THE DRUG WAR IS AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE AND COCAINE

Saul Landau

One of my friends mocks the drug war and sneers at President Clinton's request that Congress fund a new $1.2 billion military aid package for Colombia, so the Colombian military can better engage the iniquitous narco-traffickers. "You don't understand US politics," I say. "Don't forget about those who benefit from the drug war. The Pentagon needs to justify its Cold War-size budget. With the evil empire gone, the military desperately seeks even barely credible enemies. Weapons makers need new markets. And Members of Congress are always looking for jobs for their districts and, of course, defense companies to fund their election campaigns."

"Hrmpf," says my friend. "Three decades ago, Tricky Dick Nixon declared war on drugs. Each succeeding administration has renewed Nixon's bellicose declaration. And look what it's cost us!" "OK," I admit, "there's a slight down side: a million plus people in prison for drug offenses, the majority people of color. Tens of thousands of kids have their parents sitting in the pokey. But you have to weigh those costs against national security goals. With a billion dollars to strengthen the Colombian army's fight against drugs," I say, "we'll teach those Colombians to respect human rights."

"And grass will grow on my palm," says my friend. "Colombia will become the third-largest recipient of U.S. military aid in the world, behind only Israel and Egypt. Military aid to Colombia will come to more than the entire rest of the Hemisphere combined get from us." "Not to worry," I replied. "The foreigners won't get the $360 million that will buy 60 helicopters for the Colombian Army to fight those leftish "narcoguerrillas." Sikorsky Aircraft will get $360 million if the aid package clears the Senate. The bill already passed the House, getting votes from ultra liberal Democrats like Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who recently received the Richard Manware Humanitarian Award for her efforts to advance children's issues in Connecticut."

My friend started to get angry. "DeLauro made no commitment to Colombia kids who get sprayed with pesticides by our well-trained friends in Colombia. The New York Times reported that US-financed military planes regularly miss the coca crops, their supposed target, and instead zap village schoolchildren. The key for Ms. DeLauro is sending 30 Black Hawk helicopters to Colombia for anti-narcotics police. Sikorsky Aircraft makes the choppers in DeLauro's district. They're owned by United Technologies, which, coincidentally, has donated $14,000 to her reelection campaigns."

"Well," I retorted, "Jobs for De Lauro's district; corporate funds for her reelection. Pentagon personnel to train the Colombian pilots. That's as holy an American trinity as apple pie, Chevrolet and cocaine."

"Sure," he said. "And how about what the drug war has done to another object of US contempt: journalists? In the last decade, right wing paramilitary personnel, i.e., soldiers out of uniform, have assassinated 89 Colombian reporters for writing about death squads and other taboo subjects. These squads of military personnel in or out of uniform stage periodic massacres. In late July, 1997, they chopped up some 60 peasants in Mapiripan village -as a warning to other villagers who might sympathize with the guerrillas.

"And," he continued, "U.S. Special Forces stationed in Colombia trained the officer who ordered the massacre. Indeed, US troops secretly trained their Colombian pupils in zones where other death squad activity has taken place."

"War is war, after all," I said, "over drugs or anything else. With the Soviets gone, the Pentagon can't be too choosy. With a $300 billion budget you take jobs where you find them - or create them." "So," he sneered, "weapons-makers cash in, workers get jobs, Members of Congress get paid off…"

"You mean campaign contributions," I corrected him "And Clinton calls all this fighting a drug war!"

"Don't get cynical at the onset of a new century," I warned.

"Yes," he said, " real new!"

Hugh O. La Bounty Chair of Applied Interdisciplinary Knowledge, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, CA 91768 tel:909-869-3115 fax:909-869-4751 mailto:slandau@csupomona.edu http://www.csupomona.edu/~slandau