cannabisnews.com: U.S. Czar: Drug War is No Real War





U.S. Czar: Drug War is No Real War
Posted by FoM on February 09, 2000 at 18:35:46 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: New York Times
The retired general who leads America's ``war on drugs'' said Wednesday he doesn't even think it's a war anymore. ``One of our problems is that the U.S. population likes the term ``the war on drugs. This isn't a war, I've been involved in war,'' said U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey, a retired four-star general wounded three times in action. 
McCaffrey, on a three-day visit to inspect Mexico's drug interdiction efforts and meet with top officials here, told a university audience he now prefers to think of the drug problem as ``a cancer affecting social life.'' McCaffrey, the top U.S. drug policy official wants an attack on drugs that incorporates more treatment, addiction therapy, child care and education. But he conceded that violence ``is one of the most serious impediments'' to controlling the drug trade. While spending for treatment and outreach programs grows in the United States, McCaffrey said more force may still be needed in countries like Colombia, where government troops are fighting rebels funded by the drug trade. ``They (the Colombian government) are really in a perilous situation, and I think we ought to stand with them,'' McCaffrey said, noting that the United States will give 63 helicopters in 2000 ``so their armed forces can reenter the southern part of the country.'' Even in Mexico, drug interdiction forces -- like the kind McCaffrey will visit on Mexico's southern border Thursday -- have suffered frequent attacks; in 1999, gunmen fired on and damaged 10 police helicopters in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero alone. McCaffrey said the problems of violence and corruption are linked; threats can make law enforcement agents more likely to take bribes, or at least look the other way. He also said about 55 percent of the cocaine consumed in the United States enters the country through Mexico. Mexico City (AP) Published: February 9, 2000Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company Related Articles:CannabisNews Articles On Barry McCaffrey:http://www.alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/asearch?type=all&query=cannabisnews+McCaffrey
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Comment #7 posted by Wabo on February 10, 2000 at 15:14:48 PT
Not a war, huh?
>>McCaffrey, on a three-day visit to inspect Mexico's drug interdiction efforts and meet with top officials here, told auniversity audience he now prefers to think of the drug problem as ``a cancer affecting social life.'' I suppose we should also think of the cops as kicking in the door of a house and pumping the inhabitants full of bullets as "administering therapy"And we can now refer to prisons as "medical facilities"Thanx Barry, but my doctor advises me not to ingest bulls**t. 
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Comment #6 posted by Big Ab on February 10, 2000 at 05:19:11 PT
No War ????
 The General seems to get his foot caught in his mouth an awful lot for a man of his education and experience !My only conclusion is that he's "sampling" a bit too much of the confiscated goods !!!Sure sounds like a dope head to me.......
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Comment #5 posted by J Christen-Mitchell on February 10, 2000 at 05:12:29 PT:
POWDS
Prisoners of The War On Drugs sounds better
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Comment #4 posted by J Christen-Mitchell on February 10, 2000 at 05:07:19 PT:
P.O.D.W.s
What would you call an operation that creates over a million and a half P.O.W.s? Chart incarceration over the last century and you find the U.S. jails at a rate of over six times the the first half in the second half. We should have between 350,000 to 400,000 prisoners.Check out mo-norml.org event calander for anti-war vigil poster. 
missouri norml
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Comment #3 posted by CongressmanSuet on February 09, 2000 at 19:41:15 PT
"A war? My goodness not........
     ... We are just trying to use all the resources available to us in order to protect our children. Anyone who would question us is exhibiting poor christain ethics, and really ought to reaximine their own credentials...."Not a real quote, but not a stretch either.
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on February 09, 2000 at 19:04:12 PT
He talks the talk, but won't walk the walk
MISTER McCaffrey knows how to play to the crowds. He'll tell all who'll listen that he isn't fighting a war. Makes him sound nice and liberal. But he's doing just that. He calls for more treatment centers - not out of *his* budget, of course; he has to buy all those helicopters and machine guns, first. He wants to send our boys to 'help out' and 'stand with' Colombia - my God, this guy knows how we got sucked into the Vietnam quicksand, and he wants to jump into another? (Of course, he won't have to go.)He 's become an expert in political tactics, taking his cue from his adulterous, lying, service-dodging, treacherous boss Slick Willie. What else would you expect?
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Comment #1 posted by Rainbow on February 09, 2000 at 18:59:03 PT
War does sound bad... BUT
A rose is a rose is a rose no matter what you call it.I would say this is another propaganda technique and he is a master (well maybe not) at doublespeak
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