Colombia's Drug War: A Convenient Narrative Shift for Washington
📰 THE STORY: CBS News reports that Colombian security forces killed five members of a major cocaine cartel just days before President Gustavo Petro's meeting with the US president to discuss combating drug trafficking. The article presents this as a sign of Colombia's commitment to fighting the drug trade and a positive development ahead of high-level talks. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU:
Historical Context: The 'War on Drugs' in Colombia began in earnest with massive US funding and military presence under Plan Colombia (initiated in 1999). Far from eradicating drugs, this plan led to a surge in human rights abuses, displacement of millions, and strengthened right-wing paramilitaries like the AUC, which often worked hand-in-glove with the military and, yes, drug cartels. The US
provided billions, ostensibly for drug interdiction, but the primary effect was to prop up governments amenable to Washington's interests and escalate internal conflict, not solve the drug problem. The US itself remains the world's largest consumer market for illegal drugs. Double Standard: When the Colombian government, under leaders like Petro, attempts to address the root causes of drug
cultivation – poverty, lack of economic alternatives, and peace deal implementation – by offering crop substitution programs and negotiating with armed groups, they are often met with skepticism and pressure from Washington. Yet, when military operations lead to civilian casualties or exacerbate conflict, the US often remains silent or offers continued 'security assistance.' Meanwhile, the US's