Peaceful Costa Rica wages war on drugs

[arcos]

Source: Miami Herald

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica --
Known abroad mostly for its political stability, pristine beaches and eco-tourism, this country without an army has suddenly found itself in the middle of the war on drugs.

During President Oscar Arias' 14 months in office, Costa Rican and U.S. authorities have set seizure records in increasingly spectacular drug busts -- nearly 50 tons of cocaine, compared with 2003, when seizures didn't reach one ton.

<snip>

The increase has forced Costa Rica, which abolished its military in 1948 and now has only a national police force, to rely more on the U.S. Coast Guard. Berrocal recently asked Congress to allow Coast Guard ships to roam Costa Rican waters with less oversight in order to assist Costa Rica's mostly U.S.-donated fleet of smaller counter-drug boats and planes.

''We've become the eyes and ears of Costa Rica,'' said Dwight Mathers, executive officer of the 378-foot Cutter Rush that has been patrolling Costa Rica's waters.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/579/story/180116.html

---

I hope we don't go the Colombia way, but from the looks of it, we'll soon have the US military in charge of fighting the "war on drugs" right here.

[MatrixEscape]

1. Yet another endless war ...

that has no end because it serves a special interest in contrast to human nature and its historical relationship to the alteration of consciousness.

He who controls the Spice, controls the Universe!

[redqueen]

10. Yup...

and as long as people allow it, it'll get worse, not better.

[conspirator]

2. War on drugs means war on small drug dealers that don't pay taxes to the elite n/t

[outofbounds]

3. Great

Remind me not to go to Costa Rica, wouldn't want get shot up in the unlimited crossfire that prohibition brings to the table. Dead people, dead Cops, dead drug dealers and full jails. Millions of people want this stuff they can get it legally or not. But they will get it.

[deadmessengers]

4. well that SUCKS

Costa Rica used to be pretty high up on my "places I'm going to visit someday" list. Now, the US military is about to turn it into another Medellin.

[Bacchus39]

5. Medellin is quite nice these days

maybe you should go there instead.

[outofbounds]

6. I wonder were the drugs are then

because they are still coming into the US non stop

[bagrman]

7. Their coming in on Military transports just like the old days, of Contras and Vietnam.

The Government doesn't like competition.

[outofbounds]

15. I think

Thats why the borders will never be secure. The funding for the war on drugs must never end. The lies told by the govt. to make drugs illegal are not only in violation to the constitution but racism at its most abhorrent level. First the Chinese then Mexicans then African American all to preserve the white women. And it happened anyway. What a gullible people we are.

[Bacchus39]

9. I believe Cali hosts the larger cartels these days

n/t

[Toucano]

8. Arias is cooperating to get the foreign aid to rebuild the infrastructure.

One the infrastructure is done, the next president can tell the U.S. to fuck off.

It's risky, but it might pay off in the short term.

That's my take, anyway.

[Gato Moteado]

12. and hopefully the next pres will be a dem who will focus on more...

...important issues than the ridiculous drug war.

hey, you're in manuel antonio? how long have you been down here?

[GliderGuider]

11. Kick

because my kid is there saving sea turtles

[Alexander]

13. Isn't weed decriminalized in Costa Rica?

A shame, if they're taking steps back.

[SteveM]

14. The drug war de-stabilizes governments; something the U.S. desires.

Regimes and governments must then increasingly rely on U.S. assistance -- and control. The U.S. has a real addiction to prohibition: Guns, ganja, gay marriage, abortion, alcohol, and increasingly tobacco are hugely ineffective and corrupt expressions of various peoples' morals. Conservatives and liberals both engage in the practice at home where prohibitionist laws and practices become prototypes for more general restrictions; specifically, using the WOD as the blueprint for Patriot Acts I and II.

This is no conspiracy: it's wide open. And a country which clings to a culture of fear & safety will always be open to more prohibition and the larger scheme of social control it fosters.