US drug czar says terrorism profiting from drugs

Reuters ^ | 23 Oct 2003 23:43:30 GMT

[yonif]

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - At least half the groups designated as "foreign terrorist organizations" by the U.S. State Department raise money from international drug trafficking, a Bush administration official said on Thursday.

White House drug czar John Walters, credited with a federal anti-drug publicity campaign linking drug use among American adolescents with the financing of terror groups, told a police group, "The American drug consumer is the single most important funder of terrorism in this hemisphere."

He warned that secret channels used to ship narcotics into the United States could also transport biological or nuclear weapons.

"It is a fool's paradise to depend on the scruples of people who already engage in terror and violence," he told the International Association of Chiefs of Police, or IACP, which represents law enforcement executives from over 90 nations.

About 14,000 police officers from around the world were attending the IACP's annual convention in Philadelphia this week.

The State Department's 2002 report on global terrorism, issued in April, lists 36 groups as foreign terrorist organizations, ranging from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

He provided no details about the groups he believed were profiting from drug trafficking and did not discuss the possible sums involved.

Jamaican Police Commissioner Francis Forbes told the audience he also believed illicit profits from drug trafficking were helping to finance militant groups.

But he warned that Washington's war on drugs, specifically its $1.7 billion aid program for Colombia, was pushing drug cartel operations into poor Caribbean countries.

The arrival of drug cartel operations in the Caribbean was encouraging a flood of illegal firearms from the United States, he said, forcing underfunded local police to confront a new menacing threat from "high-tech" criminals.

"The terrorists are poised to take the high ground," said Forbes, who called for substantive international cooperation to combat a new "unholy" union among drugs, guns and terrorism in the Caribbean.

"When the United States sneezes, we catch a cold," he told a predominantly American audience. "But if we sneeze, you are bound to catch pneumonia."

[LibertarianInExile]

Ban drugs! That will solve the problem! They won't have any source for their funding, because no one will buy the illegal stuff!

Oh, wait, we did that already. Wonder how they're making money on something that's illegal?

[livius]

This is certainly true. And terrorism is also profiting from a host of other crimes, ranging from extortion to money laundering to counterfeiting to - well, you name it. People who complain about anti-terrorism laws being used against "common criminals" obviously don't understand that it's all part of a whole.

[livius]

They'd make money on it if it were legal, too. Unless you plan to go to state cultivation of your coca plantation.

[JmyBryan]

Just keep them illegal, no matter what - and criminals will continue to profit from them. So simple, yet so divisive.

[StockAyatollah]

Bunk! It was the Bush admin. that paid THE TALIBAN to not grow opium.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[GraniteStateConservative]

The War on Some Drugs-- does this mean they are bringing back those lame TV PSA ads?

[xrp]

Seems to me like the US government is making errr SEIZING a good amount of money thanks to illegal drugs as well.

Calling all totalitarian FReepers, here's another WoD/anti-WoD thread for you!

[eabinga]

Yay! Now we can combine the WOD and the WOT for the ultimate war on Liberty.

Think of the children!

[xrp]

He warned that secret channels used to ship narcotics into the United States could also transport biological or nuclear weapons.

And still no locking down of the US-Mexico border...

[xrp]

Of course, the only enemies here are the American people themselves.

[Phantom Lord]

Now that Tommy Chong has been captured terrorisms funding should dry up.

[Phantom Lord]

They'd make money on it if it were legal, too. Unless you plan to go to state cultivation of your coca plantation

I don't know much about cocaine or cocaine production. But I do know that if MJ was legal, 95% of those who smoke it would grow it themselves, or get it from their friend that grows it. The other 5% would get it at retail outlets, or from a friend who gets it from a friend. Not a single dime would go to any organization.

[Phantom Lord]

Oh, and a major funding source for Hezbullah (spelling is wrong, I know) was the smuggling of cigarettes, headquartered in Charlotte NC.

[Conservative til I die]

Then take (most of) the profit out of it by legalizing drugs. I'm not even in fedgov and I could figure that out. I guess the "laws" of economics take a hike only when the WOD is involved.

[Conservative til I die]

Maybe if they ban it 101% rather than 100% that will somehow make a difference. Funny how logic and the general rules of economics go out the window when the WOD is involved.

[Conservative til I die]

They'd make money on it if it were legal, too. Unless you plan to go to state cultivation of your coca plantation.

a) There are no terrorists or mafioso making money off the "trafficking" of tobacco or alcohol (although, surprise surprise! the increasing taxes on cigarettes in NYC has directly caused a spike in the black market).

2) The legitimate sellers of drugs like alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine are not going around financing terror wars.

[Phantom Lord]

Your wrong. Cigarette smuggling was a major source of funding for Hezbullah (sp?). A huge ring was busted in Charlotte NC. The bought them here in NC, VA, and other low tax states here in the south and shipped them north to sell for profit, which went to terrorists.

[edchambers]

Up until the 30s most drugs were legal in this country did we have drug addicts rolling around in the gutters on every street corner?I don't know I wasn't there, but I have been to a couple countries where most prescription drugs we have could be easily be purchased over the counter.I didn't see alot of whacked out dope fiends there either.

[maestro]

US drug czar says terrorism profiting from drugs

Drug-ees always profit from terrorism,.......'Just say, no'....see

[yonif]

95% of those who smoke it would grow it themselves

Where would they get the plants/seeds?

[yoswif]

"They'd make money on it if it were legal, too"

Thugs don't make very good farmers or legitimate business operators. What's going to fund terrorists; buying South American grown pot or growing your own in the closet?

[Bob J]

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[Phantom Lord]

Where would they get the plants/seeds?

Well, with pot being more available than ever today, while still illegal, I do not think getting seeds or plants would be a problem.

[WackyKat]

Terrorists make a lot more money from small corner grocery stores and petty scams than drugs. But by saying drugs=terrorism they can keep the drug war going.

[yoswif]

"Where would they get the plants/seeds?"

Friends, relatives, seed clubs.

[philman_36]

...international drug trafficking..
Is that international aspect American or European in scope? It could've been made clearer, but it might have made things clearer too, if you know what I mean.
And not the first mention of escalted costs due to there being a black market which dramatically inflates the prices.
It still gives "Buy American" a new look.
Beat the global drum and dig that crazy beat.
The fool is shilling for the UN and nobody sees it! What a shame.

[philman_36]

And to back up my position...
DEA Acting Administrator John B. Brown III at the International Drug Enforcement Conference
In part...This is not just an issue of concern to the United States. Shortly after the 9/11 attack, the United Nations passed a resolution which condemned terrorism and noted its close connection to the drug trade. The resolution said that terrorism constituted a threat to international peace and security. I don't think anyone in this room would argue with that.
The resolution said also that the United Nations was concerned about "the close connection between international terrorism and transnational organized crime, illicit drugs, money-laundering, illegal arms trafficking, and illegal movement of nuclear, chemical, biological, and other potentially deadly materials."

When are people going to wake up and realize what the hell is going on? Are the vast majority of my fellow Americans really this blind and stupid? I guess so

[I_love_weather]

The terrorists are also getting a ton of money from the sale of OIL...

[philman_36]

Be sure to catch the last, there is the usual "For the children" mouthings...In the mean time, catch this!
Transnational crime calls for a transnational law enforcement. And the most important contribution that you and I can make to the fight against drugs and terrorism is intelligence sharing.
And you know that the UN will be in charge of such an international law enforcement agency.
And as far as intelligence sharing...we can't even get that kind of cooperation between agencies in the US. What makes anyone believe that it will succeed on an international level?
What you and I do in the coming, years will determine whether our children and their children will live in a world of violence or a world of peace. You and I, and the great law enforcement institutions we represent, have it in our power to help shape the world of the future. It is an awesome responsibility, and I know this meeting of IDEC will inspire all of us to make an ever greater commitment to cooperate in the struggle for an international community that is free of drugs and free of terror.
What an idiot! In "the coming years" those children will be adults, not children!

WAKE UP AMERICANS. Your slumbering will be your undoing!

[bc2]

US drug czar says terrorism profiting from drugs being illegal.

There I fixed the title for you.

[philman_36]

And let's just follow this trainof thought out to its logical conclusion...
Transnational Crime and Corruption Center
Transnational Crime
Due to the international dimension of organized crime networks to operate across sovereign borders, no one country defending alone against them can be assured security. Organized crime groups are involved in an eclectic array of activities ranging from trafficking in drugs, people, weapons, and nuclear material, as well as the laundering of the proceeds from these various illicit industries. The study of transnational crime identifies and explores these activities and the political, social and economic transformations that have facilitated them. Understanding the range of instruments and policy responses available to governments and law enforcement agencies, acting individually and collectively, is essential towards efforts to effectively contain transnational criminal activity and disrupt or dismantle transnational criminal organizations.

Oh yeah, the push is on! I'll find some more...

[philman_36]

And lo and behold...
1) Research Institutes and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOS):
Transnational Crime and Corruption Center, American University: http://www.american.edu/traccc/

NGO Sector News
American University's Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) is a unique organization devoted to educating, researching, training, and formulating policy solutions to address the issues of transnational crime and corruption. Currently, TraCCC is seeking qualified and dedicated individuals to conduct research on organized crime and corruption in Georgia to support research activities currently underway at TraCCC's Georgia Office.
That is Georgia, USSR, not as in Georgia, USA.

And check out the Hegelian dialect at work...

But once again, the world changed. Since September 11, 2001, organized terrorism, of middle eastern and southwest Asian origin, has replaced, at least for the near term, these illegal drug traffickers as the most important threat to the United States. Given this crime’s transnational nature, we expect that there are links between illegal drugs and terrorism, even if only as a temporary confederation, and that the law enforcement community will find a strong nexus between the two. Because of this, DEA faces a transnational threat, and our mission of transnational policing is still clear.

I do so love those keywords like transnational. It helps searching things out so much easier.

[philman_36]

And let's connect a few dots...
FBI Urges International Law Enforcement Cooperation
With the spread of terrorism, it is more important than ever that law enforcement everywhere in the world work together, says the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Snip...I am here traveling in the region to thank a number of countries for the cooperative efforts that they have had with the FBI prior to September 11th and subsequent to September 11th. It is critically important for law enforcement to work together to address a number of transnational issues, terrorism is one of them, cyber crime another, trafficking in persons yet another, frauds that cut across national borders is yet another.

And it has already been illustrated that several ties are made with trafficking in persons.
You grok all of this?

[philman_36]

Just for kicks some somnambulates might want to look into the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime
Speaking at a news conference on Friday with U.N. legal adviser Hans Corell, Costa called the convention "an important accomplishment." He said the Millennium Declaration "stressed the importance of fighting terrorism, drugs and organized crime as major ingredients for the sustainability of development."
I'm getting ill.

[jmc813]

Maybe instead of the term "drugg warriors", we should start calling them "Kofi Republicans".

[Wolfie]

Where would they get the plants/seeds?

Any one of the thousands of seed companies that operate legally in Canada and Europe. That would certainly be the route I would take, if it wasn't a felony to cultivate. I'll stick with the $100 fine for possession.

[philman_36]

They've already got a name assigned to themselves by me, but I don't want a "talking to" from the Mods and Mr. Jim so I won't mention it.

[FloridaGeezer]

I scanned most of the postings here and found no mention of the real culprit(sp) in the failure of the WOD. Our banks are sustained by drug money laundering. If the Taliban had been left in control of Afghanistan, they would have had that drug money to finance their terrorism.

[Wolfie]

More than just banks. The head of the NYSE once paid a sales visit to FARC in Colombia. Untraceable cash is a valuable commodity.

[Cyrus the Great]

hogwash from DEA propaganda.

[gcruse]

Drug lord, drug czar. Both profit mightily from the sale of illegal drugs.

[Destro]

You missed Con's point. Cig smugglers exist because the sale of cigs has almost become illegal thus allowing for smugglers to -well smuggle! and make money from the trade.

[Destro]

We had to ban drugs in the 30s because Negroes were using drugs to seduce white women (an actually stated motive).

[Destro]

"Where would they get the plants/seeds?" From God who created all things and said it was good?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"credited with a federal anti-drug publicity campaign..."

Propaganda campaign.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

""Where would they get the plants/seeds?"

The bottom of the bag!

[logician2u]

I'm expecting to see, any day now, a cartoon showing Rush Limbaugh in the passenger seat of a convertible and Osama bin Laden behind the wheel.

The caption: "When you're doing drugs, you're riding with bin Laden!"

Courtesy of the Drug Czar.