In Latin America, leftist leaders evict US drug warriors

[ensho]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1110/p01s01-woam.html


Bolivia has given US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers three months to leave the country – claiming that agents were stirring up political strife in the deeply divided nation.

This fall, Ecuadorians voted yes to a new Constitution that calls for the closure by next year of one of the most important US operations in its war against drugs.

And for the fourth year in a row, Venezuela was singled out by President Bush – as was Bolivia for the first time – for having "failed demonstrably" in antidrug cooperation.

The US has long had a presence in Latin America to stem the northward drug flow; Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia are the world's largest cocaine producers. The US still boasts strong partnerships with many countries, such as Colombia and Mexico. But in others, particularly those led by leftists who have risen in collective condemnation of Washington, leaders are increasingly severing ties.

-snip-

"It takes away our eyes and ears in country itself," says Mr. Courtney. But he says through partnerships with other law enforcement agencies in the region, they will find their way around it. "The same thing happened in Venezuela; we work around it," he noted.
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"we work around it" an empty boast?

[amdezurik]

1. no, it just means the kidnapping and assasination

squads are more important...

[ensho]

2. right, our Latin death squads, like our Iraq death squads and

our Pakistan/Afghanistan death squads



our country will be stained until we get rid of our torture and death squads

[amdezurik]

4. oh and let us not forget

all our "brave" CIA operatives busily bringing in tons and tons of cocaine and heorin. Gotta keep thast money rolling in for the black ops guys! (and Bushco of course!)

[High Plains]

3. This is a good thing. Latin America will show us the way.

The Mexican president wants to decriminalize drug possession.

The Argentine president is backing decriminalization.

The Brazilian appeals courts are ruling for decriminalization.

The Bolivian government is regulating--not prohibiting--coca production.

The Ecuadorian government is shutting down the Manta air base.

And on we go.

Look and learn, gringos.

[Taverner]

5. Exactly!