Russia accuses the U.S. military of involvement in drug trafficking out of Afghanistan

The global proceeds of the Afghan drug trade is in excess of 150 billion dollars a year. There is mounting evidence that this illicit trade is protected by the US military.

The comments on this post are what make it most interesting, but in general it’s the kind of post that many of us have written, or read, or understood, many times in the past. It’s late and I need to go to bed, but I just have to share this one thought, one that always comes to mind when silly people who don’t understand how the drug trade works are talking.

Simply: who owns planes, big rig trucks, and large boats, in this country? Whatever your answer, if you’re reality-based, it’s not “cholos from the barrio” and “thugs in the hood.” No matter what propaganda you may believe about the overarching all-powerful nature of “gangs,” the simple truth is that without some kind of government help, there would be no illicit/illegal drug trade in this country. The Barrio isn’t filled with people who own planes that fly back and forth from Columbia; the military is. And the military leadership is mostly white. Same when it comes to fleets of boats and trucks- yes, there are black people who work on/with them, but not so many who own fleets of them, certainly not when compared to white people. White people in the Republican party, to be exact.

If you don’t like illicit drug use, or people who are addicted when you think they shouldn’t be, please don’t blame us (gay, brown, or poor people). We may be ’street level’ dealers and peddlers, but without rich, MIC/prison industrial complex types, there would be no illicit drugs in the United States. This is a matter of common sense, and I’d like to see more people accept this as they speak of these issues.

I have no idea what is going on here. Do you?

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — On the eve of a visit by President Bush, the U.S. Embassy confirmed that U.S. and Colombian soldiers had entered a stronghold of leftist rebels who are holding three Americans hostage.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Marshall Louis said only that “U.S. personnel accompanied Colombian forces in the south, and that’s all I can say about it.”

U.S. troops are not permitted to engage in combat in Colombia but are allowed to accompany and advise Colombian units.

Bush is due to arrive in Bogota around noon Sunday as he continues his seven-day, five-country Latin American tour. (Watch how Bush is trying to improve the United States’ image )

Colombia’s largest newspaper, El Tiempo, reported Saturday that U.S. and Colombian soldiers arrived in the southern town of Cartagena del Chaira, a stronghold of the rebel group FARC, by helicopter on January 28 about 30 minutes after rebels shot and wounded a woman.

The rebels fled but the government troops took two people away for questioning. When the two returned two days later they said they had been interrogated about the U.S. hostages, according to El Tiempo.

Marc Gonsalves, Tom Howes and Keith Stansell, who are U.S. military contractors, were captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in February 2004 when their surveillance plane went down.  Read more 

So a family member has inspired me to look into Chantix. Like most people with a habit, I’ve reached that point in my life when it is Really Important that I quit smoking. I’m one of those ’serious addicts’ and have never been able to make it more than 10 days without a smoke. The longest I’ve ever gone is when I was in boot, and when I got kicked out of the Corps, well, let’s just say that felt like a really good time for some self-destruction, and I lit up again almost right after signing my final papers. The gum never did it for me and that other drug that’s been out for a while sounded scary and not too effectual. So what do you all think about Chantix? Anyone tried it? There’s a slim chance, poor blogger that I am, I may even qualify for a free trial for a few months. Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated. Consider this a Smoking Open Thread, where we’d love it for you to share your stories, smoker and nonsmoker alike.

Goddess I love Common Sense:

The Top 10 Things I Know About Drugs
By Tony Newman, AlterNet. Posted June 2, 2006.

We have to learn how to live with drugs — because they aren’t going anywhere.
I know a lot about drugs and the drug war, both personally and professionally. Drugs have had a positive and a detrimental impact on my life. I have laughed, played and found inspiration while intoxicated. I have also struggled, fought and cried because of my addiction to drugs.

I have spent the last six years working for an organization that is working to reform drug laws. I have read thousands of newspapers articles, had thousands of conversations and spent thousands of days thinking about drugs. What follows are the top 10 (plus one) things I have learned from my immersion with drugs and the drug war.

1. Drugs are everywhere. Despite a $40 billion a year “war on drugs” and political speeches about a “drug-free society,” our society is swimming in drugs. Cigarettes, sugar, alcohol, marijuana, Prozac, Ritalin, Viagra, steroids and caffeine. The vast majority of Americans use drugs on a regular basis. People always have and always will.  Read more 

Rush Limbaugh, pictured after being detained at Palm Beach International airport for possession of prescription drugs.  Read more 

So KBR is getting rich while we turn another six month corner. Guess who else is too:

British officials are bracing themselves for the result of an annual UN poppy survey due later this summer. Early indications show an increase on Helmand’s 1999 record of 45,000 hectares (112,500 acres) and a near-doubling of last year’s crop.

“It’s going to be massive,” said one British drugs official. “My guess is it’s going to be the biggest ever.” UN, American and Afghan officials agreed.  Read more