Cannabis News Stop the Drug War!
  Colombian Officials Cooling on Drug War
Posted by FoM on August 28, 2001 at 23:50:00 PT
By John Otis, HC South America Bureau 
Source: Houston Chronicle 

justice As U.S. officials arrive in Bogotá today to evaluate the war against drugs and Marxist rebels, many prominent Colombians are voicing opposition to key elements of the anti-narcotics campaign.

In recent weeks, Colombian governors, lawmakers, a high-ranking administration official and the front-runner in next May's presidential race have come out against the policy of fumigating illegal drug crops, a cornerstone of the U.S.-backed fight against narcotics.

Snipped


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Comment #5 posted by tdm on August 29, 2001 at 11:20:17 PT:

Kevin...
I have often felt the same way about a myriad of topics related to erosion of our liberties. There is a book you should read, "How I Found Freedom in An Unfree World," by Harry Browne (1996 & 2000 Libertarian Presidential Candidate). Harry understands as well as anyone that liberty has become a casualty in this country. Though Harry wrote the original edition nearly 30 years ago, the material is still relevant and fresh today. I have a new edition (1998) with additional material. This book lives up to its title and is in my top five books that have changed my life. I *highly* recommend it.

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Comment #4 posted by Kevin Hebert on August 29, 2001 at 09:16:49 PT:

Truth
"A few years from now, we will look back on the drug war as one of the stupidest wars that humanity has ever waged," said Sen. Morales, the sponsor of the legalization bill.

That is so true.

I have to tell you guys something. Every morning I wake up and it isn't too long before I realize that marijuana is still illegal. It boggles my mind, each and every time, how crazy that is.

Then I come to Cannabis News and I read how sanity is starting to creep in along the edges in other countries.

Then I wonder how come, in my country, which was founded on principles of liberty, things are not changing faster.

I realize patience is important, but it really does blow my mind how little freedom we really have in some regards.

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Comment #3 posted by tdm on August 29, 2001 at 08:48:45 PT
recipe for disaster
"...assess progress in the nation's 37-year war against leftist rebels."

Perhaps I missed this detail in my previous reading. I had no idea Colombia's civil war has continued for 37 years. And just exactly what does our federal government think they can accomplish by embroiling us in a 37-year-old civil war? It seems more than a little arrogant to think any of our efforts would have even the slightest impact.

Already, as pointed out in this article, our efforts are widening the chasm between the different factions and giving ordinary Colombian citizens (farmers) reason to join the conflict.

"Drug farmers, these critics say, have simply pressed deeper into the jungle and mountains to plant more. Some disgruntled peasants, they add, have joined the rebels."

I'd say this is hardly a recipe for success in ending a bitter civil war. Didn't our politicians ever hear the phrase, "Mind your own business." Cliches are often common in our vernacular because they are based on universal truths. This phrase is one our so-called leaders should heed.

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Comment #2 posted by PoisonedFor4YrsSoFar on August 29, 2001 at 06:08:16 PT
everybody realizing at the same time
It seems like everybody in Europe and
the western hemisphere is coming to the
conclusion the drug war is not smart.
Even the DEA is ducking Salvia.
Its like a bad hangover - people look at it
and are thinking 'holy cow what have we
been doing'. The hard part is for the
long term American politicians to
change their stance and not look
completely stupid.
Hopefully one day the DEA will become
superfluous and all the highly skilled
law enforcers can reallocate their skills
to protecting the American people from
those that wish to harm them. Perhaps their
new assignment could be gangsterism and
corruption. They could do undercover
investigations
of corrupt police, politicians and
violent criminal organizations. We could
call them the IEA ( Integrity
Enforcement Agency).


[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by dddd on August 29, 2001 at 02:29:32 PT
"Cooling"
..Yes,,it's about time,,,I got a feeling that the temperature drop
is nothing new,,it's now just becoming politically prudent to announce
the cool breeze that is ventilating the Coca Cabana........dddd


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