U.S. Decertifies Venezuela on Drug Control

[donsu]

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/9/16/17445/5596


Posted on Fri Sep 16th, 2005 at 05:44:05 PM EST
The Cubanization of United States policy toward Venezuela has begun in earnest. Yesterday, President George W. Bush released his findings on drug war “certification” – the highly politicized list the White House has produced since the mid-1980s of which countries are doing their part in “international” drug control efforts, and which have “failed demonstrably.”

Only two countries did not make the cut this year. The first was perennially-decertified Myanmar (Burma). The second was, as the State Department threatened last month, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela…
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From yesterday’s presidential determination:

Pursuant to section 706(2)(A) of the FRAA, I hereby designate Burma and Venezuela as countries that have failed demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and take the measures set forth in section 489(a)(1) of the FAA. Attached to this report (Tab A) are justifications for the determinations on Burma and Venezuela, as required by section 706(2)(B).

I have also determined, in accordance with provisions of section 706(3)(A) of the FRAA, that support for programs to aid Venezuela's democratic institutions, establish selected community development projects, and strengthen Venezuela's political party system is vital to the national interests of the United States.

(The “justifications” mentioned are not attached to the online version and, as far as I can tell, are not available anywhere online.)
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In the last two months, the State Department has mentioned a few areas of “concern” at its daily press briefings: Venezuela’s slowness on passing an organized crime bill that the U.S. supports, and its unwillingness to sign on to an international agreement on monitoring aircraft. Pretty minor stuff compared to Venezuela’s neighbor, staunch U.S. ally Colombia, where sections of the Army are major players in the cocaine and heroin trade and impunity, despite a few high-level arrests now and then, essentially rules.

-snip-

It would seem, then, that the White House and State Department are using the drug war pretext to begin what could evolve into a Cuba-style economic blockade of Venezuela. At the very least, they are employing a tool that in the past has been quite effective for the political isolation of other countries, and, in the case of Panama in 1989, was part of the run-up to U.S. military invasion.
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Chavez has gotten under the skin of the criminal bushgang.

calamine lotion isn't helping

whose afraid of the big, bad bushgang

[applegrove]

1. But it is fine in Afghanistan which is actually a world leader in poppies.

[Roland99]

10. Afghanistan urged to fast-track legalisation of opium crop

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050926/wl_afp/afghanistandrugsmedicine_050926065910

KABUL, (AFP) -
Afghanistan urgently needs to legalise its massive opium crop, which supplies most of the world's heroin, to avoid becoming a narco-state and to fund reconstruction, a think-tank said here.


The recommendations were part of a study released by The Senlis Council at a conference in the Kabul to push for the destitute nation to legalise opium production and channel the crop into the manufacture of legal painkillers.

Afghanistan produces about 87 percent of the world's supply of opium.

The council, a Paris-based body of politicians, experts and academics, said the current policy of trying to eradicate the fields of poppies that yield opium, which makes up about half of Afghanistan's income, was a costly failure.

Nice.

[savemefromdumbya]

2. Saudis exempt

It's take your pick time - which countries to be nasty to.

[RethugAssKicker]

3. US is setting up reason to MURDER Chavez...

Same bullshit they did with Noreiga in Panama.

[NorCalDem]

4. To murder Chavez

would be a BIG mistake for the US. South and Central America would HATE us, even more so than they already do. Also, we would lose Venezuala's oil production, and that would destroy our economy. We might be able to control it for awhile, but Chavez has planted the seed of democracy in that country in the people won't let us uproot the budding tree by simply lopping off the top few leaves.

[RethugAssKicker]

5. The CIA did it in Panama with Torijjos

and in Ecuador with Roldos! The whole world knew who did it , except us Americans!

[NorCalDem]

12. I think Chavez is different

He is respected by other Central and South American leaders, and his people really love him. If I were the CIA, I would worry about a citizen led coup against the US and whatever puppet government we set up if/when we do in fact assassinate Hugo. I would also worry about the loss of influence in the southern hemisphere, due to increased hatred of the US and our imperialistic policies, ESPECIALLY from the lower Americas.

[ProudDad]

6. And so it goes

As usual, the U.S. theocratic oligarchy CAN'T STAND the idea of a successful alternative to the rape and pillage capitalist model they so love (and benefit from).

That's why the stupid embargo against Cuba has outlasted the stupid useless, unnecessary cold war and will continue until (they think) Castro dies and Havana becomes the haven for mobsters and capitalist pigs that it was before 1959...

The capitalist goons are on the wrong side of history. Chavez and Bolivarismo proves it...


(Edited for spelling)

[FVZA_Colonel]

7. Didn't Venezuelan officials seize a major cocaine shipment

in the last few months? Or am I mistaken?

[MN ChimpH8R]

8. I don't think they will miss the money

given that Venezuela sits on top of a lake of oil. I thoroughly enjoy watching Chavez thumb his nose at ChimpCo.

[genius]

9. The point is Bush wants to oust Chavez, who is supported by 75% of

Venezuelan people. In other words, Bush is a Nazi Terrorist Fascist.

[sarcasmo]

11. Chavez is way more than a thorn in the *gang side.

Robertson opened his mouth and now if he is assassinated all fingers will point to *. Chavez speaks the truth and the MSM reports his truths. IMHO the truth is what drives the * gang crazy.