The Obama Administration has announced a new package of $300 million in aid for 12 Central American governments to fight the US drug war. The amount is a 15% increase over the 2010 level of funding.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, addressing a security conference in Guatamala, also demanded that the 12 nations increase their taxes so as to increase spending on the war. She insisted “true security” required higher taxes on businesses.
The drug war has seen violence levels across the region dramatically escalate. The governments in the region are expected to push for an additional $1 billion above and beyond what has already been promised.
With the US already facing massive budget deficits, the increase in spending on the failing drug war is likely to be extremely controversial, and will be dramatically moreso if the Obama Administration looks to deliver on the requests for even more aid beyond that level.
This is simply nothing for state department when they have contracted Xe or Blackwater for unknown amount of dollars.., I just wonder if the 300M is going to be used for rehabilitation in US or is going to Panama for re – building a new airfield for US military to land or Balckwater to train local assassins where they can be used in Arab Emirates or for that matter Saudi Arabia.
If they really wanted to help, they would end Prohibition. I hate the Obama administration
The "war on drugs" is now forty years old. With no end in sight, or even possible. Or probably even desirable from the perspective of the feds. Since 1971 the DEA has had its budget increased 4000%. That's right. 4000%. Now thats' what I call progress! The war on drugs has been a spectacular success for increasing the money, power and influence of those fighting it. It has been a disaster for everybody else though. Call it the narcotics-industrial complex.
I pity the people of Central America. Since Dulles the Strate Department has been a vulture in their countries. The "School of Americas"and the Freidman doctrine brought nothing but sorrow and ruin and now this Clinton female bulldozer wants them to pay even more for WEAPONS; that is what they use the money for..
She is like the Republican back room boys , she never saw a war she didn't like and all her husband's band of bandits have taken over the Obama presidency. He makes the speeches but is maneuvered like a pin ball machine.
What could 300 million bucks do if they were put to good use right here in the US? How many kids could that send to college? Or how much meds or food could that buy for the elderly? Or how much health care would that be for the uninsured? Or how many modest homes would that buy for the homeless?
"conference in Guatamala"
1) That's "Guatemala"
2) They let Yankees in without chipping them first? Don't people have enough after the Reagan-enabled ultrakill of ~200'000?
Hilary demanded Pakistan increase taxes too a while back. What a detestable excuse for a human being.
Drug war, riiiiiight.
Must be a misprint. I think they mean "War on Marijuana". Ironic because all the good Marijuana is grown right here in the states now 😉 Govt. is so misleading. For months the mainstream media reports that we are in debt as a country 12trillion. So where did the 300million come from? I need to learn that magic trick. Creating money out of thin air to pursue whatever twisted vision I could think of. Here's the facts Mr. Obama, you are in debt and the people you're fighting could lose 90 percent of their annual profits and STILL be profitable LOL Good luck with that one. 300million? Chump change in their world 😉