cannabisnews.com: Plan Colombia is Well Worth US Support Plan Colombia is Well Worth US Support Posted by FoM on July 09, 2001 at 16:43:21 PT By Rand Beers and Globe Staff Source: Boston Globe Colombia is beset by a crisis with profound implications for the United States. Unfortunately, the country's strategy to counter these difficulties - ''Plan Colombia'' - and US support for it have been frequently misunderstood and misconstrued. Some claim that Plan Colombia is a US plan aimed at fighting insurgents, certain to ''militarize'' Colombia. They say it will produce ''another Vietnam'' by engaging the United States in a ''civil war,'' exacerbating civil conflict, heightening human rights violations, and poisoning the environment. None of these allegations has any basis in fact. Colombia's ills go well beyond drug production and trafficking. Plan Colombia is multifaceted, aimed at supporting peace, bolstering democracy, improving the economy, and enhancing respect for human rights, while attacking the narcotics scourge and the violence it engenders.Last year the US Congress passed, with strong bipartisan backing, a $1.3 billion package in support of Plan Colombia. This package consists of substantial counternarcotics support, but it also contains some $230 million in aid to protect human rights, strengthen democratic institutions, improve the administration of justice, fight corruption, protect the environment, and provide alternative development opportunities for small farmers engaged in coca cultivation.Colombia is by far the largest source of the cocaine and heroin that enter the United States. The illegal crops - coca leaf and opium poppy - used to make these drugs are a source of enormous income to the drug traffickers and illegally armed groups, both guerrillas and paramilitaries, in Colombia. Most of the coca is grown in remote areas of southern Colombia, where government control is weak and the illegally armed groups are strong.In past years, these groups, enriched by their proceeds from illegal drugs, have unleashed a wave of violence against legitimate authorities and the Colombian population. They are responsible for most of the grave human rights abuses that have occurred. Opinion polls show that public support for the guerrillas and paramilitaries is negligible.A cornerstone of the counter-drug program is eradication of coca and poppy throughout Colombia, but especially in the south. The Colombian government, with US support, is fumigating large-scale coca fields. Areas to be sprayed are carefully selected and spraying is tightly concentrated on coca. Small-scale farmers of coca who sign an agreement to eradicate their illegal crops manually in return receive support in finding alternative ways to make a living and are not subject to spraying. The goal is not to punish farmers but to wean them from growing. More than 11,000 families have signed agreements with the Colombian government to eradicate their coca in exchange for alternative development assistance.The product used in serial eradication of coca and poppy is the herbicide glyphosate. The Environmental Protection Agency approved glyphosate for general use in 1974 and recertified it in 1993. It is employed in more than 100 countries. In Colombia, the efforts account for no more than 10 percent of the glyphosate used annually. The remaining 90 percent is used for common agricultural activities.In aerial eradication of coca in Colombia, 3.35 pounds of glyphosate is used per acre sprayed, well within US-approved application levels. Glyphosate is one of the least harmful herbicides to appear on the world market, less toxic than common salt. Exhaustive studies have shown that, received orally or though the skin, it has a very low acute toxicity in humans and was undetectable in muscle, fat, milk, and eggs of animals, even after long-term feeding tests. The EPA has placed glyphosate in ''category E'' - the most favorable possible - on a scale of carcinogenicity, and it does not contaminate water.It is specifically approved for use around water and is used in the Galapagos Islands and the Everglades. Accounts that claim that glyphosate is causing widespread environmental destruction or harm to fish, birds, animals, and humans are totally unfounded.There is however, a real threat to the environment of Colombia - that posed by the cutting and burning of tropical forests to clear the way for coca cultivation and the dumping of tons of highly toxic chemicals used to process cocaine into rivers and streams of the Amazon basin by the drug producers.Neither do the facts add up on the Colombia-Vietnam comparison. For starters, Plan Colombia is a plan for peace, and the United States supports President Pastrana's peace efforts. From the begnning, we have stated that there is no military solution to Colombia's problems. US military personnel train Colombian soldiers and police for counterdrug operations, and they are prohibited from entering into combat or joining any other field operations. Their number is also capped by Congress at 500 in the country at any time, a fact frequently unmentioned in media accounts. At present, the number is well below that cap.Colombia's ills go well beyond drug production and trafficking. That is why Plan Colombia is aimed at bolstering democracy, improving the economy, and respecting human rights while at the same time attacking narcotics. As a democratic neighbor in need, Colombia deserves our help. And we are providing it through a comprehensive, balanced assistance package in support of Plan Colombia.Rand Beers is assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs.This story ran on page 11 of the Boston Globe on 7/9/2001.Source: Boston Globe (MA)Author: Rand BeersPublished: July 9, 2001Copyright: 2001 Globe Newspaper CompanyContact: letter globe.comWebsite: http://www.boston.com/globe/Related Articles & Web Site:Colombia Drug War Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htmAnti-Coca Fumigation Takes Toll in Border Area http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10226.shtmlBill Hikes Military's Power in Colombiahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10071.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Glyphosatehttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=glyphosate Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #26 posted by lookinside on July 11, 2001 at 04:32:18 PT: vaporization.. dddd...glad you didn't know about vaporization in thosedays...you might have been tempted to stick your head inwith the pizza... [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by dddd on July 11, 2001 at 00:02:24 PT Pizza Thats not what I was thinking FoM!....but it reminds me ofwhen I was about 17 years old,my parents went out forthe evening,and me and my friend decided to make a pizza.We garnished it liberally with weed,and put it in the oven.My Mom was super straight and square.I dont think she hadever even been drunk,,,anyway,,of course they came homeearly,and my Mom walked in and said "Mmmmm,,pizza",andhelped herself to a slice....me and my friend were white asa ghost,it scared the heck out of us.,,,I didnt hang aroundto see if she got stonedddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on July 10, 2001 at 23:22:05 PT dddd I knew someone would have thought that but my special pizza only has extra pepperoni and olives! LOL! Figured it would be you! LOL! I'm calling it a day now but you made me laugh. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by dddd on July 10, 2001 at 23:10:21 PT cures ..Tea tree oil is good stuff,,,,,but I bet the special pizza was the best medicine.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on July 10, 2001 at 23:03:48 PT Thanks Kaptinemo I read your comment earlier and I just wanted to say thanks. Tea Tree Oil is very good. I'm glad he didn't push me about going on the road because even though he gets back fairly quickly I felt this needed to be taken care of first. The steel can sit. It will get there when he can get it there. That's the good part about being self employed. I'm not sure his dispatcher will be too happy but if his dispatcher pushes me I tell him off ( nicely though )and he goes away. I can be really mean when it comes to being protective. Grrh! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by dddd on July 10, 2001 at 21:44:16 PT look Here's a couple of items.This one,is some AP propagandahttp://www.newsday.com/ap/text/topnews/ap335.htmAnd this one,is really #%*& %#$http://www.newsday.com/ap/text/topnews/ap226.htmdddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by kaptinemo on July 10, 2001 at 18:48:55 PT: Good call on the tea tree oil I use the stuff myself, for lots of things. Great astringent/topical antiseptic. Tastes terrible, though. He'll probably need lots of ice packs to keep the swelling down. Don't know if he can take anti-inflammatories because of his liver. The area's gonna turn all manner of interesting colors before it's through healing. Just so long as no streaks radiate from the wound; that's a bad sign of infection.Yeah, it never rains but when it pours... Just glad he's okay. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on July 10, 2001 at 18:26:34 PT Thanks Guys He's home and has the tire fixed. We washed the wounds and used tea tree oil as soon as he came in the first time. The owner of the dog ( our neighbor )came and said that it is required by law for the head to be sent away. They put him to sleep and my husband must go to the health department tomorrow. We'll have to take it from there. Oh when it rains it pours. He was called in for a random. I have to laugh or I surely would cry.PS: His arm is really starting to hurt now so I made him a special pizza. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by dddd on July 10, 2001 at 18:06:24 PT FoM Just saw your post.....They say that a dogs mouthhas less germs than a humans,but that's hard to believe.I might be the wrong person to ask,,,but if it was methat got bit,,unless it was really bad,,like shredded danglinggrissle,I would clean it up myself,,put some NeoSporin onit,wrap it up,and keep on doin'what I was doin'.If the dog wasknown to be healthy,then I wouldnt worry about it too much.It would be different if it was a stray or something....I knowvery little about Hep C however....Hope this all works out OK.Let me know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by kaptinemo on July 10, 2001 at 18:05:41 PT: Some first aid tips Like jacksplace58 said, you should have washed the wound immediately, preferably with an antiseptic. Otherwise, soap and water. Bites can be very bad because a mouth, any mouth, is a perfect place for germs to breed. And as jack pointed out, punctures can carry the germs deep into the wound.Not to seem too dense by stating the obvious, but the medics should give your Hubby any antibiotics that wouldn't affect liver function.Fingers crossed and knocking wood...... [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 10, 2001 at 15:32:51 PT Thanks! Thanks jacksplace58,He had to leave and go back to the van because it blew the front tire out and when he gets back we might have to go to the emergency room. He must be in shock because it isn't hurting him that much yet. The problem is he has Hep C and he can't take anything without someone who knows about HCV being aware of side effects and local hospitals aren't up on a lot of things. I can probably get him and emergency appointment at the VA in the morning and I think unless he is in extreme pain we might try to do it that way. If news isn't posted for awhile it's because we had to go but I will catch up when I get back if we leave tonight or in the morning. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by jacksplace58 on July 10, 2001 at 15:24:22 PT dog bite get the bite taken care of immediately,....not that the dog has rabies but the chances of infection are pretty good with puncture wounds,.and animal bites,. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 10, 2001 at 15:03:18 PT dddd I'm a little freaked out and I can't find any advice. My husband was on his way to work and the neighbors shepard ran out in front of him and he hit it. The neighbors came and they were trying to move the dieing dog off the road and he flipped out and nailed him on his forearm. Very deep punctures and not much bleeding. He wants to go on the road and I'm saying no. Am I being an alarmist? Should he go to the hospital or can he wait til morning to see a local Doctor? I thought you might find something on line if you can. I am a bit sidetracked right and and if you see this fairly soon I would appreciate your help. Sorry for the thread disruption. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by dddd on July 10, 2001 at 14:13:21 PT Charlie I appreciate the compliment,,,but aren't you thinking of Dan B? [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Kevin Hebert on July 10, 2001 at 12:22:18 PT: My response to the Boston Globe Dear Editor:Rand Beers' "Plan Columbia Is Well Worth US Support" posits that we, the American people should support the spraying of drug crops in Columbia. I disagree.Never mind that the plan will not work -- it was, after all, crop eradication in Bolivia and Peru that made Columbia a coca producer in the first place. We must oppose this plan because it is wrong. It is morally wrong. This plan will lead to many dead Colombian people without affecting the drug trade in the least.We need to stop people like Rand Beers, who are addicted to the propaganda of the failed drug war. We need to wake up and realize the problem is here, in America. And the only way to address it is to eliminate the black market by legalizing and regulating drugs, just as we do other harmfulintoxicants. While people will always use drugs, and always have, we can take steps to make such use less harmful. This is what will work -- not more foolish eradication plans supported by propaganda and lies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Lehder on July 10, 2001 at 06:32:03 PT three wars one thing that all three wars - Vietnam, Colombia, War on Drugs - have in common is that they are conducted by alcoholics. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Lehder on July 10, 2001 at 06:28:27 PT it's just a typical u.s. war It is the domestic war on drugs that most resembles the Vietnam war. That war, like this one, was opposed by millions of people all of whom were ignored by the government and held in contempt as naive or subversive. That war, like this one, was strongly advised against by the country's best thinkers, by Nobel prize winners, by university professors versed in the subject, by the government's own think tanks, by foreign allies of the government and many others as unwinnable, too costly, and not in the national interest or anyone's interest.We live under a government that is impelled by hatred and the prejudices and ignorance of a few individuals. The war will end when the United States federal government is defeated - when, at best, governments in Europe and Asia stop buying our crummy Treasury Bonds or, if necessary, when the U.S. is invaded, occupied and brought under control.Most Americans could not care less about Colombia, could not find it on a map and can't even spell it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Charlie on July 10, 2001 at 05:31:45 PT Mr. Beers... ''Plan Colombia'' - and US support for it have been frequently misunderstood and misconstrued. Most of all by you.dddd, Nice run down on this ugly anti, kudos to you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by sm247 on July 10, 2001 at 05:23:20 PT Got hemp?? and provide alternative development opportunities for small farmers engaged in coca cultivation.Geeee maybe they could teach them how to grow HEMP !!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by jorma nash on July 09, 2001 at 22:42:05 PT Attack 'copters & poison is a peace plan! Really! >...certain to ''militarize'' Colombia. They say it will >produce ''another Vietnam'' by engaging the United States >in a ''civil war,''yup, and if you "use" enough "quotation marks"you can pass off "garbage" as "facts."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~a few months ago, the Powers That Be didn't bother responding to critism.reading between the lines, i see somebody who understands quite wellthat Columbia as the new Vietnam is an idea that is gaining strength.i sense a note of desperation and panic in his words,as he can feel public opinion slipping further away every day.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>For starters, Plan Colombia is a plan for peace...hmmm, last i heard Plan Colombia was attack helicopters and poison,and looking the other way at paramilitary human rights abuses.if this is the author's idea of a "plan for peace,"i'd like to see his plans for war... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Dan B on July 09, 2001 at 21:22:32 PT: About Rand Beers First of all, I don't find his last name at all ironic. It seems appropriate that such an gifted liar have a name associated with the alcohol industry. I wonder if his family gets royalties every time another beer is consumed? (for those who think I'm not joking, please adjust your sarcasm monitors accordingly--I am. Heck, I don't get royalties every time someone buys maple syrup, and my last name is Butterworth).Here are a few links to information about Rand Beers:http://clinton6.nara.gov/1998/09/1998-09-10-rand-beers-named-assistant-secretary-of-state.htmlhttp://www.state.gov/www/about_state/biography/beers.htmlhttp://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2000_hr/000225_beers_sfrc.htmhttp://usembassy.state.gov/colombia/wwwhrb02.htmlAnd here's the one that is likely to surprise nobody:http://www.cfr.org/public/resource.cgi?pers!8264That's right; Rand Beers is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the organization that dictates to the United States what its policies will be, for the good of rich bureaucrats, corporations and conglomerates (that's if you believe only the surface level truth about this organization; conspiracy theories abound, and I would not be surprised if many of them were true). Be aware that only council members are allowed to attend/present at these meetings. I also found that a relative of Rand Beers, Henry Augustin Beers, was a Skull and Bones member in 1869. See this link to that organization's membership list:http://www.balaams-ass.com/journal/resource/secret2.htmConsider, then, that Rand Beers speaks for people in powerful positions who want to retain their powerful positions, and his rhetoric is a testament only to his loyalty to the powers that be, who make their money and obtain their power by maintaining the status quo.I'm sure I could dig up more on this guy, but the above should suffice to show that this man is little more than a mouthpiece for vested interests.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by SWAMPIE on July 09, 2001 at 20:26:08 PT MY COMMENT TO MR.BEERS.... One question,Mr Beers.Why do I,and my wife get sick everytime I use Roundup with a trigger-sprayer,with a mask,safety-goggles,and on a calm day?I don't know your connection to this company,but I'm sure you own stock!The billions of dollars we have sent to Columbia haven't reached the people yet,or we would be reading good things about this eradication-effort.I don't necessarily suport cocaine,the fact being that I am an ex-addict,but it does have a medicinal purpose,and the Amerikkan government with their 500-man limit,has chosen to hire subcontractors,instead to get the numbers up!!!I don't know where you got your information,but you should take a day off from the local bar and actually read some statistics before you attempt to write about this very touchy subject!The People in South America would be glad to tell you for themselves what is going on,and if you are a good reporter,you WILL follow up on t his!!!! TO ALL,PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS IN ANY WAY!SWAMPIE [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Pontifex on July 09, 2001 at 20:10:03 PT: lookinside, bravo Another excellent letter to the editor. Glyphosate is a toxic chemical and anyone who contends that it's harmless should be ridiculed. The Globe is an infamously prohibitionist rag, but this story was even worse than usual.Strong evidence that Plan Columbia is producing "another Vietnam": replace the metaphor of drugs with the metaphor of communism, and replace "Columbia" with "Cambodia", and this could have been a vintage Nixon speech or Kissinger column. To wit:"Cambodia's ills go well beyond communist oppression and tyranny. Plan Cambodia is multifaceted, aimed at supporting peace, bolstering democracy, improving the economy, and enhancing respect for human rights, while attacking communist gangsterism and the violence it engenders.""[The herbicide] is specifically approved for use around water and is used in the Everglades. Accounts that claim that Agent Orange is causing widespread environmental destruction or harm to fish, birds, animals, and humans are totally unfounded.""In past years, these groups, enriched by their proceeds from communist paymasters, have unleashed a wave of violence against democratic authorities and the Colombian population. They are responsible for most of the grave human rights abuses that have occurred. Opinion polls show that public support for the Khmers Rouges and Vietcong is negligible."MacNamara, you're not too old for a holiday in Columbia! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by lookinside on July 09, 2001 at 19:50:43 PT: hmmmph! Dear Editor,Rand Beers makes many statements without disclosing hissources...Is it true just because he says it?His statements concerning use of glyphosate near water arenot accurate according to the manufacturer's statements..I quote: ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS:Do not apply directly towater.Do not contaminate water when disposing of equipmentwashwaters.PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTSHAZARDS TO HUMANS & DOMESTIC ANIMALSCAUTION: Causes eye irritation.Avoid contact with eyes or clothing.Wash thoroughly with soap and water afterhandling.If Mr. Beers will lie about things that can easily berefuted by anyone with a bottle of Roundup, how might hetreat other subjects that are more difficult to dispute? Hiscredibility and the Globe's are certainly in question here.I would suggest that thorough research be done before anygovernment official's comments are published.Thank You,Frank L. Cowsert Jr.P.S. Any other information needed regarding publication willbe cheerfully supplied upon request. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on July 09, 2001 at 18:00:36 PT super What a wonderful example of showroom quality propaganda...The part about it being used in the Galapagos islands is a real Whopper,,,,you know all the problems they've had with excess foliage there,,,it was drivin' the landscaping crews crazy,,,but now that they've started using Roundup,,all the iguanas and birds are really happy.......and there have been no heath problems in all the towns and cities of Galapagos..The 4000 plus people in the capitol ,,Puerto Baqurizo Moreno,swear by roundup for keeping the native shrubs back from their swimming pools,,and amusement parks..If I ever start my own dictatorship,,,or run for czar,,I'm hiringthis slimeball as Minister of Deception and Untruths...dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by drfist on July 09, 2001 at 17:38:49 PT roundup use on this scale means no more soil this much roundup on this kind of scale will denude the land removing ground cover, the rainey season comes and the soil all goes down the river to the ocean, THEN WHAT!!! kills all plants in the carribean of course, then no fish. So we got no coca, but also no food, no soil, no fish and eventually NO PEOPLE!!! good plan. problem solved! new one created ,like survival of the human race. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment