Letter: Technology and the war on drugs

Letter: Over 30 years ago, in the 1970s, the Landsat satellite system was launched in order to monitor crops and detect at an early stage any problems arising with infestation mutation and disease.

Using false colour infra-red to watch, we were able to detect at an early stage any problems with the crops.

Leap forward nearly 40 years and consider the advancing technology utilised in satellite systems.

Consider the use of modern satellites monitoring Afghanistan with a watching brief to highlight opium poppy fields. When the fields of maturing poppies are detected, it must be a simple procedure to send in remotely-controlled drones and spray fields with herbicide to stop further growth.

So, why have we got troops in Afghanistan being killed in order to reduce the amount of heroin grown and shipped to Britain? Better still why don't we just outbid the Mujahideen for the crop from the poppy field farmers? No matter what the sale price is we would save a fortune in other costs like providing Royal Navy ships, troops in the field and customs and excise staff here in the UK devoted to detecting illegal drugs shipments.

It seems to me the simple solution to our presence in Afghanistan is beyond the comprehension of our politicians, who are untrained volunteers with the job of running this country.

Sometimes, because the simple solution may work and put well paid people out of a job, the conclusion within Whitehall must be that "we don't want that".

Michael Wilkinson

Ketley