The War on Drugs: What's In It for US?

Colombia is the world’s primary producer and exporter of cocaine, yet despite the US "War on Drugs," cocaine production in that country has increased by 11 percent. Far from being a successful tactic, the fumigation of coca crops has contributed to health and environmental crises, and has thus been classified by some as a human rights abuse.

Is the US government still concerned with fighting drugs? Twenty years of drug wars in the Andes have resulted in a twofold increase in cocaine imported into the United States in the last 10 years alone. Could there be another reason the US supports a plan focused on beefing up the Colombian military and spraying coca fields in rebel-held territory when coca grown in other parts of Colombia is not sprayed?

The film "Plan Colombia: Cashing In on the Drug War Failure" sheds light on the complex issues of drug trafficking and civil struggle in Colombia and the impact of both the current chemical-spray program carried out by the US and the multibillion-dollar aid package delivered to the brutal Colombian military. Additional insights are provided on the significance of oil, since Colombia has the same oil potential as Venezuela, the second largest oil supplier to the US.

"Plan Columbia" will be shown as part of the Foreign Policy in Focus Summer Film and Speaker Series on Wednesday, July 23, from noon to 2 p.m. Sanho Tree from the Institute for Policy Studies Drug Policy Project will be the featured speaker. The event will be held at the Institute for Policy Studies, 733 15th St. NW. Bring a brown-bag lunch; some light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Isis Ward at 202/234-9382, ext. 211, or by e-mail.