Traffic is one of my favorite movies. My favorite line comes from Javier Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro) trying to work with US DEA and actually get something worthwhile out of it. He's in the pool with these guys and he asks them "You like beisbol?"
Remember the last scene in the movie? Kids playing on a new and well lit baseball field in TJ (Tijuana).
Smart.
Now back to reality. The "war on drugs" now has not only the elite from TJ fleeing to live in the United States, but some of the middle class have fled TJ and now live here in San Diego. It's too dangerous to live in TJ now.
What will it take to end Mexican drug trafficking? President Bush thinks $1.4 billion.
...The plan envisions $1.4 billion in military equipment and training for Mexico's drug interdiction forces over three years, including eight Bell 412 helicopters, two CASA CN-245-300 surveillance planes, eighty-seven ion scanners used for drug detection, night vision gear, and sophisticated electronic inspection equipment. It would also fund software to facilitate cross-border intelligence sharing, forensics systems for identifying smuggled firearms, immigration document verification systems, and human rights and anti-corruption training for Mexican police...
...a $73 million funding decline in next year's proposed federal budget for drug treatment programs...
Ehhhh, not so smart. I can think of more effective ways to spend 1.4 billion, you?
Norm Stamper started out as a beat cop in San Diego. I somehow missed the aritcle he wrote entitled How Legalizing Drugs Will End the Violence & it's a good one.
No comments:
Post a Comment