|
Newsbrief:
Bush
Warns
of
Canada
Drug
Threat,
Whistles
Past
Afghan
Opium
Fields
9/24/04
President George Bush used
the publication of the annual State Department list of major
drug-producing or
trafficking countries September 16 to single out Canada for criticism over its possible
decriminalization of
marijuana and lack of severe punishment for pot offenders, even though Canada is not even on the list of "majors." At the same time, Bush soft-pedaled "concerns"
about opium production in Afghanistan, which has skyrocketed under the
US-installed government
of President Hamid Karzai -- which is on the list.
"While the vast
majority of illicit drugs entering the United States continues to come from South America and Mexico, the President expressed his continuing
concerns
about the flow of illicit drugs from Canada," said a statement issued jointly by the
White
House and the State Department. The
statement noted Canada's efforts to suppress methamphetamine
precursor chemicals and address
cross-border marijuana smuggling, but warned that "we are concerned the
lack of significant judicial sanctions against marijuana producers is
resulting
in greater involvement in the burgeoning marijuana industry by
organized
criminal groups."
At a White House press
briefing the same day, Bush spokesman Scott McLellan quoted the
president as
saying he was also "concerned" that pending legislation to
decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana "could be an
invitation to greater activity by organized crime and can undermine law
enforcement and prosecutorial efforts."
Afghanistan, which now accounts for roughly 75% of the
world's
opium, barely merited a mention. In the
second to the last paragraph of the statement, well below the Canadian
"threat,"
the US ally got one sentence: "Despite
good faith efforts on the part
of the central Afghanistan Government, the President reported his
concerns
about the increased opium crop production and the Government's lack of
capacity
to prevail in the provinces." Bush
did not explain how incorporating warlords who make a fortune from the
opium
trade into the government constituted a "good faith" effort to stamp
out the opium trade. (See https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/316/rumsfeld.shtml
and links provided there for background.)
In other news of the "majors,"
Thailand was removed from the list, with the
administration
citing a drop in opium production and heroin processing there, while
the
US-installed regime in Haiti was cited as making progress. Bush
sharply criticized Myanmar (Burma), naming it as the only country on the list
that had
failed to demonstrate its commitment to anti-drug activities. Bush also harshly attacked political foe North Korea, which is not on the list, over its alleged
involvement in heroin and methamphetamine trafficking.
The following 22 countries
were named as major drug-producing or transiting countries: Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Vietnam.
Read the "Annual
Presidential Determination of Major Drug-Producing and Drug-Transit
Countries"
at http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/prsrl/ps/36263.htm
online.
-- END --
|
Issue #355, 9/24/04
Editorial: The Moral Choice is Clear |
With New Sentencing Legislation Pending in Congress, Church Leaders Urge an End to Mandatory Minimums |
Patients, Doctors, Supporters Head to Washington to Demand Rescheduling of Marijuana as a Medicine |
For Second Year, John W. Perry Fund Helps Students with Drug Convictions Afford College |
DRCNet Interview: Michael Badnarik, Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate |
DRCNet Book Review: "Patients in The Crossfire: Casualties in The War On Medical Marijuana," by Americans For Safe Access |
Action Alert: Still Time to Contact Judiciary Committee Members About HEA Drug Provision |
Newsbrief: Schwarzenegger Signs Syringe Access Bill, Vetoes NEP Bill |
Newsbrief: Schwarzenegger Vetoes Bill Barring High School Drug Testing |
Newsbrief: New Jersey Needle Exchange Bill on Fast Track, Passes First Hurdle |
Newsbrief: Former Child Actor Macauley Culkin Busted for Drugs in All-Too-Typical Cave-In to Police Search Request |
Newsbrief: Montel Williams Show Brings Medical Marijuana Issue to the Masses |
Newsbrief: Bush Warns of Canada Drug Threat, Whistles Past Afghan Opium Fields |
Newsbrief: Guatemala Seeks More Anti-Drug Money from United States |
Newsbrief: Decades of Colombian Drug War Brings... New, More Efficient Drug Organizations |
Newsbrief: Narc Hates Free Publicity |
Newsbrief: This Week's Corrupt Cops Story |
Newsbrief: British Drug Policy Think Tank Says Government Abandoned Planned Heroin Maintenance Expansion |
This Week in History |
The Reformer's Calendar
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