Colombia: Drug 'Taxes' Fund Arsenals |
Posted by FoM on July 09, 2001 at 09:39:31 PT By Mike Williams - Cox Washington Bureau Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution In a country awash in blood from a 37-year-old civil war and cash from one of the world's most profitable illegal drugs, there's no limit to the appetite for weaponry. Marxist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary squads battle over ideology, but also for control of coca fields. They earn millions in "taxes" from growers and traffickers --- or swap drugs directly for weapons --- building their arsenals and expanding their control of territory. Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #1 posted by Sudaca on July 09, 2001 at 15:25:01 PT |
It's globalization," Rangel said. "Weapons come to Colombia in exchange for cocaine that goes to New York or Europe. It's pure capitalism, a primitive but effective form of barter." Nothing primitive about the deals that get made under the great black market for illegal drugs. Drug capitals are pandemic in financial organizations; like it or not the money is now part of the flow of wealth regardless of legitimacy. and that is why it's not a simple world. carve up the cocaine lords and the economy of the world turns upside down. When the Colombians are done, where will the US sell its surplus weapons? [ Post Comment ] |
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