There are a lot of conflicts going on right now that have been going on for years actually with regards to drug cartels and gangs. There are many places in Central America that are basically war zones as a result of these violent groups. What is your take on these conflicts? Is it a real war, or something else?
I have an opinion but I do not have law-court worthy evidence to sustain my opinion. I understand the War on Drugs being waged by the DEA is "first knowledge" -- the US Governments public face on what is being done to combat the trafficing in recreational narcotics. I believe there is also a "second knowledge" -- a secret government backed trafficing in addictive substances. This is conducted by various agencies, such as the CIA, with or without knowledge of certain members of Congress, or members of the Executive Branch of government. Occasionally evidence of this 'shadow government' counter-action to the DEA is revealed. During the IRAN-CONTRA affair it was revealed that CIA was trafficing (cocaine) via Air America aircraft. During Vietnam again the CIA was importing drugs (heroin) into the USA. Yes, there are also foriegn 'cartels' that traffic drugs, which make for easy targets to scapegoat for the 'second knowledge' importers.
The War on Drugs was a huge mistake and a waste of money. This is what causes people to use illegally and unsafely and increases crime. I'm not advocating the use of drugs. I just think that there's a better way to approach it in a non-aggressive way. People need help not prison.
What to do you think the motive is behind this "second knowledge"? Are they intentionally selling drugs to dealers to keep people addicted? How is that benefiting anyone?
"How does drug trafficing benefit anyone?" There is no certain knowledge as to why certain 'shadow government' faction have and still flood the US with addicting narcotics, only speculation. There have been ideas and notions advanced from time to time but as the topic is not in by baliwick of personal interests, I hesitate to answer. One theory is that someone just wants to raise money, to get rich, to 'raise capital' for CIA operations which the Administration or Congress does not wish to fund. That was the case during the Iran-Contra Affair era. During Korea to Vietnam eras it is said the motive was to create local strong-men warlords in S.E. Asia, wealthy local Plutocrates who could be manipulated into fight 'the forces of Communism'. These were thought to be proxy forces for the US. During this era the only readily exportable product of the region was poppy-tar (heroin & opium). Selling it to certain districts of American urban dwellers also would suppress these peoples from rising political unity. All this fits into a notion of 'social engineering'. And this idea recognizes the social stresses which exist between the few 'Haves' and the far more numerous but fractured 'Have-nots'. This is a very simplified version of a larger theory which I am not sure if I subscribe to, but I present it so advance the discussion.
That sounds all too much like a conspiracy theory. While I don't doubt that things happen under the table, I am very hesitant to believe conspiracy type theories because they get too complicated to be believable.
That is not a conspiracy theory. You can find Bill Clinton online stating that while he was Governor, he was unaware the Federal Govt was running drugs in and out of Mena, Arkansas. There was a picture released recently where a CIA plane full of cocaine crashed in Mexico in 2007. Look for "The Clinton Chronicles" and "The Boys on the Tracks". Decide for yourself. There is a documentary called "The Bastards of the Party" which discusses how the government used gangs in Los Angeles to run drugs. Why would they want this? People who are drugged out and killing each other are easy to control. Plus, the more violence we have, the more they can claim we need protection. People will gladly give away their rights in order to be protected. Look at Nazi Germany. "The communists are a threat! They blew up the Reichstag!" This stuff has already happened, so considering it will happen again is not a conspiracy theory. There is a reason why the rich are getting richer and there is a widening gap between their wealth and the wealth of the rest of us.
Lots of conspiracy theories out there. But I do agree that the CIA has been funnelling drugs into the country and into varies communities to either control, suppress, or manipulate the people, its economics, and sway public opinion in multiple self serving reasons and rational.
Those are all reasons why I can hardly stand drug users. They help fuel crime among those drug cartels. Their payment for a quick high gives money, or further establishes a drug based economy among the drug cartels.
There are twohings mentioned above that I would like to comment on. One is CIA drug smuggling. In the late 70s I was in Miami and one of my acquaintances did "wet work" for the company. He eliminated one high-ranking central American political figure and was pain 12 K of cocaine delivered in Miami. I don't know how much of that still goes on, but I bet the connections in Afghanistan prove useful to the CIA. The other is the comment above by Allison. It is the irrational drug laws that helps fuel the drug cartels. Especially cannabis drugs present no danger to society when legal. Prohibition developed organized crime in America, and continues to fuel it. Some drugs require regulation, but addict maintenance has proven to minimize the harm from opiates and other harmful drugs. I find it bizarre that the only listed side effect of cannabis is "mildly euphoric". In other words, may make you not feel so bad.
