Posted on 02/02/2009 4:38:56 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
A rift between the EU and US over how to deal with global trafficking in illicit drugs is undermining international efforts to agree a new UN strategy. The confrontation has been heightened because of suggestions that the US negotiating team is pushing a hardline, Bush administration "war on drugs", in contrast to the EU position which supports "harm reduction" measures such as needle exchanges.
Talks are said to be at breaking point in Vienna where representatives have gathered to hammer out a new UN declaration in time for a signing ceremony at a drugs summit in mid-March. Negotiations, which have been going on for three months, are due to resume tomorrow with no indication of a breakthrough.
At the heart of the dispute is whether a commitment to "harm reduction" should be included in the UN declaration of intent, which is published every 10 years. In 1998 the declaration was "a drug-free world - we can do it".
EU countries, backed by Brazil and other Latin American countries, Australia and New Zealand, say even with the best of intentions the world will not be drug-free in 10 years and some commitment to tackling HIV and addiction through needle exchange programmes and methadone and other drugs should be included.
The US position, as maintained throughout the Bush years, is that such inclusion sends the wrong message and must be resisted.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
I was hoping the failed “War On Drugs” would be one of the few areas I could agree with Hussein on.....
He’s even screwing up on that!
The establishment of the EU was a bloodless coup by the socialists over Europe. A bunch of career paper pushers in Brussels dictating trans-national policy with absolute authority.
Same here.
Why would he change it? It makes otherwise law-abiding citizens criminals. Eliminating the WOD takes tyrannical power away from the feds.
Well, the first problem with this is negotiating with the UN.
The EU policy isn’t radical enough for me. Just drop all legal obstacles to producing, distributing and consuming any and all drugs. Its not the government’s place to nanny people.
Legalise it, tax it, and leave anyone who is not harming anyone else alone....
The choices we get to choose from are a U.S. style “War on Drugs” or a Eurosocialist style “Therapy for Drugs” - aren’t we allowed to choose “none of the above”.
I want to say "ABSOLUTELY!", but I myself would like to see out drug-fighting powers returned to the states & let them decide for themselves how severely or laissez-faire to be re: drug policy. Let the feds continue to patrol our borders, & do so in an even more strict manner than they do now; but we must remember that the 10th Amendment was written for a purpose, & we must begin to respect that forgotten amendment just like we do the other ones.
But as for me & my house, we will smoke our weed!
Better idea. Let’s legalize it and industrialize it.
We’ll put the Afghans and Colombians out of business, and supply some badly needed chlorine for our local gene pool.
He’s even screwing up on that!
No kidding....I guess this is only only policy in which I would agree w/ President Obama on considering some of his past comments; but even then, considering the fact that I respect the 10th Amendment & he does not, we would probably disagree on how to do it.
But considering the fact that he chose Joe Biden as his running mate (& Biden is one of the worst Drug Warriors in Congress, I might add), my hopes were dashed early on.
Empty slogans....just words.
War on Drugs? Or is it really Wars FOR Drugs ($$$$$$$$)???????
It is, as you note, the war for drug DOLLARS (or Euros or yen or whatever), with the control over everyone’s lives as a bonus. It never was about “harm reduction” or anything else but money and power... now and forever, amen!
I love it. One of the few areas where his O-hood might reasonably be expected to be an improvement over GW and he even muffs that. Doh!
we can believe in
SAME
old shit
SS-DD
Same Shit
Different Doofus.
Meet the new boss . . same as the old boss.
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