The Expanded U.s. Drug War in Latin America: a Downed Missionary Plane Places the Spotlight on the Andean Initiative
The Conflict
The impact of drug abuse and drug-related violence in U.S. communities is devastating. Government estimates put the total cost at more than US$110 billion a year. Drug production and trafficking are also a serious threat to Latin American countries, eroding governments and institutions through corruption, fueling political violence and common crime, and distorting local economies.
Political
- Colombia has been engaged in a civil conflict for over 40 years and the Colombian people are faced with severe political violence and the corrosive effects of drug trafficking. The United States has significant national interests in Colombia, including economic interests, and desires to ensure the political and economic stability of the Andean region. Many academics, policymakers, and human rights advocates differ in their views about the best way for the United States to help the Colombian government address the drug problem, particularly whether or not the United States should be involved in assisting the Colombian government to fight guerrilla groups.
- Since Richard Nixon declared a "War on Drugs" in the 1970s there has been a serious debate as to which method of drug control is most effective.
This page contains 201 words.
The Expanded U.s. Drug War in Latin America: a Downed Missionary Plane Places the Spotlight on the Andean Initiative article
Read the rest of this article.
This article contains 5,851 words
(approx. 20 pages at 300 words per page).
Order our War on Drugs Article
