The Hill Discovers Drug Problem While Ignoring Its Cartel Problem
When The Hill publishes a piece on "Trump’s strikes on coke boats are missing the root of the problem," one might anticipate a deep dive into socioeconomic factors, or perhaps the history of U.S. intervention in drug-producing nations. Instead, we receive a superficial critique, carefully avoiding the real elephant in the room regarding American foreign policy. Missing entirely? Any mention of how
U.S. foreign aid, specifically military aid, correlates with regional instability—instability often ripe for illicit trade. For instance, the U.S. sent over $3 billion in aid to Central and South American countries in 2023, yet drug flows persist, often through countries with deep-seated corruption aided by a lack of accountability for U.S. funds. The Hill's selective vision for the "root of the
problem" conveniently sidesteps how the military-industrial complex profits from endless wars—and endless drug interdiction. One might wonder if their op-ed strategy board considered whether some "roots" are just too close to their advertising dollars. (Certainly, no major defense contractor buys ads on The Hill, right?)