America's 100-Year War "An Historical Analysis of Counterdrug Strategy"
Abstract
The United States federal government has waged "the war on drugs" since 1914. The cost to the American people has exceeded 100 billion dollars in just the past 20 years. Yet the flow of illegal drugs continues to enter our nations borders without an end in sight. Drug producing countries continue to produce cocaine, marijuana, and heroin at an immeasurable rate. The demand for illegal drugs in this country is high in comparison to other nations, and the demand base continues to get younger each year. This paper examines the historical background of the counterdrug effort and current national and military counterdrug strategies. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the organizational and operational control of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) with regard to interagency operations and the use of military forces. Finally, this paper recommends organizational changes to the ONDCP, a possible increased role for the military, and a re-examination of the applicability of Posse Comitatus for the fight against illegal drug trafficking.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA378212
Entities
People
- Curtis D. Potts
Organizations
- United States Army War College