cannabisnews.com: Bolster Democracy Against Traffickers 





Bolster Democracy Against Traffickers 
Posted by FoM on May 15, 2000 at 08:56:58 PT
By Barry McCaffrey and Thomas R. Pickering 
Source: Arizona Daily Star
The House recently passed an emergency supplemental appropriations request that included funding to support the administration's Colombia initiative. The 263-146 vote on March 30 was a welcome endorsement of a policy designed to get illegal drugs off America's streets and to strengthen democracy and human rights in Colombia. 
As the Senate considers the proposal, we want to point out why this package is critical. There is a drug emergency going on in Colombia that has serious implications for the safety and well-being of our communities. Ninety percent of the cocaine on our streets and two-thirds of the heroin seized in the United States either originates in, or transits, Colombia. Each year, drugs kill 52,000 Americans, almost as many as died in Vietnam or in Korea, and cost more than $100 billion in accidents, lost productivity and property damage. At the same time, Colombia's democracy, human rights situation and economy have deteriorated as illegal armed groups on the left and right finance their military campaigns with proceeds from the drug trade. Democracy in Latin America needs to be strengthened, not undermined, even as we protect our own citizens from drugs. Prompt action is imperative. Peru and Bolivia have achieved dramatic reductions of 66 and 55 percent respectively or more in their coca cultivation in the last five years, and overall cocaine production in the region has fallen 18 percent. But this progress is threatened because cocaine production in Colombia has risen 126 percent. We have a strategic opportunity to change that. Leaders in all three countries are strongly committed to attacking the drug trade on all fronts. Offering our help now could lead to lasting progress against the supply of drugs. This plan is not "another Vietnam" as some critics allege. Vietnam was a full-blown civil war. In Colombia, public support for the guerrillas and the paramilitary forces is running at about 5 percent for each. The fighting drags on despite pubic opposition because the drug trade is fueling these illegal armed groups. Nor is this just a military program. Indeed, the Colombian government's plan addresses the full range of challenges facing that country: the peace process, the drug trade, democracy and human rights, the judiciary and the economy. Colombia's plan also draws on the contributions, advice and experiences of many other countries. Most of the plan's $7.5 billion outlay will be for non-military programs. Colombia will supply $4 billion, International Financial Institutions already have provided more than $1 billion, the U.S. is proposing $1.6 billion, and Colombia is approaching Europeans and others for further help. U.S. assistance will be used in other ways, too, such as improving Colombia's human rights performance and strengthening judicial institutions, helping displaced people, providing economic alternatives for small farmers, and improving environmental management of protected areas. We are at a rare moment. Although problems in Colombia have escalated, a government is in office that has a comprehensive plan to address the situation in a process that enjoys serious support from its citizens. This is the best chance we have had to inflict major damage on the drug supply flowing to our shores. It is also our best chance to help Colombia strengthen its democracy, find peace, and repair its economy. Our proposed package will be an important complement to the $6 billion the U.S. government will spend on demand reduction in the United States and the $1.9 billion we spend on interdicting drugs. As longstanding friends and neighbors of a democratic Colombia, we owe it to our children and theirs to invest in Colombia's future. It's an investment in our own. Barry R. McCaffrey is the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; and Thomas R. Pickering is undersecretary of state for political affairs. Readers may write them at The White House, Washington, D.C. 20503. This piece was distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services. Published: Monday, 15 May 2000The Arizona Daily Star Online Related Articles:Drug War and Colombia Deny and Escalate http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5735.shtmlElian And The Drug Warhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5603.shtmlBarry McCaffrey Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/McCaffrey.shtmlNew Features:Cannabis & Drug Policy Informationhttp://cannabisnews.com/information/CannabisNews View Next 20 Articles:http://cannabisnews.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cnews/newsread.pl
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Comment #1 posted by legalizeit on May 15, 2000 at 21:28:59 PT
Leave it to the Daily Star to print this tripe
It astonishes me that any paper would even think about printing such ridiculous prohibitionist hype, but given AZ's right-leaning constituency and politicians it doesn't surprise me.>Each year, drugs kill 52,000 Americans, almost as many as died in Vietnam or in Korea, and cost more than $100 billion in accidents, lost productivity and property damage. Legal drugs kill far more than that, but why don't you ever bring that up? While we're on the subject, Sir, how many innocent prisoners of war and retreating troops did you mercilessly order killed? And don't tell us it didn't happen.>Democracy in Latin America needs to be strengthened, not undermined, even as we protect our own citizens from drugs.You mean, even as we undermine democracy in our own country in the guise of protecting our citizens from drugs?>As longstanding friends and neighbors of a democratic Colombia, we owe it to our children and theirs to invest in Colombia's future. Here we go with the rugrats again! The truth is, if we get involved in Colombia like McDeath wants, our children will be down there fighting another VietNam style war as soon as they turn 18.>This is the best chance we have had to inflict major damage on the drug supply flowing to our shoresYou've had chances for decades. So far, your efforts have had absolutely no positive but myriads of negative effects on USA and other countries. Wake up.
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