Saturday, October 13, 2012

will the military "war on drugs" hold up politically as well as the military "war on terror"?

NYTimes | The Honduran Air Force pilot did not know what to do. It was the dead of night, and he was chasing a small, suspected drug plane at a dangerously low altitude, just a few hundred feet above the Caribbean. He fired warning shots, but instead of landing, the plane flew lower and closer to the sea.

“So the pilot made a decision, thinking it was the best thing to do,” said Arturo Corrales, Honduras’s foreign minister, one of several officials to give the first detailed account of the episode. “He shot down the plane.”
Four days later, on July 31, it happened again. Another flight departed from a small town on the Venezuelan coast, and using American radar intelligence, a Honduran fighter pilot shot it down over the water. 

How many people were killed? Were drugs aboard, or innocent civilians? Officials here and in Washington say they do not know. The planes were never found. But the two episodes — clear violations of international law and established protocols — have ignited outrage in the United States, bringing one of its most ambitious international offensives against drug traffickers to a sudden halt just months after it started. 

All joint operations in Honduras are now suspended. Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, expressing the concerns of several Democrats in Congress, is holding up tens of millions of dollars in security assistance, not just because of the planes, but also over suspected human rights abuses by the Honduran police and three shootings in which commandos with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration effectively led raids when they were only supposed to act as advisers. 

The downed aircraft, in particular, reminded veteran officials of an American missionary plane that was shot down in 2001 by Peruvian authorities using American intelligence. It was only a matter of time, they said, before another plane with the supposedly guilty turned out to be filled with the innocent. 

But the clash between the Obama administration and lawmakers had been building for months. Fearful that Central America was becoming overrun by organized crime, perhaps worse than in the worst parts of Mexico, the State Department, the D.E.A. and the Pentagon rushed ahead this year with a muscular antidrug program with several Latin American nations, hoping to protect Honduras and use it as a chokepoint to cut off the flow of drugs heading north. 

Then the series of fatal enforcement actions — some by the Honduran military, others involving shootings by American agents — quickly turned the antidrug cooperation, often promoted as a model of international teamwork, into a case study of what can go wrong when the tactics of war are used to fight a crime problem that goes well beyond drugs.

22 comments:

Big Don said...

...BD's International Law: The stronger country is free to crush the weaker country.....

Anonymous said...

Hi! This post couldn't be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Here is my webpage ; rubber flip flops

Anonymous said...

Its such as you learn my thoughts! You appear to grasp so
much about this, like you wrote the ebook in it or something.
I think that you simply could do with a few p.c.
to force the message house a bit, but other than that, that is great blog.

A great read. I will definitely be back.
Here is my blog post 3d glasses

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed! Extremely useful info specifically the last part :) I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Feel free to surf my blog www.alyssamelodyacupuncture.com

Anonymous said...

Hi friends, nice piece of writing and fastidious arguments commented at this
place, I am in fact enjoying by these.
Also see my web page - How-We-Work

Anonymous said...

What's up, its pleasant article on the topic of media print, we all know media is a enormous source of information.
Here is my page pre packaged cotton Candy

Anonymous said...

WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for abbrev
Visit my blog post cafepress.com

Anonymous said...

Hey there exceptional blog! Does running a blog similar to this take a
lot of work? I've very little understanding of computer programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyways, should you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject however I just needed to ask. Cheers!
Also visit my website - sanstreet.com.sg

Anonymous said...

Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if
it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she
can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views.
I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it
with someone!
Feel free to visit my webpage ; houston

Anonymous said...

Heya i'm for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
Also see my page - http://unforked.com/About-us/unknown-Facts.php

Anonymous said...

First off I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question that I'd like to ask if you don't mind.
I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear
your thoughts before writing. I have had a difficult time clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts out there.
I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like
the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost simply just trying to figure
out how to begin. Any recommendations or tips? Kudos!
Also visit my blog post : Teamspeak Server Hosting

Anonymous said...

This is very interesting, You are a very skilled
blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your
wonderful post. Also, I've shared your site in my social networks!
Look at my blog : Office Furniture Toronto

Anonymous said...

Hello! I could have sworn I've been to this site before but after reading through some of the post I realized it's
new to me. Anyhow, I'm definitely happy I found it and I'll be book-marking and
checking back often!

Here is my web site: vacation apartment rental

Anonymous said...

Every weekend i used to go to see this website, as i wish for
enjoyment, since this this web page conations actually nice funny information too.


Feel free to visit my weblog: sushi roll ingrediants

Anonymous said...

Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however , I'd figured I'd ask.

Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing
a blog article or vice-versa? My website discusses a
lot of the same subjects as yours and I believe we could greatly
benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to send me
an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you!

Awesome blog by the way!

My web-site ... furnace repair heating

Anonymous said...

Fascinating blog! Is your theme custom made or did you
download it from somewhere? A theme like
yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my
blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your theme.
Bless you

Also visit my web blog http://thundershadcrankbaits.com/index.php?option=com_blog&view=comments&pid=20918&Itemid=0
my web site: easa.ca

Anonymous said...

Hey your internet site url: http://www.blogger.com/comment.
g?blogID=11539837&postID=5220851238165940438 appears to be redirecting to a completely different web
site when I click the homepage link. You may want
to have this checked.

Take a look at my blog: fitness tumblr men

Anonymous said...

Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe that this website
needs much more attention. I'll probably be back again to see more, thanks for the advice!

Also visit my web site: back surgery recovery period
my website > neck pain exercises webmd

Anonymous said...

Hello there I am so excited I found your web site, I really found you by accident, while
I was browsing on Askjeeve for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would
just like to say cheers for a incredible post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but
I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when
I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up
the awesome jo.

my site :: LED Lighting

Anonymous said...

My family all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, however I know I am getting
experience every day by reading thes nice posts.



my blog personal injury attorney

Anonymous said...

My brother suggested I may like this blog. He was totally right.
This publish actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I
had spent for this information! Thank you!

Feel free to visit my blog: home remodeling cost estimator

Anonymous said...

Hello, I wish for to subscribe for this blog to take newest updates, therefore where can
i do it please assist.

Stop by my website - kitchen appliances wholesale toronto

When Zakharova Talks Men Of Culture Listen...,

mid.ru  |   White House spokesman John Kirby’s statement, made in Washington shortly after the attack, raised eyebrows even at home, not ...