The experience of South America? Yeah, we all know cocaine has been wiped out don't we!

Ben, London,

UK Budget 2008 - increase in "defence" spending £2bn. Afghan poppy crop value £2bn.

Very roughly -

Increase in defence spending as % of UK GDP = 0.002%
Value of poppy crop as % of Afghanistan's GDP = 20%

Don't Stuart and David have a point?

Mike L, Chippenham, Wilts

Stuart, Glasgow, has the right answer to poppy cultivation : it is so obviously the right answer that I for one just cannot understand why we do not follow this policy.

David Thomas, Burnham, UK

Wars are about winning over hearts and minds. Both in Iraq and Aghanistan we have failed. The net result is that we have 1000 soldiers and helped to make the world a more dangerous place. Both Bush and Blair have been a complete disaster.

nick, london,

Actually Barry the herbicide of choice for use in aerial destruction of drug crops is paraquat, which, while toxic if ingested, isn't a carcinogen and breaks down rapidly in the environment, unlike 2,4,5-T/2,4-D (Agent Orange). It kills on contact and is extremely effective for this use, if not much else. McCain is right so far as his observations about spraying in Colombia reducing coca output.
That said, spraying isn't a solution to the problem on its own. Opium cultivation needs to be co-opted by a similarly attractive agricultural pursuit (none come to mind) in most of Afghanistan before crop destruction actually becomes a strategically useful tool.
But while I disagree with the senator on the conduct of opium disruption that still leaves him way ahead of his two rivals in my estimation. As far as I know neither Clinton nor Obama have given this issue any thought at all. There's a depth to McCain's understanding of issues that's not there in his opponents.

Matt, Chicago, IL

Rather than eradication of the poppy farms, that form a vital life line for the Afghan farmer, why don't our governments and drug companies buy their crop from them? Meaning the drug companies use the crop to manufacture opiate based drugs, such as morphine and the likes which in turn are supplied to the NHS for providing relief to conditions that can inflict horrific pain such as terminal cancer. Better that these drugs are in the hands of doctors and the prophets to the taxman rather than the drug lords.

Stuart, Glasgow,

"Special relationships" do not mean there are no differences of opinion. Neither is vassal, neither is liege, and neither swears fealty to the other. It is co-equal, symbiotic relationship that has survived through time, and through presidents and prime ministers.

The reason is simple. Both Britain and America share a basic, common culture. The American culture, from the law to religion to language, developed from its English roots.

Certainly, McCain recognizes this unique special relationship, and like father and son or brothers, each may have some differing views that cannot shake or weaken it.

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

It makes sense to give them another source on income. That is the main driver for anyone in our current system. If we assist the farmers in transitioning to another form of production to put food on the table and school shoes on their children's feet why would they go back to the poppy farming?

Get to in gentleman.

Max, Sydney, Australia

McCain is right in every thing he said. Out of the three candidates, he is the best by far, his views are better by far, his experince, hi CV, and the most important his aproach to Iran's Nuke program. Dose any one in the UK know to what extent our economic situation would change if Iran aquired nukes, and the west in general

omar al sayad, london, uk

Encourage them to grow industrial Hemp instead, in fact we should all be growing it, do some reserarch, it's an extremely useful and valuable crop with dozens of very acceptable uses.

Clive Burghard, LANCING, ENGLAND

Agent orange... here we go again

Barry, Chesham, Uk