So Wader2,
Taliban will take a cut then no matter what he crop - cos they'll just use extortion on the farmers whatever.
But having a legal avenue for opium cash crops will make a) the farmers more likely to choose the legal market because b) the Taliban will be simply running an extortion racket which will be all the more unpopular and liable to face resistance from the (organised and protected) farmers.
Maybe not but - we seem to be faced with:
- Give up, turn tail and run out leaving the whole area to the medieval lawless terrorists types who may not be happy with just being evil in their own back yard.
- Carry on the war in some form hoping one way or the other we can find a method which will work.
Are there any more options?