by hand throwing bee hives at enemy positions. The second, connecting bee hives to trip wires.

The Vietnamese used bee hives in substantial numbers against U.N. forces.

It should be noted at this point that Japan utilized bees as weapons in every century, including during the time of World War II.

Which brings us to today. Or, should it be called tomorrow?

Croatia was flooded with land mines during the conflicts of the 1990s. Many of those land mines lie hidden today. A constant danger to Croatians.

The Croatians soon will test whether bees can help identify the location of the land mines. Whether naturally or trained, the theory is bees flying freely will land on a trouble spot.

British scientists disagree with the Croatian approach. Their thought being the bees will forget their mission as soon as they pass the first apple tree.

Bees are a new weapon in the war on terror.

The U.S. is experimenting in training bees to sniff out explosives. A bee’s smell is as good as a dog’s. The hope is bees can then be used to uncover landmines and bomb factories.

Great Britain is far ahead in bee experimentation in the battle against terrorism.

Britain believes, as many do, that bees can be trained to smell explosives. A test is presently underway at Heathrow Airport. Bees trained to smell explosives are placed in a hand detector. Thirty six in each one.

When the detector passes something containing explosives or chemicals, the tongues of the bees shoot out. Bees have sensitive tongues.

The tongues trip an infra-red sensor. The sensor lighting is the alert/warning. Bomb disposal experts would then be called in.

Still in the testing stage in the United States is the utilization of bees to identify explosives in freight cargoes and passenger planes.

The little bee has a long history. It has been and is becoming a big player as an instrument of warfare and in the battle against terror.

In this age of nuclear weapons, planes, all kinds of guns, tanks, etc., the little bee has especially attained increased importance in the war on terror.

The bee…..An instrument of war.

HEROIN WILL SURVIVE NEW DRUG BILL

Three weeks ago, I wrote an article titled Afghanistan and America's Heroin Addiction. Heroin drug sales are rampant on the streets of America. The purpose of the column was to bring to light that the American government and media were doing next to nothing to correct or advise re the situation.

The number of heroin deaths and addictions are unprecedented in our history. Growing daily. While the U.S. government has been sitting on its ass.

Though I was a voice in the wilderness, I take no credit for what occurred last week. Congress passed a bill to deal with prescription pain killers and heroin. The bill appears heavy as regards prescription painkillers. Heroin, an add on.

It is expected Obama will sign the bill when it reaches him.

The new law is titled the Comprehensive Addiction and Drug Act.

The bill provides $103 million annually from 2017-2020. It includes additional oversight by federal agencies to curb the heroin epidemic. The DEA, FBI, Justice and Treasury will be involved.

The aim of the bill is to provide prevention, treatment, recovery and law enforcement.

$103 million a year is a drop in the bucket. The U.S. has already spent $10 billion to eradicate the opium problem in Afghanistan. Most of the $10 billion was spent in Afghanistan.

If $10 billion did not work in countering the Afghanistan heroin problem, how can a measly $103 million per year for four years do better? Especially when shared with the pain pill killer problem.

Not enough money in the new bill. A drop in the bucket. Wasted dollars as far as heroin is concerned.

Where did the $10 billion go? Into the pockets of corrupt officials and persons. The money has lined the pockets of former President Hamid Karzi, his half brother, governors, police chiefs and war lords. Some is suspected to have found its way into the pockets of American officials and contracted persons.

Money is really not the problem. The problem is the lack of desire on the part of the U.S. to do the necessary to destroy Afghanistan's poppy fields.

Especially since 2010. Obama ordered a 100,000 troop surge. The military was not concerned with poppy fields. Rather with keeping casualties down and training an Afghan force to defend itself. Military higher ups took the position that heroin was not their concern/responsibility.

And it was not. The U.S. needed the help of the Taliban. The Taliban in those years was financing its war activities with the proceeds of opium sales. The U.S. could not upset Taliban who had become an ally.

There are those I describe as goody goodies. They take the position Afghans are a poor people. Many work the poppy fields and distribution arm within Afghanistan. It would be improper to destroy their ability to support themselves, feed their families, etc.

These people recommend a slow deliberate reduction of opium production over decades. Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institute said anything less or draconian would be ".....morally reprehensible.....the human security of large segments of the Afghanistan population is dependent on poppy."

I find it hard to understand such a philosophy. Americans are dying in large numbers every day from heroin addiction. Many more are supplying their addiction. If there is a choice between Aghhans dying or American citizens, I say let the Afghans die. If this be America First, so be it.

There are two draconian methods to swiftly solve the poppy growing problem. Bomb the hell out of the poppy fields.

Very few, if any, are near cities. The poppy patches are in the hills and valleys and in desert areas. Similar with what the Jews did with Israel, the drug dealers have taken large tracts of desert far out and irrigated that portion of the desert.

The desert located poppy fields are so far out into never- never land that any American helicopters utilized to destroy the fields would have to refuel. The only way to refuel them would be the use of fuel bladders parachuted out of the back of cargo planes.

Another is spraying. The fields can be destroyed with chemical spraying.

The Taliban were in power in 2000.  The Taliban decided opium was a disgrace to Islam. They spent the year 2001 eradicating the poppy fields. One year.

The Taliban program is noted as one of the world's most successful anti-drug programs. In one year, there was a 99 percent reduction in poppy growth.

One problem. By killing the opium business, the Taliban also pissed off everyone in the Afghan population. People lost money big time.

One year later in 2002, Taliban was out of power.

How did the Taliban eradicate poppy growth in one year? Simple. They used their ways of conviction. Similar to those of al Qaeda and ISIS. Threats, forced eradication, and public punishment. The stop or we will chop your head off approach.

Religion can be hypocritical. In 2001, opium was a disgrace to Islam. The poppy fields were destroyed. Since 2008, Taliban has needed money to support its war efforts. Poppy growing provides a significant portion of the funding. An example of the end justifying the means.

Russia has a concern about the problem It affects Russia also. Putin has not been sitting on his ass. He is threatening force. Putin and the U.S. do not see eye to eye as to how the problem is to be handled.

As reflected previously, the U.S. has varied and multiple interests in allowing the poppy/opium/heroin problem to continue. Does such cloud what we are told?

Government tells us Afghanistan is not the problem. It is Mexico. Experts disagree. Afghanistan is responsible for 85 percent of opium production worldwide. Mexico, only 15 percent.

Heroin must be defeated at its source. Where it grows. Not the way it has been approached. The U.S. has fought the big war for years trying to eliminate/control marijuana and cocaine. A person can still buy all they want on the streets of America.

The U.S. has been in Afghanistan all these years in pursuit of the War on Terror. While doing so, the U.S. lost the War on Drugs. Afghan drug control has never been a priority.

It still is not and will not via the new drug program proposed.

Heroin will survive.

AFGHANISTAN AND AMERICA’S HEROIN ADDICTION

Afghanistanhas poppy fields galore. Poppy seeds become opium. The opium treated becomes heroin.

Today, the United States is facing its deadliest illicit drug epidemic in history. A heroin epidemic. Previous drug epidemics shade in comparison.

Afghanistan is responsible for 85 percent of the world’s opium production. A significant portion of that production has found its way to America’s streets.

I wrote a column in 2014 asking the question why Afghanistan poppy fields were basically untouched during the U.S. war years in Afghanistan.

The U.S. put boots on the ground in 2001. The U.S. military was still fighting in 2014 when the column was written. The U.S. military is still fighting today in 2016.

Not only were the poppy fields untouched by war, even the 3,000 farmers who worked the fields.

During the 15 years since 2001, thousands of Americans have been killed. More maimed. Legs and arms lost. Faces disfigured. Civilians suffered also. Children included. More thousands of civilians than U.S. soldiers dead and injured.

Communities destroyed. Thousands left homeless.

Yet, the poppy fields remain undamaged.

The U.S. spent billions during the early war years to combat/eradicate the opium problem. Nothing worked.

Money played a big part in the failure of the eradication program. Money found its way into the pockets of Afghan governmental leaders. From President Hamid Karzi down. Much went into the pockets of the war lords who owned the poppy fields. Some into the pockets of U.S. persons in charge of getting a handle on the opium problem.

Corruption at every level.

In those rare occasions where some one was convicted of opium violations in Afghanistan, that person walked into jail through the front door. A bribe is paid. The wrongdoer walked out the back door the same day.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan until the fall of 2001. The Taliban made billions from the opium trade. For reasons I cannot determine, the Taliban outlawed opium trade in mid 2000. Within one year, opium production was all but gone. Taliban had effectively destroyed Afghan’s opium business in one year.

The question arises if the Taliban could basically destroy the opium trade in one year, why has the U.S. not been able to do so?

The U.S. government bears significant responsibility for the heroin epidemic the nation is facing.

Bush 2 initiated an opium eradication program. It contracted with DynCorp. to do the work. In 2009, Obama’s administration failed to renew the contract with DynCorp. Since that time, the U.S. has had no eradication program.

Afghanistan has a small one for face-saving purposes. The Afghan eradication program in 2014 reduced the opium problem by 1.1 percent. No big deal. As of this year, Afghanistan is not continuing with the program or any other eradication program.

Heroin is cheap to buy on the streets of America. The cost of a bag of heroin is basically the same as the cost of a pack of cigarettes. In most instances, slightly cheaper.

Cigarettes are differently priced in each State. For whatever reason, the cost of one bag of heroin is similar to the cost of a pack of cigarettes in a particular state.

For example, a pack of cigarettes is roughly $7.75 in Baltimore. A bag of heroin roughly $5. In New York City, cigarettes run around $11-12 a pack. A bag of heroin $10.

Cost is affected also by quality and availability. Which does on occasion increase the price of a bag of heroin to $15-20.

Comparatively speaking, heroin is cheaper to buy than other street drugs.

The heroin trade is sophisticated. One example is that illegal heroin can be purchased over the internet. I tried to understand how. I could not. However, my research indicated it can and is being done safely by sellers and users. The heroin industry has its own computer geeks.

Tens of thousands were hooked on heroin in 2009. Today, millions.

In 2010, U.S. heroin deaths were 3,036. In 2014, 10,574.

2014 was a banner year. The number of deaths keeps going up.

Afghanistan opium production has also increased significantly. From 123,000 hectares in 2009 to 224.000 hectares in 2014. Two hundred twenty-four hectares equates to 6,400 tons of opium. A hectare is equivalent to 2.5 acres.

It is estimated there are 4,5 million heroin users in the U.S. today. 2.5 million are addicts. 2 million casual users.

With daily use, a person becomes physically addicted in 30 days.

The number of U.S. heroin deaths are difficult to estimate. One authority says one every 32 minutes. Another claims heroin deaths are difficult to trace via autopsy. Heroin breaks down in the body within hours to morphine. Coroners record the deaths as morphine prescription ones. It is estimated such coroner determinations result in heroin deaths being under reported by 100 percent.

The U.S. has failed to properly fund the heroin problem. The DEA, CIA and DOD are not provided sufficient funds to effectively seek out and eliminate heroin use.

The CIA uses the term “blowback.” Blowback is the “consequences at home of operations overseas.” The U.S. failure to renew the DynCorp. contract in 2009 a perfect example.

Another blowback was Obama’s desire  when he took office to reduce the number of U.S. combatants in Afghanistan and the costs of the war generally.

Millions of addicts require billions of dollars to treat. The U.S. has yet to address the problem. Medical care for in patient treatment is estimated at $25 billion a year. Out patient, $10 billion a year.

At some point, the U.S. has to confront the medical needs head on.

Heroin is a hell of a problem! One we are not yet as a nation facing.

The primary campaigns reflect the failure to address the heroin problem. I do not recall any candidate speaking to the issue.