2 chapters across the catalog
The complex tribal and illiterate nature of Afghan society is explored, noting that Western democratic ideals are fundamentally misunderstood in the region. The withdrawal is attributed to a CIA-led plan initiated by Mike Pompeo and negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad, rather than a purely military or presidential decision.
Afghanistan Saffron Price Collapse and Iranian Market Control
Saffron farmers in Afghanistan's Herat province are facing a price collapse, with kilos dropping from $5,000 to $1,000. The hosts report that much of the Afghan crop is smuggled into Iran and repackaged as Iranian saffron. They discuss the culinary uses of the spice and the Afghan government's failure to market their high-quality product independently of the opium trade.
