US Report Says Record Drug Production In Afghanistan Supports Taliban

WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) — The State Department says record illegal drug production in Afghanistan supplies the Taliban insurgency with money and arms and deters progress toward a stable, economically independent democracy.

A report Friday says the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan must take direct, prompt action against poppy growers. A portion of the report was obtained by The Associated Press before its full release.

Afghan farmers grew more poppies for opium in 2007 than ever before, the second year in a row of record production in the nation the United States invaded following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

The full report on illegal drug production and trafficking worldwide was being released at the State Department later Friday.