cannabisnews.com: DEA Sees Colombian Rebel Link To Cocaine DEA Sees Colombian Rebel Link To Cocaine Posted by FoM on April 03, 2002 at 08:50:19 PT By Frank Davies, Knight Ridder News Service Source: Salt Lake Tribune New evidence shows that rebel and paramilitary groups in Colombia are "deeply involved in the cocaine trade from start to finish," Drug Enforcement Administration boss Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday. He added that the United States needs to do more to help vanquish such groups as part of the global war on terrorism. Hutchinson, who just returned from Colombia, also said that Carlos Castano, head of Colombia's largest paramilitary organization, is under U.S. investigation on suspicion of drug trafficking. In March, the Justice Department announced indictments of three leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. "That was the first time a terrorist organization had been indicted on drug charges," said Hutchinson, who emphasized links between drug traffickers and terrorists in a speech to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy research center. Colombian military forces that have retaken rebel-held territory recently are finding drug labs and other strong evidence of drug processing and trafficking, Hutchinson said. The DEA boss said he hoped Congress soon would approve a Bush administration request to broaden U.S. support for Colombia's war on guerrillas. Current restrictions limit most U.S. aid to counternarcotics efforts. Some members of Congress warn that direct assistance to the Colombian military to fight the guerrillas -- with more intelligence, training and advice -- could lead to deeper U.S. involvement in a protracted conflict. "There's no distinction between terrorists who kidnap presidential candidates and traffickers who operate the labs," Hutchinson said. "Our logistical support for the Colombian government should not be restricted." Hutchinson tried to redefine the drug war as an important component in the war on terrorism. He said DEA agents in 56 countries were providing "value-added intelligence." "We must seize this moment in history," he said. "The link between drugs and terrorism is a reality that should compel this nation to action." Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)Author: Frank Davies, Knight Ridder News Service Published: Wednesday, April 3, 2002 Copyright: 2002 The Salt Lake TribuneContact: letters sltrib.comWebsite: http://www.sltrib.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Colombia Drug War Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htm Effort To Merge Drug, Terror Wars In Colombia http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12417.shtmlPromotion of Legal Crops Fails to Stem Coca http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12397.shtmlUS Seeks to Protect Colombia Pipeline http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12329.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by mayan on April 03, 2002 at 13:30:08 PT oops... try this one: http://www.guerrillanews.com/government/doc374.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on April 03, 2002 at 13:26:54 PT Time For A Choice... It is more evident than ever that a third-party is the only hope the U.S. has(unless Gary Johnson is cloned). The Republicrats are both leading us to hell & are both corrupted to the core. You can vote for the lesser of two evils but at the end of the day you still have evil. We must all vote our consciences. The only time a vote is wasted is when we fail to do so.If a third-party candidate can garner 5% or so of the vote(depending on the state),their party can get automatic ballot status & recieve federal matching funds. This is the only way a foundation can be built unless a celebrity like Jesse Ventura runs. Ventura is reviving the old Minnesota Independence Party & is almost certain to run for re-election. I hope he makes a run for Prez in 2008(Ventura/Johnson - sounds like a heckuva ticket eh?).It would be nice if the Independence Party fielded candidates at all levels of state government & won a few. They could eventually end up being a viable national third-party. In the meantime I'll go with the Libertarians or the Greens."Spoiling For A Fight" - It's time for a third-party! http:www.guerrillanews.com/government/doc374.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by krutch on April 03, 2002 at 13:13:25 PT: I Like Liberitarians These folks are for keeping the government small and out of our lives. I am sick of our government trying to save everyone from themselves. I want them to defend our freedoms, not to attack them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Robbie on April 03, 2002 at 11:13:04 PT I'm with you, krutch This mis-administration needs to go, and for a lot of other reasons than just their right-wing prohibitionist efforts.Question is: what administration would you like to see? Another Clinton/Gore type presidency? If Republican right-wingers are Number 1 on the drug-war reform hit parade, Democrats are Number 2. Anyone who would kick out their Surgeon General for advocating decrim/legalization of pot, then put a schmuck like Barry McCaffery in to the ONDCP as czar is not interested in reform. Right-wingers are, at least, honest about their rabid prohibitionism. Undernews [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by krutch on April 03, 2002 at 10:47:01 PT: Global??? This is a shocker:New evidence shows that rebel and paramilitary groups in Colombia are "deeply involved in the cocaine trade from start to finish".What a suprise that goverment officals are involved in trading Columbia's largest natural resource. Boy, these DEA folks are really sharp.Hey Asa, Columbian terrorists have not piloted planes into our buildings. We are starting to call everyone we do not like a terrorist and this is a mistake.Perhaps one day Columbian terrorists will attack us. Who could blame them? We are fumigating their fields and meddling in their internal affairs. If I lived in Columbia, I think a would be pissed.Get ready to vote in 2004, my freedom loving friends. This administration must go. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MDMA4ever on April 03, 2002 at 09:40:23 PT: war on drugs I, like so many others have found myself under the long arm of the law on possesion charges. The U.S. government is corrupt in that it spends BILLIONS on keeping drugs out of the country, yet anyone can purchase pot(or anything) as easy, if not easier than alcohol.If their spending billions on keeping drugs out(and failing horribly) how can i be prosecuted for possesing a little amount of what is coming in everyday? They need to stop trying to keep drugs out, or stop arresting people for their own failure.I want my damn taxes back- [ Post Comment ] Post Comment