Peru Sees Drug Flights Relaunch, Washington Mum |
Posted by FoM on April 26, 2002 at 11:51:25 PT Commentary Source: China Daily Peru expects the United States soon to announce it will resume a program to catch drug flights in the Latin American country that was halted after the shooting of an American missionary plane, officials said on Thursday, but Washington said no decision had been made. "The information we have received from a good source is that a high- ranking US official is apparently set to make the announcement (to relaunch drug flights) on Monday," said Ricardo Vega Llona, who handed his job as Peru's first anti-drug "czar" to successor Nils Ericsson on Thursday. The United States until last year sponsored an aerial drugs interdiction program, supported by the CIA, in conjunction with the Peruvian military, over Peru and Colombia, the world's top two cocaine producing nations. Americans helped staff surveillance planes and alerted Peruvian forces to suspected drug-trafficking flights. But the surveillance program came to a dramatic halt in April 2001 after a Peruvian Air Force jet mistakenly shot down a civilian plane, killing an American missionary and her baby. Vega Llona called the information on resumption of the program "preliminary" and said, "We still need final confirmation." A State Department official in Washington, however, said, "No final decision has been made on resuming the interdiction program in Peru and Colombia." Only US President George W. Bush can make the decision, officials said. Peru has been pushing for resumption of the CIA-backed program, which has been criticized by US lawmakers but which Peru says is vital for fighting drugs. Vega Llona's comments came a month after the Bush administration said it wanted to see those planes in the air again, fast. In connection with last year's shootdown, the White House has said it would pay the dead missionary's family compensation but would not admit liability. According to Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, the surveillance program is an essential weapon for this cash-strapped nation in curbing the illegal drugs trade. Peru was praised in the 1990s for cracking down on drugs, but officials are warning cultivation figures could creep back up. Vega Llona leaves his drugs czar post to head a new agency designed to boost private investment and privatization plans. His replacement, Ericsson, comes from the National Coca Company, which sells coca leaf -- the raw material for cocaine -- for traditional, legal uses like chewing and in teas. Newshawk: Ethan Russo MD Related Articles & Web Site: Colombia Drug War News U.S. To Resume Shooting Down Drug Planes Millions Sought From U.S. in Plane Downing U.S. To Start Peruvian Drug Flights Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #27 posted by Jose Melendez on April 30, 2002 at 08:28:25 PT:
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OK el_toonces, I can tell we are on the same page. I'll gladly and publicly train people to jump from planes, but it's likely to fail for the same reasons as parachutes for burning buildings: the landing area might be just as or even more hazardous. I think we could attract more attention with videos of people busted for legal drugs, like caffeine or nicotine... [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #26 posted by el_toonces on April 29, 2002 at 12:34:33 PT:
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Perhaps an young enterprising sky diving expert could teach airline passengers in the Peru area some self-defense....how to paracute out of small plane safely (if possible) when the plane is shot down by U.S. bought (or approved) weaponry? Might garner some media attention:) The things I think of when I have to clean my office:) El [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #25 posted by Jose Melendez on April 29, 2002 at 09:23:06 PT:
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from: http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/la-shootdown.html
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Comment #24 posted by Jose Melendez on April 29, 2002 at 08:54:40 PT:
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Of course, just like it is socially acceptable to smoke tobacco but not pot, some cultures consider jewelry in noses and other places beautiful, even a status symbol. Which is why we should not ever shoot them down... like civilian airplanes. Peace :) [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #23 posted by dddd on April 29, 2002 at 08:37:29 PT |
..I used to think that anyone who was shocked by my long hair,,was a close minded square...and then,,I started seeing all these body pierced tattoo kids,,and I was/(am) sorta disgusted ....I then realized what a hypocrit I was,,, ,,but ya gotta admit,,it's way easier to cut your hair,take off the tie-dyed bell bottoms,and Nehru shirt, ,than it is to remove a tattoo!.. ..besides,,growing your hair is way less painful than having an eyebrow,nostril ring and tongue stud installed....dddd [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #22 posted by dddd on April 29, 2002 at 08:25:33 PT |
..I am indeed,,somewhat of a "bastard"................ but I hope you realize,that it is all simply a cheap ploy to divert attention,and remain in denial concerning my grotesque and abusivly frivolous verbage ,, punctuation.... and spelling..........................dddd [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #21 posted by FoM on April 29, 2002 at 08:22:01 PT |
Rings on my fingers and bells on my toes and a bone in my nose ho ho! dddd I can related! See even liberal, old hippie types don't get somethings. Each generation does it's darndest to shock older people. I swore I would never get shocked about anything when I was younger but nope I do get shocked. So much for my arriving I suppose. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #20 posted by qqqq on April 29, 2002 at 08:08:51 PT |
,,I do agree about maintaining proper and acceptable decorum when advocating drug law reform. .Tie-dyed Hippie freaks are not generally well accepted or respected,no matter how polite,or smart they may be. ... .I get kinda spooked by people with body piercings and tattoos,,but I now realize that they are simply displaying Rebellion through self Mutilation..it's todays sad attempt to be beatniks or Hippies.? [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #19 posted by FoM on April 29, 2002 at 07:55:11 PT |
I don't want to get into this too much but that made me laugh! Liberated from neckties and girdles I love it! What's a girdle? LOL! PS: I know I wouldn't smoke in public if I went to a March. I would feel uncomfortable. I don't want to offend those that I would be trying to explain why marijuana should be legal. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #18 posted by el_toonces on April 29, 2002 at 07:53:55 PT:
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.....I knew you and qqqq were not in any way related and perhaps I erred in using the slash sign "/" when the symbol for "AND" -- "&" -- might have been better? DDDD, you're a bastard when it comes to picking apart the poor grammar of ADD rattled simple folks like me:). I am sure qqqq would never engage in such tactics!:) El [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #17 posted by dddd on April 29, 2002 at 07:48:33 PT |
..that I have nothing to do with qqqq,,and I refuse to take responsibility for any of the outlandish comments 4q makes.,,I want everyon to know.....dddd [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #16 posted by Ethan Russo MD on April 29, 2002 at 07:48:17 PT:
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I have said something along these lines before. Back at my first NORML Convention in 1998, someone referred to the clientele being composed of "ties and tie-dyes." I looked like the former and felt like the latter. I tend to dress up whenever I am "preaching the gospel of cannabis." It merely tends to deflect some unwarranted stereotypes that our detractors would like to hang around our necks. A few in the audience may grant credibility to a message delivered by a suit, when the same content might be discounted when offered by a grunge. Is this fair? I don't think so, but it is the truth. Actually, I'd like to strangle the idiot that invented the necktie: probably the same twisted guy that came up with the girdle. At least women had the sense to liberate themselves from the constriction. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #15 posted by el_toonces on April 29, 2002 at 07:47:59 PT:
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...is it primarily "self-expression" (and yes, in part, it is and that is why political speech is protected) or changing bad public perceptions, policies, and laws. What do you think accounted for the success of the Million Man March on Washington years ago by men of color? El [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #14 posted by el_toonces on April 29, 2002 at 07:44:54 PT:
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...perhaps it was the idealism of the "youth panel" that appealed to me, qqqq/dddd, because I feel the same way you do about law enforcement, and I grew up around LEOs. I am not saying I respect them or that I or anyone else even should respect them, just that if we are seen by the public as showing respect, we are likely to get it in return, and that is Maher's point as well, I think: we need to get away from our "flower child within" (or calloused activist without, whatever) and present the right IMAGE, because in this country, in these times, IMAGES count for more than substance. It's sad, but I am not moving to the third world over it:). el [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #13 posted by el_toonces on April 29, 2002 at 07:40:18 PT:
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...sorry about that. I meant the plural form the personal pronoun "you" even though my the pronoun's antecedent (FoM, presumably, by the way I wrote it now that I look) was singular. I meant I wanted the opinion of EVERYONE here who would so kind as to offer me one. And thank you, qqqq/dddd. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #12 posted by qqqq on April 29, 2002 at 07:35:38 PT |
,,but I'm gonna toss out my 3 cents from my private peanut gallery......I think there are two ways to look at the question....yes,,it's true that one can gain enhanced respect,and increased acceptance by donning the proper decorations of distinguishment and respectability....and there is definitly a place for those who wish to approach the problem in this way.There's alot to be said for the theory of avoiding hacking on a big ol' reefer during a 'march'..Nowdays,,people who insist on smoking weed in a public demonstration,,only do it once or twice,because they soon realize how unpleasant it is to get brutally busted, and taken into custody...they end up having little time or resources left for 'marching', because they are now forced to spend their time in court.......Yes, I will admit that it is probably best to present a respectable,self-controlled aire,when publicly representing drug-law reform.......BUT,,, ......... I have not attended any 'marches' lately....and I could easily put on a plaid blazer,and a pair of Dockers,,tie my hair back,and pretend I'm normal,,but it's not easy for me,because I'm an old bitter dinasoar Hippie,,and I'm fuckin' Pissed off Bigtime!...I've had to watch as peaceful friends of mine were brutalized by cops...I get really nervous around law enforcement,,and I kinda think that if you are going to 'march',for a cause,,then getting all dressed up,and pretending you're normal is a plastic fake-out MAN!..It's a drag to think that an American has to live in a plastic bag..........Peace [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #11 posted by el_toonces on April 29, 2002 at 06:39:48 PT:
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FoM -- As I am sure you know, when Bill Maher spoke at the NORML conference, he suggested the next major march(es) be SMOKELESS -- to emphasize we are responsible people who do not WANT to break the law and are not without discipline. This is part of an "image" brush-up we need, he said. He urged people to USE the media (like the corporations) do and stop what he called "Indian style" thinking that "we should not use the white man's evil ways."J Especially after I saw Kris Krane's very impressive and inspiring "youth panel" on the last day and heard these kids talk about putting self-expression "second place" and dressing professionally when meeting with media, legislators or other "mainstream folks", I had the feeling Mr. Maher is right. What do you think? El [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #10 posted by FoM on April 27, 2002 at 11:56:41 PT |
A CLS Degree! Well that sure sounds impressive! Hope the information helps you. When I get my zippy connection I'll work on updating my personal pages. I try to keep them current but slip but soon I'll zip here and zip there and generally be very zippy! Just kidding and have a nice time if you make one of the Marches. I'll do all the news that is in the papers or at least as many as I can. I hope the Million Marijuana Marches get a lot of good press this year! [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #9 posted by el_toonces on April 27, 2002 at 11:10:25 PT:
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...that link will also help me connect with some Portland area people I met in SF. You really should be given a graduate degree in CLS -- cannabis library science, you know. I am STILL finding new things on your freedom pages! [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #8 posted by Jose Melendez on April 27, 2002 at 06:35:03 PT |
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20020426/news/news4.html
POLICE COMMISSIONER Francis Forbes believes that ganja will inevitably be legalised in Jamaica. He told The Gleaner's Editorial Forum on Wednesday that decriminalisation was just a back-door means of legalising the drug which has been illegal in Jamaica since 1913. "I think that no matter what we say, ganja will eventually be legalised. This whole issue about decriminalisation is just the back-door way of legalising ganja. And I think that very soon we really have to make up our minds: is it worth the effort to tackle ganja or cannabis the way that we are doing it now?" The Commissioner pointed out that there was a move, globally, towards legalisation. "And the more you hear the presentation, the more people like myself, you know, have had to step back and really try in a very objective way to look at the problem as it is being presented," he said. Commissioner Forbes said there was a need to expand the recently introduced drug courts, as a theory was being presented at the international level, that it is not the users who are the problem, but the traders, and if users were treated the demand side would be reduced. He said that an example of this was Dutch sidewalk cafés, which sell ganja legally. He said he had been informed that these have been reduced in numbers in recent years "because there just isn't that great demand any longer."
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 26, 2002 at 21:51:03 PT |
Hope you meant Portland, Oregon if not here is the link to all of the Marches.
Have fun!
Million Marijuana March Event Navigator http://www.millionmarijuanamarch.org/cities.php?citySelect=Portland [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #6 posted by el_toonces on April 26, 2002 at 21:34:19 PT:
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....unfortuately I will have to miss ours here in Mich as I wille be out of town (pts out ot time thing). Has anyone heard anything about a march in Portland? [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #5 posted by Jose Melendez on April 26, 2002 at 16:30:48 PT |
From: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20020426/lead/lead3.html THE POLICE are stunned by some of the names of people who are turning up as big players in the local narcotics drug trade, Commissioner Francis Forbes says. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 26, 2002 at 15:24:39 PT |
Thanks for the link. I keep looking for news articles on the marches but haven't found any but will post them when I do. Everyone that is going have fun! [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #3 posted by Nuevo Mexican on April 26, 2002 at 15:18:55 PT |
Please forward and distribute! http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=176472&group=webcast Got to spend some time with Stephen Gaskin from The Farm in Tennesee last weekend (420!) Great guy! He moderated a live (Solar-Powered) radio broadcast discussion of how to bring Peace to the world, and mentioned the War on drugs every chance he got! I 'highly' recommend his book, Cannabis Spirituality (High Times Books), which is excellent reading, even for those who know everything on the subject! Steve says HELLO TO c-NEWS READERS, and was a big boost to the Global Peace Walk, which finished up here, where 300 people, including 150 teens from local schools and their teachers marched for Peace and concluded the Peace Walk from Albuqueque. The mayor re-dedicated our town as a Global Peace Zone (first in the country in 95') and we planted a Peace Tree and a commemerative plaque stating so! Folks, there are alot of reasons to be hopeful, as somewhere around 150,000 Americans marched in Washington against the bush W-ar machine and against the Israeli massacre in Jenin, globalization, the war in Columbia, and the attack on the environment. Also met Russell Means from A.I.M. the next governor of New Mexico. He is running on a Constitutional Plank, since New Mexico signed the Treaty of Hidalgo/Guadalupe and renders state and federal laws unconstitutional! That's why they call it 'New' Mexico! So, Speak now or forever hold your 'Peace' as my 8th grade Social Studies teacher was fond of saying! [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #2 posted by el_toonces on April 26, 2002 at 12:41:26 PT:
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...beccause even with MAP, Inc., this little article would have even slipped under my radar until the "real" press noticed it. It is such a shame to resume them after agreeing to pay the surviving family members. Michigan has lost a good number of innocents to the federal warriors of late:( El [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on April 26, 2002 at 12:20:16 PT:
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Should the drug flights resume, it will further erode the dangerously isolated position the USA currently holds on the world stage. It is ironic that the new drug czar was a coca baron. One hopes that he will be more cognizant of the environmental devastation wrought by defoliants, and will rule out the use of mycoherbicides that would wipe out his past livelihood and likely most of the rainforest with it. [ Post Comment ] |
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