Thank you for giving a more realistic and intelligent presentation on the current Colombia/Ecuador/Venezuela situation. So many don't seem to understand or realize the American involvement.

Incidentally, has anyone delved into the Uribe tribal history? More drugs anyone?

The drug situation in Colombia is very complicated. They have a saying down there: "o plata, o plomo" which means take the money, or take a bullet. Many politicians, jurists, police, soldiers and other patriots have taken bullets over the years, so it's a lot easier to take the money and look the other way, especially when it's your own family at risk.

Most drug interdiction is just theatrics. Some minor cartel gets busted, everyone looks good for the photo op, their budgets get approved, and business goes on as usual. The spraying program is another huge fraud, which is why Correa wants to end it, or at least Ecuador's involvement in it.

As Hugo Chavez, friend of Rafael Correa, has pointed out several times, if it weren't for thriving US demand, the industry wouldn't exist. La Coca as a cultural product has existed since Incan times. You chew it to relieve altitude sickness or as a picker upper in tea - just like we use coffee.

There was no serious drug problem in South America until crack started appearing on their streets - a byproduct of the War on Drugs (tm). If you have trouble getting your product to America, why hombre... just sell it on the streets of Medelin. Priced below alcohol, you've got a ready market and after the first few sales, a captive market.

Here's a question no one's asking: How much Colombian drug money passes through the Caymans on its way to the US treasury market? Look at the Fed foreign custody numbers for a clue.

ebear