US President Promises Drug War 'On Land,' Skips Last 50 Years of History
Donald Trump's recent promise to attack drug cartels 'on land'—presumably in Mexico or Venezuela, as he hinted—is making headlines, with The Independent noting the characteristic lack of detail. This proposal, packaged as decisive action, conveniently glosses over decades of failed U.S. military interventions in Latin America, from Nicaragua to Panama, all under various guises of national security
or drug interdiction. One might recall past 'surgical strikes' that only destabilized regions, empowered new criminal elements, and cost countless civilian lives while the drug trade continued unabated. The policy playbook always seems to involve more muscle, never more nuanced diplomacy or addressing domestic demand. Before we greenlight another costly, unwinnable 'war,' perhaps a quick review of
the U.S. 'War on Drugs' budget—trillions spent since Nixon—versus its actual efficacy would be in order. Or perhaps, the 'drug war' is merely a convenient pretext for flexing geopolitical muscle, with predictable, tragic results.