Trump Finds His Next 'Drug Dealer' Target for US Aid Cuts
Bloomberg dutifully reports that Trump has cut US aid to Colombia, labeling President Gustavo Petro an “illegal drug dealer.” This, just as Petro critiques US drug policy and seeks to decriminalize some substances. The US, which has for decades poured billions into its 'War on Drugs' in Colombia—a strategy critics argue fuels more violence than it prevents—now unilaterally pulls the plug based on
a personal insult. Remember when the US supported leaders like Manuel Noriega, despite *his* documented drug ties, until he stopped playing ball? One might wonder if 'drug dealer' is the new catch-all for 'leader who doesn't do exactly what we say.' It’s a convenient label when a nation dares to chart its own course, especially on something as entrenched as US drug policy, which has seen little
success but robust profits for certain defense contractors and surveillance companies. This isn't about drugs; it's about control, plain and simple. And a reminder that 'aid' is often just a very conditional loan.