Obamaâs Chief of Staff is a Crazy Drug Warrior
President-elect Obamaâs selection of Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff is hardly a good sign for reformers. As Jacob Sullum points out, heâs a complete nightmare when it comes to drug policy:
Of course, that was more than 10 years ago, when even Bob Barr was still in full-blown drug war demagogue mode. Has Emanuel improved? Unfortunately not, and if anything heâs gotten worse as demonstrated by this totally deranged attack on former AG Alberto Gonzalez for saying the war on drugs wasnât a "real" war:
This full-scale war mentality regarding drug policy is about as bad as it gets and I just shudder to think this is the guy whoâll have the presidentâs ear on a daily basis. Obama has called for "shifting the paradigm" with regards to the war on drugs, only to then surround himself with the worst drug warriors in the democratic party.
Itâs too soon to call this a betrayal of anything Obama has pledged regarding reform; I doubt drug policy was a factor in Emanuelâs or Bidenâs selection. But itâs a harsh reminder that vehement support for the war on drugs continues to thrive on both sides of the aisle. Reform won't come easily for Obama even if he's completely serious about changing our approach to the war on drugs.
"We are going to continue to find ways within the administration to fight legalization and the notion of legalization," Rahm Emanuel, a key Clinton drug-policy adviser, said yesterday. "We're against the message that the initiative sends to children. Marijuana does not come cost-free. It is illegal and it is dangerous."
Of course, that was more than 10 years ago, when even Bob Barr was still in full-blown drug war demagogue mode. Has Emanuel improved? Unfortunately not, and if anything heâs gotten worse as demonstrated by this totally deranged attack on former AG Alberto Gonzalez for saying the war on drugs wasnât a "real" war:
"Thanks for the white flag. From the United States' most senior law enforcement official, the man who should be leading the war on drugs, this white flag of surrender will not be reassuring to the millions of parents trying to protect their kids."
This full-scale war mentality regarding drug policy is about as bad as it gets and I just shudder to think this is the guy whoâll have the presidentâs ear on a daily basis. Obama has called for "shifting the paradigm" with regards to the war on drugs, only to then surround himself with the worst drug warriors in the democratic party.
Itâs too soon to call this a betrayal of anything Obama has pledged regarding reform; I doubt drug policy was a factor in Emanuelâs or Bidenâs selection. But itâs a harsh reminder that vehement support for the war on drugs continues to thrive on both sides of the aisle. Reform won't come easily for Obama even if he's completely serious about changing our approach to the war on drugs.
Mexican Drug War Violence Has Begun Spilling Into the U.S.
The harder we push back against Mexican drug cartels, the more violence weâll begin see within our own borders. Just look whatâs happening in Pheonix:
Itâs really just amazing that this can continue to escalate before our eyes without provoking a widespread, spontaneous revelation that something is fundamentally wrong with our drug strategy. How much more obvious could it be? The harder we push the worse it gets. Thatâs how this works. Itâs the only outcome the drug war formula ever produces.
The only thing weâll get in exchange for the hundreds of millions weâre pouring into the Mexican drug war is more violence within our own borders. Nothing short of a full reversal in our strategy can prevent that result. And since Obama has pledged to continue this madness, we can be reasonably sure this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
A CBS News investigation has discovered that as of last weekend, there have been 266 reported kidnappings and 300 home invasions this year alone. Sources say the real figures could run as much as three times higher because so many go unreported.
"It wasn't uncommon to have a new kidnapping case coming into our offices on a daily basis," Burgett said.
Law-enforcement sources say the kidnappings signal the brutal expansion of the raging Mexican drug wars spilling across the border.
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Now CBS News has learned enforcer gangs just south of the Mexican border have added military-grade hand grenades to their arsenal - something special agent Jose Wall expects to see in Phoenix any day.
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It's not just hand grenades, kidnappings and home invasions that have law enforcement on edge. They say it's only a matter of time before innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire. [CBS News]
Itâs really just amazing that this can continue to escalate before our eyes without provoking a widespread, spontaneous revelation that something is fundamentally wrong with our drug strategy. How much more obvious could it be? The harder we push the worse it gets. Thatâs how this works. Itâs the only outcome the drug war formula ever produces.
The only thing weâll get in exchange for the hundreds of millions weâre pouring into the Mexican drug war is more violence within our own borders. Nothing short of a full reversal in our strategy can prevent that result. And since Obama has pledged to continue this madness, we can be reasonably sure this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.