The Drug War Down South: Gaining Moral Ascendency in the Americas.

Abstract

Suppression of illicit drug trafficking in source and transit countries in the Americas has been an important part of the U.S. war on drugs. It is a part of the war we are losing. U.S. supported efforts to block production and shipment of illicit drugs are a failure. Drug trafficking in the Americas is flourishing and CIA estimates indicate non-stop expansion of the coca industry. This study reviews counter-drug programs in our hemisphere and proposes a revised U.S. strategy. To forge a new strategy the study considers centers of gravity, the imperatives of low intensity conflict, and the 'remarkable trinity' of the government, the commander and the army, and the people which according to Clausewitz defines the character of any 'war'. The study suggests U.S. strategic objectives should emphasize support for democracy and economic development and eliminate crop eradication and certain other anti-drug initiatives. A revamped role for the U.S. military stressing foreign internal defense and nation building is also proposed. The over-arching goal is to gain moral ascendency in the drug war in the Americas. (MJM)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 06, 1989
Accession Number
ADA207507

Entities

People

  • Thomas J. Barrett

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Department Of State
  • Drug Abuse
  • Foreign Aid
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Local Governments
  • Low Intensity Conflict
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Students
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies