Military Support of Drug Traffic Interdiction: Is It Working
Abstract
This study investigates the role and effectiveness of the United States military in national efforts to counter the trafficking of illegal drugs into the country. It focuses on the effects of active duty forces in interdicting narcotics traffic originating in Central and South America. The study provides background on the history of military involvement, legal issues, drug trafficking organizations, and current military efforts. The study considers differing opinions on the effectiveness of the military and relates the arguments to the issue of measures of effectiveness. The military role in the national counterdrug effort is clearly one of support to law enforcement. Critics of the military effort cite the continued availability of narcotics as evidence of military failure. Proponents cite mission success and positive comments from supported law enforcement agencies as indicators of success. The controversy revolves around the absence of clearly stated measures of effectiveness upon which all parties have agreed. The study concludes that there is convincing evidence that the military effort has produced tactical and operational success while recognizing that strategic goals have yet to be met. The military, as with other agencies involved, cannot be singularly held responsible in this effort for strategic success or failure. Finally, measures of success must be appropriately developed and consistently applied. Decoys, Multispectral Close Combat Decoy (MCCD), Deception
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 03, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284498
Entities
People
- Gerald G. Howard
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College