Columbia, Aruba, Curaçao

[FluffyMcDeath]

The US is increasing its involvement in Columbia having obtained an agreement to put US forces on a military base down on the border near Venezuela. Now the US has an agreement with the Netherlands to host US forces on Aruba and Curaçao, which are two islands off the coast of ... Venezuela (and not too far from Caracas). It's all done in the name of the "war on drugs" but I wouldn't expect Hugo to see it that way. Looks like the US is rebuilding its "influence".

This Haitian earthquake might be a good opportunity to install some more US military units (under the guise of emergency aid). A force there would help protect Guantanamo just in case Hugo's buddy threatened that outpost in retaliation for any actions against Venezuela.

Never let a crisis go to waste.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

hmmm.
US is putting 10,000 troops into Haiti.

That's not aid, that's an invasion.

 

[Speelgoedmannetje]

The US is increasing its involvement in Columbia having obtained an agreement to put US forces on a military base down on the border near Venezuela. Now the US has an agreement with the Netherlands to host US forces on Aruba and Curaçao, which are two islands off the coast of ... Venezuela (and not too far from Caracas). It's all done in the name of the "war on drugs" but I wouldn't expect Hugo to see it that way. Looks like the US is rebuilding its "influence".

Yeah, Balkenende is really a traitor with his blind pro-US politics. But last week he made a huge political mistake which will cost him dearly (I hope).

 

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Besides, I think Chavez is much more capable in dealing with the drug lords than an x amount of foreign soldiers. Also because he has a lot more to win by it.
That 'war on drugs' is just a big cover-up of the US to gain influence on oil-producing countries.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Yeah, Balkenende is really a traitor with his blind pro-US politics. But last week he made a huge political mistake which will cost him dearly (I hope).

Wait, what? What did he do? Do tell.
This is to do with the Iraq war inquiry maybe?

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

That 'war on drugs' is just a big cover-up of the US to gain influence on oil-producing countries.

Speaking of the "war on drugs" this article claims that it may be winding down. This is partly due to the economic pressures of housing millions of inmates and partly because of push back from South America.

It would be hard to imagine those who profit from it allowing it to die a quiet death though. The CIA for one would lose a valuable funding stream as their position of protected trafficker would become virtually worthless. The enormous capital streams that drugs provide floated the banks through the crisis and police departments around the US have been contributing to the profits of hi-tech arms manufacturers with money derived from asset seizures based on drug citations (no conviction necessary).

Then again, perhaps the problem is that other players have amassed enough resources and connections to be major competitors to the intelligence agencies in terms of invulnerability and capability. Perhaps decriminalizing drugs is a first step in drying up some of the funding for terrorism and other freelancers that have spun out of government controls like those that Loretta Napoleoni talks about in her TED talk The intricate economics of terrorism.

Or maybe the roll back of the drug war isn't happening at all and this is just a spark that will fizzle. After all, who can really push a bill through all those piles of money?

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

While I was looking for Napoleoni's TED talk I came across this interesting article with plenty o' good links. Take a read if you have the time.

 

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Yeah, Balkenende is really a traitor with his blind pro-US politics. But last week he made a huge political mistake which will cost him dearly (I hope).

Wait, what? What did he do? Do tell.
This is to do with the Iraq war inquiry maybe?

Yep, indeed. His reaction to the Davids commission report was an immediate defense, suggesting it was 'subjective' (while it was Balkenende himself who appointed the commission). I have never seen a more uniform reaction of all the political parties. All were, so to say, flabbergasted.