Plan Colombia - A Strategy for Continued Failure in America's Fight Against Drugs

Abstract

"Plan Colombia," the $1.3 billion centerpiece of the United States' strategy for reducing America's illegal drug habits through source country supply reduction, is fundamentally flawed. It will not only fail to meet its primary objective of reducing drug abuse in the United States, but it will also have the undesirable effect of causing additional bloodshed abroad, by providing more fuel for a 37-year old civil war. The United States needs to look at alternative strategies focused on demand-side reduction through user accountability and education, if it is ever to minimize the negative effects of drug abuse at home. This essay will introduce the reader to Plan Colombia; discuss the U.S. national interests and the threats and opportunities that have led to U.S. involvement in Colombia; examine the basic concepts of the U.S. National Drug Control Strategy; and explore the history of the Colombian civil war. It will then discuss strengths and weaknesses of continued U.S. support of Plan Colombia, and present recommendations for alternative strategies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA441716

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Hurst

Organizations

  • National War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil War
  • Colombia
  • Commerce
  • Department Of State
  • Drug Abuse
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Governments
  • Human Rights
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Schools
  • Security
  • South America
  • Students
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies