Reply #119: effects on Colombia

[imenja]

None of my comments have been about the mind altering effects of these substances, if that's why you mean. The effects of violence I am greatly concerned with. I have no objection to de-criminalizing or legalizing marijuana, as I have said in a couple of posts on this thread. And if people want to grow their own, more power to them. They do no harm unless their produce enters a wider illegal market. My point was in response to those who claim that purchasing pot through an illegal drug market is somehow separate from the violence of the drug trade at large. (Or that discussing that violence demonstrates brain washing by the US government).
Legalization of cocaine might end or lessen greatly most drug related crimes in the US, but I suspect that would not be the result in Colombia would not be so easy. Still, if that were accompanied by a US decision to stop militarizing Colombia and instead use it's funds for economic development there, it would be a good start. Of course, they could do that even if drugs were not legalizing. Naturally, we expect nothing so rational from Bush. But it might surprise members to learn that Plan Colombia originated in the Clinton administration and that Bush has simply continued it. He has now asked congress to raise the limits on the American troops that can enter the country. The Colombian legislature lifted those limits some time ago. They don't wish to become part of the war on terror, but they are desperate for help to strengthen the state and combat the horrifying affects drug guerrillas have on their nation.

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030818&s=clark

The is a lot available on line concerning Plan Colombia. The Nation article above provides a brief introduction.