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| Plan Colombia: Latest U.S. Drug War Failure |
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Posted by FoM on August 14, 2001 at 07:28:46 PT By Ted Galen Carpenter, Special to Wichita Eagle Source: Wichita Eagle 
The centerpiece of the Bush administration's "supply side" campaign against illegal drugs is staunch support for the Colombian government's Plan Colombia. But the facts show that the plan is a waste of time and money.Washington is backing Plan Colombia to the tune of $1.3 billion, primarily in military aid. Green Beret personnel are training several antidrug battalions, U.S. funds have helped the Colombian military buy Black Hawk helicopters and other hardware, and employees under contract to the State Department fly dangerous aerial spraying missions to eradicate drug crops. Plan Colombia's goals are certainly ambitious. Since December, more than 75,000 acres of drug crops have been sprayed with a herbicide. U.S. satellite data suggest that there are about 340,000 acres of coca (the raw material for cocaine) under cultivation throughout the country. Colombian officials express the hope that the eradication campaign will cut that acreage at least 50 percent by 2002. But evidence has recently emerged that Plan Colombia's claims of success are erroneous -- or at least irrelevant. Even as President Andres Pastrana and other leaders boasted of the plan's achievements, reports were leaking out that a new study, funded by the United Nations, indicated that there were more than 340,000 acres under cultivation. Even more to the point, previous U.S. estimates of total cocaine production in Colombia -- 580 tons annually, out of total world production of 780 tons -- were too low. The new study concluded that Colombia's actual cocaine production was between 800 and 900 tons per year. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration inadvertently provides additional evidence of Plan Colombia's futility. Donnie Marshall, chief of the DEA, recently conceded that street prices of cocaine in the United States have remained virtually the same since Colombia's vigorous crop-eradication measures began. Yet if those efforts were successful, they should have produced a sharp decline in cocaine exports. That development, in turn, should be driving up street prices to reflect increasing scarcity. The fact that not even a modest price spike has occurred clearly indicates that Plan Colombia is having no meaningful impact on the supply of cocaine. The brutal reality is that, as long as drugs are illegal, there will be a huge black-market premium -- a lucrative potential profit that will attract producers. Plan Colombia cannot repeal the economic laws of supply and demand. In attempting to do so, the United States is creating even more trouble for an already troubled neighbor. Ted Galen Carpenter is vice president for defense and foreign-policy studies at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. Source: Wichita Eagle (KS) Related Articles & Web Sites: Cato Institute Colombia Drug War News Roundup Works -- But Too Well? Debate Sharpens on U.S.- Backed Drug Sprayings Agent Orange, All Over Again Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #13 posted by Chris Starko on August 24, 2001 at 12:42:34 PT:
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| Hi cannicis new,i am a debate scholar and am running the case this year banning the use of weapons of herbisedes and fungisided in colombia as my case,the topic is weapons of mass destruction, we claim to solve for extinction,bio weapons proliferation ect.. just want to thanks you for the great evidence you are putting out for me! Thanks! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by The GCW on August 14, 2001 at 11:33:17 PT |
| Go to the very core... It is a Biblical issue when looked at from the very center of everything...the common denominator. They appear as the SELF-CONDEMNED, Titus 3:10-11!, which is to say many things including, we do not have to pass judgement (a sin), since they have incriminated them selves. Remember in God we trust, not in Pharisees and the modern type included: prohibitionist politicians. These rulers do not seem to be able to pass the litmus test, and so we have been warned! THE LITMUS TEST: (to help expose those whom deny the 1st page of the Bible including Gen. 1:11-12 & 29-30), Give these politicians a book outlining the concept of caging a human for using cannabis & give them the Book that outlines cannabis on Gods terms & THEN ask them to pick one! They represent mans law and to cage, not Gods lawS! They fail the litmus and we get the warning! Now as a Christian I am ashamed of this fear, BUT give this same test to all the corner preachers out there and what % do you think will pass? The Bible says: FOR THERE ARE MANY REBELLIOUS MEN, EMPTY TALKERS AND DECEIVERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION, Titus 1:10. The circumcision is those of the faith: including clergy. Folks, in accepting cannabis we are not the rebellious ones. On this issue we pass the test. The empty talkers etc. are the self-condemned. God comes 1st.!!!&! When God gave us all plants on page 1 of the Bible, it was perhaps meant as a warning mechanism. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by dddd on August 14, 2001 at 10:53:52 PT |
| Dr Russo looks good in any color....dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by Patrick on August 14, 2001 at 10:12:51 PT |
| Actually, that subject title sounds a little funny :) Anyways, I can say this much...His name may not be in red, but he replies to emails! Thanks Doc, Patrick [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by fivepounder on August 14, 2001 at 10:11:58 PT |
| Well put Ethan, Money and power is what they want, morality is a means to an end. Stupid is what the American public is when it comes to evaluating what Washington throws at us. Would those in Washington be so willing to use their own money? They are more than willing to waste our money for their own goals. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on August 14, 2001 at 09:55:21 PT:
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| But you aren't looking at it from the viewpoint of those who waste our money. Having been a Federal civil servant, I witnessed millions being squandered each year of things the average person would find inconceivable. For example: Coming from a military family, I learned the best leaders led from example. Do the right thing by your people, even if it hurts you in the short term. Never ask anyone to do anything you were unwilling to do yourself. If you didn't know, then ask, dammit! (With the unspoken agreement it was better to take a little ribbing for not knowing something than find out another military maxim - ignorance kills) But I saw millions wasted on 'motivational speakers', and 'management leadership' seminars (like 'total quality management' which I still didn't understand) and all manner of expensive twaddle. All footed for by the taxpayers. being forced to attend seminars on waxing lyrical about the qualities of art appreciation in the workplace, and touchy-feely nonsense in describing the 'orangeness' of an orange (I sh*t you not). I had better things to do those days - like my job dammit! - and can't help but wonder how many lost hours were wasted in these truly 'trivial pursuits'. The Feds waste so much money, they think it's natural to do so. I invite all and sundry to visit this site DEAWatch and read the latest comments by DEA agents, particularly the ones where they p*ss and moan about how they are sucking hind tit on the Federal Sow with regards to all the nice shiny toys they say other DrugWarrior agencies have. Not a single question of "Is this money well spent? Are we able to do what we are supposed to do? Does it make a difference?" Nope. It's all the human analog of irritated piglets angrily squealling that they think they're being nudged away from Mama's dugs. Disgusting. The Doc is right; if enough of the taxpaying public got an eyeful of how much of their hard earned bucks get flushed down the toilet by greedy, fascistic swine, there'd be serious call from legislators to demand an accounting. Since moral outrage seesm to be sleeping in America, then hit people in their wallets; that wakes them up every time. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by FoM on August 14, 2001 at 09:30:12 PT |
| Hi dddd, There's a little tiny glitch that hasn't been fixed I think! Dr. Russo is registered he just is green! LOL! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by dddd on August 14, 2001 at 09:18:52 PT |
| ..how come you dont have a red name?,,,are you trying to tempt me to work some of my cheap mischief?....dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Rambler on August 14, 2001 at 09:13:10 PT |
| The U.S. doesnt care about the World Court,unless it's to their benifit.The U.S. is coming to be viewed as a rogue state worldwide. Here's a good article on the subject http://commondreams.org/views01/0812-05.htm [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on August 14, 2001 at 09:03:50 PT:
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| Perhaps the World Court should examine Plan Colombia. It is possible that they would recognize the spraying policy as a crime against nature and humanity. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by dddd on August 14, 2001 at 09:00:50 PT |
| "Do you really think there's stupid people in power?" So nicely said Sudaca.........99% of the people in power know EXACTLY what is going on!,,and that fact, makes them treasonous criminal slimeballs,,that are far worse than the most ruthless of drug dealin' kingpins! ,,why?,,because they have betrayed their country,and its citizens,by knowingly putting corporate interests ahead of their Constitutional oath!.. ..I like the idea of a law ,,that is similar to the "conspiracy" dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by Sudaca on August 14, 2001 at 08:37:25 PT |
| "The brutal reality is that, as long as drugs are illegal, there will be a huge black-market premium -- a lucrative potential profit that will attract producers. Plan Colombia cannot repeal the economic laws of supply and demand. In attempting to do so, the United States is creating even more trouble for an already troubled neighbor." This is so in your face obvious, what are the chances that policy makers are not aware of this? Suspicious, it only makes sense if you erase the "its about cocaine in Colombia" assumption. If you look at it from the other side; who's benefitting from this STUPID policy then it makes more sense. Look for the Monsantos; Occidental Petroleum, DynCorp, and other war supply manufacturers; the guys taking in the bribes, the payola, etc. Do you really think there's stupid people in power? I suggest that answer is too easy and dangerous. As long as the public see these policy crafters as well meaning (arguably idiots) there's little chance the policies will change. After all, well meaning is a nice disguise .. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on August 14, 2001 at 07:45:09 PT:
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| Let's put this in terms the Feds will understand: It's a waste of money, stupid! They don't really care about anything else, so that should settle it. Money is power. Morality is only useful to them to gain power (money). Now we need a few good pieces showing how perpetuation of the War on Drugs feeds the Amerikan economy. When the populace realizes how they are being ripped off by this ill-conceived and savagely fought battle, they should rebel against the politicians that nurture and perpetuate it. [ Post Comment ] |
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