Bolivia's Morales asks bloc to condemn US on drugs

[The Northerner]

HAVANA—Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Monday that a regional South American bloc should "decertify" the U.S. in its counternarcotics efforts, hitting back at Washington's criticism of his South American nation on drugs.

Speaking in Cuba while receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Havana, Morales accused the United States of being the root cause of the international drug trade as a leading consumer of cocaine.

"If the United States can certify or decertify, why can't UNASUR (the Union of South American Nations) decertify the United States if the origin of drug trafficking is U.S. consumption of cocaine?" Morales said.

Washington first put Bolivia on its blacklist of nations that "failed demonstrably" to meet counterdrug obligations in 2008, and again renewed the designation last week. Venezuela and Burma are also on the list, which allows for possible sanctions, though President Barack Obama waived any penalties for Venezuela and Bolivia so the U.S. can support programs it says aim to help those nations' people.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2011/09/19/bolivias_morales_asks_bloc_to_condemn_us_on_drugs

[tama]

1. Decertify US!

When ban on booze failed, in frenzy to ban something US banned dope, and then used UN and it's whole political weight to make the ban global. Most of the drug money ends up in US banks and bonds, lots in CIA black ops.

[digitaln3rd]

2. First they need to stop making and exporting them.

Then we can talk. Until then, the hypocrite needs to shut up.

[a la izquierda]

7. You do realize that...

millions of Bolivians and Peruvians use coca for ancient cultural, medicinal, and social purposes and it in no way has the dangerous qualities in its natural form? THis is a really delicate line to walk.

[marmar]

3. Good for Evo.....More and more Latin American nations are calling out the War on Drugs insanity.

nt

[Fly by night]

4. Yes! This latest statement should be taken in the context of statements by EVERY SENTIENT BEING ...

... in the known universe, speaking in unison for an end to this senseless war.

Science, Common Sense and Compassion

or

More Senseless, Unceasing, Unsuccessful Social Control

Which will it finally be, Mr. President?

When it comes to continuing our immoral drug policies, we are increasingly standing alone.

It is time for our nation to sit down and shut up in this arena.

It is time for us to stand down in this 70+ year war.

[Fumesucker]

5. Actually I read this statement exactly the opposite..

I read this to mean that they didn't think the US was cracking down hard enough on demand domestically and should do more in that regard.

[xchrom]

6. Recommend

[bvar22]

8. K&R for the Bolivian President.

Evo Morales is one of my favorite people.

"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

FDR said much the same thing in 1944 with his Economic Bill of Rights.

The Populist reforms sweeping across Latin America give me hope for the World.

VIVA Democracy!
I pray we get some here soon!


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their promises.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. He should put his money where his mouth is and refuse all US aid money