Ask a random American what he knows about Afghanistan and you might notice a puzzled look on his face. Most Americans are not very familiar with Afghanistan. Aside from the ongoing “war on terror” in Afghanistan, knowledge of the country is superficial at best. Even retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal admitted as much, according to a 2011 article in which he is quoted as saying, "We didn't know enough and we still don't know enough. Most of us, including myself, had a very superficial understanding of the situation and history, and we had a frighteningly simplistic view of recent history, the last 50 years." (Walsh, Declan) Aside from the fact that the United States is involved in an ongoing military operation in Afghanistan, another thing that some Americans are aware of is the opium problem in Afghanistan. In fact, according to a 2011 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report, 83% of the world's heroin supply is produced in Afghanistan. (20, Demirbüken, Hakan) How did Afghanistan become the world leader in opium production? To understand this it is necessary to take a closer look at Afghanistan's history, economic and social conditions, as well as attitudes towards opium by various groups within the country. Afghanistan's recent history has been full of uncertainty and turmoil. In the years preceding the current American occupation of Afghanistan, the country had been embroiled in a bitter conflict with another world power. In April 1978, after the Saur Revolution, the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), supported by the Soviet Union, formed the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA). However, the process was not smooth. Some in Afghanistan, which has a majority Islamic population, have seen the new So...... middle of paper ......lem." PBS: Frontline. PBS, January 3, 2012. Web. December 13, 2012 . 2013. “Mujahideen Warriors Of Afghanistan.” Africa 24 Media Photography, 2011. Web 13 December 2013. Rawlings, Nate “Opium Production in Afghanistan Reaches Record Levels.” 2013. Web. 13 December 2013. Walsh, Declan. “US had 'frighteningly simplistic' view of Afghanistan, says McChrystal Guardian Weekly, 7 October 2011. Web. 2013. .