Drug Czar Lies

We reported on this story last week but I'm posting it again from a link at Colombia Week because I want you to look at the list of news sources at the end of the brief that covered the original statement drug czar John Walters made on the failure of Plan Colombia. I really like Colombia Week because it cites all the sources and the sidebar is all breaking news - all the time, if you can read Spanish. I only wish I could reliably translate more of it for you.

The point however, is Walters admitted this policy has failed to stem the flow of cocaine into the US and our US General Accounting Office admits the plan has had no benefit to the Colombia people. A rare instance of these prohibition profiteers telling the truth to the public.

A week later, Walters is telling the English reading press that the plan has been a great success and has greatly reduced the acreage devoted to coca production. Now the second half is true, they have poisoned great tracts of land and the growers have fled further into remote areas and cultivate smaller plots. However, they have also figured out how to increase production and shield the plants from the effects of the herbicides in the interim. Thus the cocaine supply does not diminish, only the arable land available for its cultivation has.

As Pete at Drug WarRant points out, the only news outlet who caught the inconsistency or least who was willing to report it was the BBC News. We agree with Pete that it's long past time for the US press to start demanding some accountability for this sort of misinformation as well.