Editorial: Politicians Are Too Scared to Talk About Drug Prohibition, So We Must Talk
How many more lives will be ruined by the drug laws before our leaders are willing to talk sense about them? Too many, here and everywhere.
Andean Drug War
Latin America: Colombian Soldiers Convicted of Killing Colombian Narcotics Police
A judge in Cali has found a Colombian army colonel and 14 of his troops guilty of murder for killing 10 elite Colombian anti-drug police and their informant at the request of drug traffickers.
Latin America: Ecuador President Jerks Washington's Chain Over Manta Air Base
The lease on the US anti-drug air base at Manta, Ecuador, runs out in 2009. Ecuador's President Correa says no way he will renew it -- unless Washington lets him put a base in Miami.
Latin America: Colombian Vice-President Says Aerial Eradication is Failing
The Colombian government has offered its strongest criticism yet of US-backed aerial spraying of coca crops, saying it has been a failure.
Prohibition: Terror Groups Profit From Drugs, DEA Says -- Missing Forest For Trees
A high-level DEA official has again linked the illegal drug trade to the funding of terrorist organizations, but failed to note the role of drug prohibition.
Latin America: Colombian Admiral Fired in Growing Probe of Military Drug Corruption
A Colombian rear admiral has been fired in a broadening probe into drug corruption in that country's military. He's not the only one.
Feature: Colombia Annouces Shift to Manual Eradication of Coca Crops
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has announced that his government will deemphasize aerial spraying of coca crops and emphasize manual eradication. The move comes as Congress ponders ways to cut funding for the drug war in Colombia.
Latin America: House Votes to Shift Andean Initiative Anti-Drug Funding to Development
The US House of Representatives last Friday voted to cut military anti-drug aid to Colombia and subject aerial spraying of coca crops to more restrictions. Now the measure heads for the Senate.
Latin America: Colombia Coca Production Up Again Despite Massive Eradication Efforts
The US government reported Monday that coca cultivation had increased in Colombia again last year -- despite a massive aerial herbicide spraying campaign and $700 million in US aid. The announcement comes as congressional Democrats attempt to cut anti-drug aid to Colombia.
Feature: Drug Czar Reluctantly Admits Cocaine Prices Have Dropped in Quietly Released Report
Two years ago, drug czar John Walters trumpeted rising cocaine prices as evidence the drug war was working. But the overall trend is toward lower prices and higher purity, and Walters doesn't want to talk about that.