The Southern Terror Front - Why is the State Department hindering the war on narcoterrorists?

WSJ ^ | August 23, 2003

[Tailgunner Joe]

Donald Rumsfeld's recent visit to Colombia is a welcome signal of solidarity toward America's most reliable Latin American ally in the war on terror.

"The Colombians are in every sense holding up their side of the partnership against narcoterrorism, and so we are always trying to find ways that we can be helpful," the Secretary of Defense said in an interview en route to Bogota. Perhaps even some holdouts in the State Department will now get the message.

[WestPacSailor]

The problem with the war on drugs is not supply, it's demand. The criminal element is involved in drug trafficing because it is incredibly profitable. Why is it so profitable? Because it's illegal but people want it bad enough to pay anything for it. If we want to take the criminal element out of drugs than we must take away the incentive for huge profits and legalize the stuff.

Important note: WE ARE GETTING OUR BUTTS KICKED IN THE WAR ON DRUGS!

[Tailgunner Joe]

Eradicate the terrorists. Eradicate the crops. End of problem.

[dfrussell]

:-) Drugs provide an excellent source of untraceable cash.

No why would anyone want that...? :)

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[WestPacSailor]

By that logic, we should also legalize protection rackets, fraud, murder-for-hire, kiddie porn and sex slavery.

Not exactly. The crimes you mention are crimes committed by one person against another. Drug use, like alcohol and cigarettes, are a choice. No one is FORCED to smoke a joint, or snort coke, or inject heroin. Alcohol is a drug, and it's legal. Nicotine is a drug/poison, and it's legal. It all comes down to choice.

I agree with your assessment of traitors though. Unfortunately, in this instance, the traitors are disguised as lawyers, prison service providers (many of which are private companies), and the senior level govenment appointees who need the funding to support their lifestyles.

[WestPacSailor]

Eradicate the terrorists. Eradicate the crops. End of problem.

While eradication would work IF you could be sure you got ALL of the crop, and IF you could be sure no one else would step up and grow it. If you reduce the supply you just drive up the price and the criminals get richer (see under "gas shortage").

Also, eradicating crops does nothing to stem the production and sale of drugs like methanphetamines, which are manufactured from readily available chemicals.

[cryptical]

The Function of the Drug War

by J. Orlin Grabbe

The function of the Drug War is to create the Drug Crisis. The Drug Crisis involves billions of dollars in hidden cash flow. Addicted to this flow of money are law enforcement agencies, drug producers and distributors, covert agencies who use it as a source of black funding, and politicians and bankers who are hired to protect th e drug revenues. Addiction to drug revenues requires that the drug war be fought so as to be lost. Failure thus becomes the criterion of success.

Excerpted

[Britton J Wingfield]

The WOD is the worst US policy in the past century.

[taxed2death]

It's actually an excellent jobs policy. Think of how many less cops, lawyers, Judges, prison workers, construction workers for prisons, car stereo installers, wheel / tire sales people, beauracrats, shrinks, etc that would be without jobs if there were no war on drugs.

[MrLeRoy]

Drug use is an act of self-destruction. [...] Drugs are designed to fool the brain into thinking they're good for it. Fraud is an intrinsic component of every drug sale.

All chemicals have different properties.

Everything you say is true of the chemicals alcohol and nicotine. Shall we ban those? If not, why not?

[headsonpikes]

The War On Drugs has been an amazing success!

As Czar Walters has said, "Our job is to keep illegal drugs expensive, scarce, and of unreliable quality."

As I said, The War On Drugs is an outstanding policy victory!

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Wolfie]

The State Dept. has always been an impediment to the War On Drugs. Why? Because just as many of our allies profit from the illegal drug trade. Just look at Afghanistan.

[vin-one]

Everything you say is true of the chemicals alcohol and nicotine. Shall we ban those? If not, why not?

Adding to what Mr.L has to say, he forgot caffine, chocolate, and cheeseburgers are all self destructive

I have an idea let's outlaw all bad substances that lead to self destructive behaviour
but where do we draw the line
Since MJ has been proven to be less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes,
I guess it should be legal, jeez now I am so confused.