Declare victory and go home

In an article on growing media (and other) complaints about human rights abuses, Frontera Norte/Sur notes that the Obama Administration is among the most enthuasiastic backers of the Calderon Administration’s use of military troops as policemen in the “war on (some) drug (dealers to the exclusion of others)”.  However, at the end of the article is this interesting observation from the US Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute.

Criticizing the focus on supply-side, law-enforcement strategies promulgated by the US and Mexican governments, author Hal Brands contended that the anti-drug Merida Initiative launched by the two nations was unfolding at the expense of drug abuse prevention and treatment programs. While still supporting prohibition, Brands underscored the absence of effective anti-corruption and anti-money laundering initiatives.

Citing the failure of drug crop eradication programs in Colombia, Brands noted the persistence of poverty in Mexico, the gutting of social programs, the lack of economic and social development alternatives, and the uncontrolled rise in the cost of living south of the border as other important factors needing consideration. The drug dilemma is a complex one, Brands concluded, and a problem that requires comprehensive solutions.

Well, of course “crop eradication” doesn’t work… farmers need to farm something, or otherwise are going to either emigrate or simply work around the problem. If carrots paid as much as poppies, farmers would grow carrots. But carrots are never going to pay as well, so why not just pay the farmers what they WOULD make for poppies for thier carrots. And toss in a few health clinics, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls to make life worth living in the campo. Or pay them to NOT farm anything (call it biosphere protection, or use carbon credits, if what amounts to bribery offends your tender conscience). It’s cheaper than soldiers, prisons and caskets.