Lebanon in a bottle

[plaguepuppy]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any stranger: a BBC story about a mystery psychedelic (or maybe several different ones) that began inundating Iraq about two years ago.

"A boom in supply of hallucinogenic tablets has been coupled with the release of tens of thousands of criminals from prison before the US-led invasion to create a huge problem for the fledgling Iraqi police force.

As well as the tablets, drugs like Valium and sleeping pills - in common use in Iraqi jails - are being used. The euphoria and lack of fear provided by the drugs, the police say, is giving desperate criminals the courage to carry out more crimes.

"The release of those prisoners was a crime - a crime against me, against all Iraqis," Omar Zahed, the leader of the Iraq police's anti-drugs squad, told BBC World Service's Outlook programme.

"There has been a big increase in crime, and the released prisoners have started involving other people as well.

"Most of our criminals take these tablets before they act. It stops them feeling any scruples or fear.

"When the effects wear off, they forget what they did. It has caused a huge increase in crime."

...

Mr Zahed's claims of the effects of the drugs were backed up by Mohammed, a tablet user and former prisoner.

"One type of tablet is called Lebanon - when I take it I see Lebanon. I've never been there, but it's in the tablet," he told Outlook.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3156048.stm

[DulceDecorum]

1. They made the same claim about Somalia

with something called qat.
It is a herb which increases the permeability of membranes and the peson who chews it basically gets high off atmospheric oxygen.
People with emphyzema or other respiratory difficultis benefit greatly by it, unless of course, they happen to live in Smog City.
Anyhow, in the 90s, the US press swore up and down that the Somali were a bunch of drug-crazed louts who deserved to all die, so Conoco may better exploit the oil reserves there.
Where do the prisoners get the money to buy the pills?
I thought Saddam didn't let them have an allowance.

I must add that I am SHOCKED and AWED by the extent of the Iraqi criminals who are doing their best to disrupt the honorable Paul Bremer's benevolent patronage.

[plaguepuppy]

2. Bad drugs for bad people

I tried smoking my cat once, but she was too quick for me.
(insert insincere apology for bad joke)

But it is interesting how easily we can demonize other cultures' little plant helpers. As I understand it qat is a fairly mild stimulant, probably not that different from tea drinking for a habitual user. I guess it's easier to understand people being pissed off at you if you think they're out of their heads from chewing some weird plant that stains their teeth, rather than having to imagine that your armed presence might be somehow offensive.

As dangerous drugs go, from a simple "number hurt/killed" standpoint alcohol and tobacco are by far the worst actors. Given that weapons have mind-altering qualities there is something concise and poetic about having a Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Guns, everclear and butts made this country what it is today!