'Sounds like a plan.'
Posted on 03/15/2014 3:09:32 AM PDT by markomalley
Dwindling defense budgets have been a boon to drug trafficking networks in Latin America as U.S. intelligence and interdiction assets in the Caribbean have been pared down, the top American commander responsible for the region said Thursday.
“Because of asset shortfalls, we’re unable to get after 74 percent of suspected maritime drug smuggling,” Marine Gen. John F. Kelly told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing about threats and military posture in the Western Hemisphere. “I simply sit and watch it go by.”
Kelly said that, because of tightening defense budgets, he does not anticipate getting additional assets for intelligence gathering and surveillance, even as some currently in use in Afghanistan are shipped home. Meanwhile, he warned, China, Russia and Iran have made a concerted effort in recent years to bolster their presence and influence in Latin America.
Kelly, who heads the Miami-based Southern Command, has been making a strikingly candid argument that the United States has become ill-equipped to respond to threats and capitalize on opportunities in the Americas. The general said that of the five overseas combatant commands, his has the “least priority.” The urgency of his remarks Thursday was rare for military leaders, who often use congressional hearings to highlight success stories and seldom volunteer statistics that show worsening trend lines.
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
You’re not going to stop it any more than they could stop booze during prohibition. As long as there are buyers, there will be sellers.
I agree. This is futile. Legalize many of these drugs, regulate and tax them. Get the cartels out of the middle. Start with marijuana and cocaine.
5 dollar heroin is addicting and killing our kids in every small town in America, this is an epidemic that has not been reported because they dont want you to know. AMERICANS and thier families are under assault.
Perhaps that’s by design of odumbo and co.
No, it cannot be stopped totally. However, Obama and pals have made it very easy to cross our borders.
Agree, to a degree. Marijuana? Yeah. Legalize it, tax it, regulate it, and apply the laws of liquor use to its abuse. Use the proceeds and resources to fight the hard stuff like meth and coke, etc.
That said I do not doubt the General’s comments about large amounts of drugs coming in right under out noses and us doing nothing about it. It’s just reality. Too much money in it and too few ever receive punishment for the activity. Do not doubt the level of complicity within the various local/state/federal agencies either. I’m often reminded of the line in “The Untouchables” when Costner enlists Connery and says that he really wants to go after the liquor smugglers.......
“Mr. Ness, everybody knows where the booze is. The problem isn’t finding it, the problem is who wants to cross Capone.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3133213/posts
Yep, and look what the traitors did recently.
The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012
Back in 1992 a Lt. Col. (USAF I think) wrote about the future that many back then envisioned.. political corruption, neglect of national issues and existential threats, neglect of military preparedness as the military was used to handle domestic chores neglected by the corrupt ruling class.. until a crisis forced sending a hollowed out military to the Middle East after years of neglect by successive corrupt U.S. administrations. Disaster resulted and the military finally! acted in 2012.
If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!
soebarkah blowing off his oath.
If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck; it must be duck season. Put a bounty on them.
'Sounds like a plan.'
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.