Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense
TIME Magazine April 2, 2009
Ok, seriously, I never thought I would see an article like that in TIME magazine.
Clinton & Webb Tackle The Biggest Taboo of All
Political journalist, best-selling author and syndicated newspaper columnist
Posted April 3, 2009 | 01:29 PM (EST)
David Sirota
April 2, 2009, 3:27 pm NY Times
The War on the War on Drugs
By Eric Etheridge
This Is the Truth on Drugs ... Any Questions?
Posted on Apr 2, 2009
By David Sirota
Thursday April 2, 2009 12:20 EDT
The success of drug decriminalization in Portugal
Glenn Greenwald
On Bill Moyers Journal tonight are Amy Goodman and Glenn Greenwald.
Hopefully the Obama team is taking a good look at the realities and will not simply continue the failed drug policies of the last 50 years. It's also nice to see the alternative media pushing the mainstream media. I see a difference in the year since I wrote this post called Bush on Drugs.
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query war on drugs. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query war on drugs. Sort by date Show all posts
Friday, April 03, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Reading now
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow
translated "El poder del perro"
It's about narcotraficantes, the "War on Drugs," mercenaries, dirty cops on both sides of the border, dirty politicians that go all the way up to presidents on both sides of the border, murder, revenge, Iran/Contra, the S American right-wing bullshit wars on the people funded by the US and trained at SOA It mentions NAFTA , you know, all the lovely things our foreign policy has inflicted upon Latin America.
It's in the fiction section, I dunno why, so far the "good guys" are not only non-existent, they're losing. Which brings me to a newspaper article I spotted this morning:
Mother of Colombian girl allegedly raped by U.S. officer seeks justice
By Gonzalo Guillen and Gerardo Reyes | El Nuevo Herald
Posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 McClatchy
Olga Lucia Castillo could never bring to justice the men who raped her in Bogota when she was pregnant with her daughter. Twelve years later, she is putting up the fight of her life to have a U.S. Army officer and a Mexican-born contractor indicted because, according to her, they raped her daughter at the military base in Melgar...
...both suspects were taken out of the country under diplomatic immunity,...
(more on the story here) | U.S. soldier's immunity clouds 2007 Colombian rape case
Enough about the "War on Drugs" how's that war in Afghanistan going?
translated "El poder del perro"
It's about narcotraficantes, the "War on Drugs," mercenaries, dirty cops on both sides of the border, dirty politicians that go all the way up to presidents on both sides of the border, murder, revenge, Iran/Contra, the S American right-wing bullshit wars on the people funded by the US and trained at SOA It mentions NAFTA , you know, all the lovely things our foreign policy has inflicted upon Latin America.
It's in the fiction section, I dunno why, so far the "good guys" are not only non-existent, they're losing. Which brings me to a newspaper article I spotted this morning:
Mother of Colombian girl allegedly raped by U.S. officer seeks justice
By Gonzalo Guillen and Gerardo Reyes | El Nuevo Herald
Posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 McClatchy
Olga Lucia Castillo could never bring to justice the men who raped her in Bogota when she was pregnant with her daughter. Twelve years later, she is putting up the fight of her life to have a U.S. Army officer and a Mexican-born contractor indicted because, according to her, they raped her daughter at the military base in Melgar...
...both suspects were taken out of the country under diplomatic immunity,...
(more on the story here) | U.S. soldier's immunity clouds 2007 Colombian rape case
Enough about the "War on Drugs" how's that war in Afghanistan going?
Monday, August 02, 2010
Gee, ya think?
Mexico at War WaPo's coverage of the drugs wars in Mexico.
Obama: Patchwork immigration policy unacceptable
Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 AP
Gah.
Reporters without Borders coverage of Mexico
Arizona was once tolerant of illegal immigrants. What happened?Analysts suggest it was a perfect storm of demographic shifts, a scary criminal element, the recession and a new governor.
What the fuck took the LA Times so long to figure it out? Ahh, hmm, could be the estimate of almost a million illegal immigrants in LA County alone?
No wait, it's the LA Times, the paper that never criticizes anything that the Israeli government does, and never reports on the effect of Israeli settlements or their expansion.
Obama: Patchwork immigration policy unacceptable
Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 AP
Gah.
They are fleeing economic hardship that our fiscal policies helped create on top of a country run by vicious, murdering drugs cartels that kill each other and anyone who gets in their way with guns that came from this country, in order to control a drugs trade that we support by using drugs and having a retarded justice system that makes some rich investors in it richer, and creates hopelessness in the prisoners because they never get a real chance for drugs or vocational rehab, and then we pour money into a corrupt government over there to fight the War on Drugs and we wonder why we have a gazillion people crossing into our country illegally?
Hmmm, was that a run on sentence?
In Mexico's Nuevo Laredo, drug cartels dictate media coverage
By William Booth
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 2, 2010
Hmmm, was that a run on sentence?
In Mexico's Nuevo Laredo, drug cartels dictate media coverage
By William Booth
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 2, 2010
Reporters without Borders coverage of Mexico
Arizona was once tolerant of illegal immigrants. What happened?Analysts suggest it was a perfect storm of demographic shifts, a scary criminal element, the recession and a new governor.
What the fuck took the LA Times so long to figure it out? Ahh, hmm, could be the estimate of almost a million illegal immigrants in LA County alone?
No wait, it's the LA Times, the paper that never criticizes anything that the Israeli government does, and never reports on the effect of Israeli settlements or their expansion.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
LA Times T Dec 4, 2007, & today's UT
Iran's nuclear ambitions on hold, U.S. agencies conclude
Intelligence experts say such work has been shelved for now -- a change in consensus with major implications for U.S. policy.
By Greg Miller, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
China's man at the anchor desk
BROADCAST NEWS IN CHINA: “I don’t feel that any of us are employed to be stooges,” Edwin Maher says of fellow foreigners at China’s English-language television station, CCTV. “But obviously there are limits.” Above, he relaxes in Beijing.
Westerner Edwin Maher reads government 'news' for Beijing TV. He ignores those who call him a sellout.
By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
A desire to curry voters' favor outweighs earlier calls for fiscal responsibility.For Congress, election imperils balanced budget
By Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
BASEBALL
Walter O'Malley's long road to the Hall of Fame
Ex-priest pleads guilty in molestation scandal
Michael Stephen Baker's case was a key part of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony's fight to withhold records.
By John Spano, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
Former Roman Catholic priest Michael Stephen Baker, who authorities say ranks among the Los Angeles Archdiocese's most prolific child molesters, pleaded guilty Monday to sexually abusing two boys and was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison.
Chavez revolution takes hit in election
Crime, shortages, student opposition combine to help erode support for the Venezuelan president. His constitutional reform plan is narrowly defeated.
By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
Powell's turns the page
The legendary Portland, Ore., bookstore has been a how-to guide for surviving Internet and chain rivals. So why is its owner so nervous?
By Scott Timberg, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 3, 2007
Today's fiswrap
Tecate police official slain
Killing occurs hours after tunnel is found
By Anna Cearley
and Sandra Dibble
STAFF WRITERS
December 5, 2007
Juan José Soriano Pereira, 35, who was described as second in command of Tecate's police force, was shot to death in his bed about 2 a.m. yesterday, said Sonia Patricia Navarro, who oversees Baja California's state investigative police force. Soriano was hit by 45 bullets, Navarro said...
...An armed man escaped by ducking into the passageway, leaving behind bundles of marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration said yesterday that the drugs weighed 13,776 pounds. No detentions had been made on either side of the border...
Almost seven tons of pot abandoned and a dead high-ranking local Mexican cop. Could someone please tell me why marijuana is illegal again? I don't get it, & neither does Norm Stamper who started out as a San Diego beat cop, and he doesn't think the "War on Drugs" has been successful.
Leslie over at No Quarter has a fantastic blog post on the military-industrial-congressional-complex and their insidious inclusion in the "war on terrorism."
Documentary on Blackwater in Potrero
COUNTY WILDFIRES
Tracing the root of a fire takes time
Power lines, transformers likely caused most of blazes
By J. Harry Jones and Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
November 11, 2007
Intelligence experts say such work has been shelved for now -- a change in consensus with major implications for U.S. policy.
By Greg Miller, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
China's man at the anchor desk
BROADCAST NEWS IN CHINA: “I don’t feel that any of us are employed to be stooges,” Edwin Maher says of fellow foreigners at China’s English-language television station, CCTV. “But obviously there are limits.” Above, he relaxes in Beijing.
Westerner Edwin Maher reads government 'news' for Beijing TV. He ignores those who call him a sellout.
By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
A desire to curry voters' favor outweighs earlier calls for fiscal responsibility.For Congress, election imperils balanced budget
By Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
BASEBALL
Walter O'Malley's long road to the Hall of Fame
Ex-priest pleads guilty in molestation scandal
Michael Stephen Baker's case was a key part of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony's fight to withhold records.
By John Spano, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
Former Roman Catholic priest Michael Stephen Baker, who authorities say ranks among the Los Angeles Archdiocese's most prolific child molesters, pleaded guilty Monday to sexually abusing two boys and was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison.
Chavez revolution takes hit in election
Crime, shortages, student opposition combine to help erode support for the Venezuelan president. His constitutional reform plan is narrowly defeated.
By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 4, 2007
Powell's turns the page
The legendary Portland, Ore., bookstore has been a how-to guide for surviving Internet and chain rivals. So why is its owner so nervous?
By Scott Timberg, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 3, 2007
Today's fiswrap
Tecate police official slain
Killing occurs hours after tunnel is found
By Anna Cearley
and Sandra Dibble
STAFF WRITERS
December 5, 2007
Juan José Soriano Pereira, 35, who was described as second in command of Tecate's police force, was shot to death in his bed about 2 a.m. yesterday, said Sonia Patricia Navarro, who oversees Baja California's state investigative police force. Soriano was hit by 45 bullets, Navarro said...
...An armed man escaped by ducking into the passageway, leaving behind bundles of marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration said yesterday that the drugs weighed 13,776 pounds. No detentions had been made on either side of the border...
Almost seven tons of pot abandoned and a dead high-ranking local Mexican cop. Could someone please tell me why marijuana is illegal again? I don't get it, & neither does Norm Stamper who started out as a San Diego beat cop, and he doesn't think the "War on Drugs" has been successful.
Leslie over at No Quarter has a fantastic blog post on the military-industrial-congressional-complex and their insidious inclusion in the "war on terrorism."
Documentary on Blackwater in Potrero
COUNTY WILDFIRES
Tracing the root of a fire takes time
Power lines, transformers likely caused most of blazes
By J. Harry Jones and Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
November 11, 2007
Thursday, December 14, 2006
San Diego County Supervisors wrong again
County to appeal medical-marijuana ruling
Supervisors again cite clash with federal law
By Jeff McDonald
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 14, 2006
A week after a Superior Court judge threw out their case against California's medical-marijuana laws, San Diego County's supervisors have voted to appeal the ruling.
...In January, San Diego County sued the state of California rather than implement medical-marijuana laws that permit qualified patients to smoke and grow marijuana and require counties to issue them identification cards...
The county was later joined by San Bernardino and Merced counties in trying to overturn Proposition 215, the 1996 initiative approved by 56 percent of voters that permitted the medical use of marijuana.”
Tuesday's closed-session vote to appeal was 4-1, with Supervisor Ron Roberts opposed. It is unclear when the appeal will be filed or when the appellate judges will consider the case.
Supervisor Greg Cox said he supported the county's issuing ID cards to qualified patients, but when that vote failed 3-2 late last year, he decided to go along with the lawsuit.
Supes vote to persist with medical marijuana challenge
By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO -- As expected, San Diego County supervisors voted Tuesday to continue their controversial legal challenge to overturn California's 10-year-old, voter-approved medical marijuana law.Board Chairman Bill Horn said the board voted in closed session to appeal Superior Court William R. Nevitt's week-old ruling that dismissed the county's argument that California's Compassionate Use Act should be pre-empted by federal law because federal law is "supreme."
The county's challenge has national implications, patients and government officials say, because it marks the first time that any county has sued to overturn any of the medical marijuana laws voters have approved in 11 states....
..."No, not at all," Horn said. "I think it's a bad law. I mean, as far as the benefits, those are medical opinions. There are probably some medical benefits, if you listen to the (patients). But that's not our point. Our point is who has jurisdiction here (the state or federal government)
"We didn't get that from this judge, so we're going to appeal it," he said...
The M-I-C owns this creepy little cronified podunk county (of three million) and the idiotic, brainwashed repugnanthuglican peons who need to have things painted black and white for them by some authoritarian hypocrite and don't think for themselves. Can't let those holy Federal Dollars go anywhere else, right? For the war on terror, the war on drugs, the war on illegal aliens, oh, and by the way, defense contractor WAR profiteering.
Bill Horn
bill.horn@sdcounty.ca.gov
Greg Cox greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov (619)5331-5511
Pam Slater-Price pam.slater@sdcounty.ca.gov (619)531-5533
dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov (619) 531-5222
or copy and paste this line and mail them all at one time:
greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov, pam.slater@sdcounty.ca.gov, dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov,bill.horn@sdcounty.ca.gov
I am not a medical marijuana user, or a marijuana user at all. I voted for prop 215 because I believe that marijuana can help people deal with the painful and traumatizing effects of chemotherapy, and other diseases, including some that cause chronic pain.
Supervisors again cite clash with federal law
By Jeff McDonald
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 14, 2006
A week after a Superior Court judge threw out their case against California's medical-marijuana laws, San Diego County's supervisors have voted to appeal the ruling.
...In January, San Diego County sued the state of California rather than implement medical-marijuana laws that permit qualified patients to smoke and grow marijuana and require counties to issue them identification cards...
The county was later joined by San Bernardino and Merced counties in trying to overturn Proposition 215, the 1996 initiative approved by 56 percent of voters that permitted the medical use of marijuana.”
Tuesday's closed-session vote to appeal was 4-1, with Supervisor Ron Roberts opposed. It is unclear when the appeal will be filed or when the appellate judges will consider the case.
Supervisor Greg Cox said he supported the county's issuing ID cards to qualified patients, but when that vote failed 3-2 late last year, he decided to go along with the lawsuit.
Supes vote to persist with medical marijuana challenge
By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO -- As expected, San Diego County supervisors voted Tuesday to continue their controversial legal challenge to overturn California's 10-year-old, voter-approved medical marijuana law.Board Chairman Bill Horn said the board voted in closed session to appeal Superior Court William R. Nevitt's week-old ruling that dismissed the county's argument that California's Compassionate Use Act should be pre-empted by federal law because federal law is "supreme."
The county's challenge has national implications, patients and government officials say, because it marks the first time that any county has sued to overturn any of the medical marijuana laws voters have approved in 11 states....
..."No, not at all," Horn said. "I think it's a bad law. I mean, as far as the benefits, those are medical opinions. There are probably some medical benefits, if you listen to the (patients). But that's not our point. Our point is who has jurisdiction here (the state or federal government)
"We didn't get that from this judge, so we're going to appeal it," he said...
The M-I-C owns this creepy little cronified podunk county (of three million) and the idiotic, brainwashed repugnanthuglican peons who need to have things painted black and white for them by some authoritarian hypocrite and don't think for themselves. Can't let those holy Federal Dollars go anywhere else, right? For the war on terror, the war on drugs, the war on illegal aliens, oh, and by the way, defense contractor WAR profiteering.
Bill Horn
bill.horn@sdcounty.ca.gov
Greg Cox greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov (619)5331-5511
Pam Slater-Price pam.slater@sdcounty.ca.gov (619)531-5533
dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov (619) 531-5222
or copy and paste this line and mail them all at one time:
greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov, pam.slater@sdcounty.ca.gov, dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov,bill.horn@sdcounty.ca.gov
I am not a medical marijuana user, or a marijuana user at all. I voted for prop 215 because I believe that marijuana can help people deal with the painful and traumatizing effects of chemotherapy, and other diseases, including some that cause chronic pain.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Obama's war on pot
THURSDAY, APR 26, 2012 07:54 AM PDT
Obama Justice and medical marijuana
The President's justification for his crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries has to be heard to be believed
BY GLENN GREENWALD
"President Obama gave an interview to Rolling Stone‘s Jann Wenner this week a...
...Much more important, though, is that the Obama DOJ is aggressively prosecuting dispensaries without any suggestion that they’re breaking local law, and worse, is threatening states considering enacting medical marijuana laws that dispensing medical marijuana, in and of itself, even to sick people with a prescription, is a violation of federal law that will be prosecuted..."
*sigh* I've given President Hopey Opie so many chances to prove that he might be the one to help change our sick political system.
It's not happening, especially with the "War On Drugs." Going after medical marijuana dispensaries is only inviting the cartels to put possibly unsafe product in the hands of sick people.
Here's how I feel about it:
Legalize drugs, even though meth and heroin scare the crap out of me because I've seen what they do to people. Tax them, regulate them. Take the tax money and fund drug treatment centers.
Yes, some people will die. They are already dying. Take away the cartels' gun money and maybe more people caught in the crossfire in Mexico will live. We share a long border with them. Our illegal drugs markets are killing our friends and neighbors.
Obama Justice and medical marijuana
The President's justification for his crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries has to be heard to be believed
BY GLENN GREENWALD
"President Obama gave an interview to Rolling Stone‘s Jann Wenner this week a...
...Much more important, though, is that the Obama DOJ is aggressively prosecuting dispensaries without any suggestion that they’re breaking local law, and worse, is threatening states considering enacting medical marijuana laws that dispensing medical marijuana, in and of itself, even to sick people with a prescription, is a violation of federal law that will be prosecuted..."
*sigh* I've given President Hopey Opie so many chances to prove that he might be the one to help change our sick political system.
It's not happening, especially with the "War On Drugs." Going after medical marijuana dispensaries is only inviting the cartels to put possibly unsafe product in the hands of sick people.
Here's how I feel about it:
Legalize drugs, even though meth and heroin scare the crap out of me because I've seen what they do to people. Tax them, regulate them. Take the tax money and fund drug treatment centers.
Yes, some people will die. They are already dying. Take away the cartels' gun money and maybe more people caught in the crossfire in Mexico will live. We share a long border with them. Our illegal drugs markets are killing our friends and neighbors.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
AZ ruling just intensifies my mixed feelings
Phoenix shootout leaves 1 officer, 2 suspects dead
"...Arizona is the nation's epicenter of illegal immigration, with more than 400,000 undocumented residents. The state's border with Mexico is awash with smugglers and drugs that funnel narcotics and immigrants throughout the U.S., and the influx of illegal migrants drains vast sums of money from hospitals, education and other services...
Although I do understand the frustration of Arizonans, because it was the crackdown on immigration in San Diego that pushed the illegals east into the desert, ("...An estimated 10.8 million people, about 26 percent of the state's population, are living illegally in California, compared with 460,000, about 12 percent, in Arizona..." ) frankly I agree with the new ruling by Judge Bolton in that the burdens for legal immigrants are onerous. The burdens are also onerous for law enforcement, although I wonder if career criminals who happen to be undocumented might be encouraged to find another line of work after a long stint in a Mexican jail. Probably not, because law enforcement in Mexico has been known to cooperate with the cartels.
None of this excuses Americans and their drug habits. If there were no market for illegal drugs in the US, then Mexico wouldn't have drug revenues that exceeded oil revenues. And it ain't just Mexico we're talking about here.
29 July 2010 Last updated at 20:37 ETGuatemala tries Mexican massacre suspects
Guatemalan security forces are increasingly battling Mexican gangs
The trial has opened in Guatemala of 14 alleged members of the Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas.
I pretty much agree with this guy. This is who benefits from the war on drugs. I didn't initially think of terrorist groups althoughI have blogged about it before. I just don't generally think of South American drugs gangs as terrorists, although some might disagree with me there.
The radical reactions from the right and the left are not helping Arizona deal with what really is a problem.
UPDATED ON:
FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010
07:57 MECCA TIME, 04:57 GMT Top Mexico drug lord killed
'King of Crystal'
Coronel, who has been indicted in the US, was said by officials to have been the number three leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, which is active in northwestern Mexico.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Chandler officer’s death marks the third on-duty death of a Valley police officer this year.
Those are the kind of stories that prompt some people to mess with the Arizona flag, and others to embrace that imaginary flag.
Well that and not being able to get assistance in a store because the clerks were busy bullshitting in Spanish. That I experienced shopping in Phoenix with my mother. Since both of us have more than brief experience working as retail clerks we know what is reasonable and what is unreasonable to expect from retail clerks and we were patient, and then resolved to never shop there again. This wasn't an isolated incident and who knows, maybe some hispanics were already touchy about their experiences with white racists. I've dealt with that before. When an historically oppressed minority gets a little bit of power stuff happens, it's human nature. I'm only saying that it's more than just crime stories on the news that have prompted some people's anger in AZ. I know the crime stats are down.
The Chandler officer’s death marks the third on-duty death of a Valley police officer this year.
Those are the kind of stories that prompt some people to mess with the Arizona flag, and others to embrace that imaginary flag.
Well that and not being able to get assistance in a store because the clerks were busy bullshitting in Spanish. That I experienced shopping in Phoenix with my mother. Since both of us have more than brief experience working as retail clerks we know what is reasonable and what is unreasonable to expect from retail clerks and we were patient, and then resolved to never shop there again. This wasn't an isolated incident and who knows, maybe some hispanics were already touchy about their experiences with white racists. I've dealt with that before. When an historically oppressed minority gets a little bit of power stuff happens, it's human nature. I'm only saying that it's more than just crime stories on the news that have prompted some people's anger in AZ. I know the crime stats are down.
By BOB CHRISTIE Associated Press WriterThursday, July 29, 2010
Arizona preparing appeal of immigration ruling
By BOB CHRISTIE Associated Press WriterThursday, July 29, 2010
Arizona preparing appeal of immigration ruling
By BOB CHRISTIE Associated Press WriterThursday, July 29, 2010
..Arizona argues that the federal government has failed to secure the border, and that it has a right to take matters into its own hands...
Although I do understand the frustration of Arizonans, because it was the crackdown on immigration in San Diego that pushed the illegals east into the desert, ("...An estimated 10.8 million people, about 26 percent of the state's population, are living illegally in California, compared with 460,000, about 12 percent, in Arizona..." ) frankly I agree with the new ruling by Judge Bolton in that the burdens for legal immigrants are onerous. The burdens are also onerous for law enforcement, although I wonder if career criminals who happen to be undocumented might be encouraged to find another line of work after a long stint in a Mexican jail. Probably not, because law enforcement in Mexico has been known to cooperate with the cartels.
None of this excuses Americans and their drug habits. If there were no market for illegal drugs in the US, then Mexico wouldn't have drug revenues that exceeded oil revenues. And it ain't just Mexico we're talking about here.
29 July 2010 Last updated at 20:37 ETGuatemala tries Mexican massacre suspects
Guatemalan security forces are increasingly battling Mexican gangs
The trial has opened in Guatemala of 14 alleged members of the Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas.
I pretty much agree with this guy. This is who benefits from the war on drugs. I didn't initially think of terrorist groups althoughI have blogged about it before. I just don't generally think of South American drugs gangs as terrorists, although some might disagree with me there.
The radical reactions from the right and the left are not helping Arizona deal with what really is a problem.
UPDATED ON:
FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010
07:57 MECCA TIME, 04:57 GMT Top Mexico drug lord killed
'King of Crystal'
Coronel, who has been indicted in the US, was said by officials to have been the number three leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, which is active in northwestern Mexico.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Mexico's finally had enough of the "War on Drugs"
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
It's killing average Mexicans, not the big guys in the drug cartels.
This week's Boiling Frogs was on the "War on Drugs" and it was awesome. Sibel Edmonds is one smart cookie, and quite brave. I subscribed to the podcast and it's easier to listen to. The streaming was spotty.
Mexico decriminalizes small-scale drug possessionBy MARK STEVENSON Associated Press Writer |
It's killing average Mexicans, not the big guys in the drug cartels.
This week's Boiling Frogs was on the "War on Drugs" and it was awesome. Sibel Edmonds is one smart cookie, and quite brave. I subscribed to the podcast and it's easier to listen to. The streaming was spotty.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
War on Drugs continues
Federal Government Rules Marijuana Has No Accepted Medical Purpose
Updated: 7/9/11 06:06 PM ET
Deeeeeees-custed here.
The “War On Drugs” Is A $2.5 Trillion Racket: How Big Banks, Private Military Companies And The Prison Industry Cash In
July 9th, 2011
Updated: 7/9/11 06:06 PM ET
Deeeeeees-custed here.
The “War On Drugs” Is A $2.5 Trillion Racket: How Big Banks, Private Military Companies And The Prison Industry Cash In
July 9th, 2011
Thursday, February 05, 2015
Jury selection for alleged American Sniper killer begins today
Jury selection in Routh trial begins today
Pretty tall order since Chris Kyle has been glorified since the movie American Sniper was released worldwide about 3 weeks ago and is quite popular. As is Kyle in Texas, where the killing took place and they are trying to pick jurors for the trial.
A Reporter at Large JUNE 3, 2013 ISSUE
In the Crosshairs
Chris Kyle, a decorated sniper, tried to help a troubled veteran. The result was tragic.
BY NICHOLAS SCHMIDLE
The New Yorker
I wonder if Kyle knew that Routh's family and friends had hidden firearms and ammunition from Routh because they knew he was a danger to himself and others the day he and Littlefield were killed on the rifle range? I wonder if that will come up in the trial?
I also wonder if the trial will shed light on the Veterans Administration (who paid this dinky, no hit blog a visit the day I posted my last post) and the indadequate treatment of PTSD. Does the VA need to take a different tack? You know, mabye get a clue from the fact that thatthe war on drugs is a complete fucking failure also?
Or will it all be swept under the rug and the Texas HEE-Rohs murderer be executed? They execute a lot of people in Texas. The biggest executers in the US, in fact. (Feb 7 prosecution not seeking death penalty)
Jebus, no wonder my dad couldn't wait to get the fuck out of there.
This case just brings up how goddamned stupid the whole Iraq war is for me. The bitterness I feel at watching a whole new generation of broken vets. Lives lost or wasted and the only people benefitting from this war are people who are part of the war machine.
That includes me, because I wouldn't have a roof over my head, food to eat and insurance to cover my counseling for my PTSD if not for my husband's service and current employment with a mil contractor. My counselor should have been able to help a shit ton more veterans, but the nature of the military beast is to hide it's wounds, lick them when they are alone, don't let it become part of the service jacket. To suck it up, Buttercup, to soldier on,to ride the waves of bu·reau·crat·ic indifference at the highest levels right down into the gutters of a freeway underpass.
Pretty tall order since Chris Kyle has been glorified since the movie American Sniper was released worldwide about 3 weeks ago and is quite popular. As is Kyle in Texas, where the killing took place and they are trying to pick jurors for the trial.
A Reporter at Large JUNE 3, 2013 ISSUE
In the Crosshairs
Chris Kyle, a decorated sniper, tried to help a troubled veteran. The result was tragic.
BY NICHOLAS SCHMIDLE
The New Yorker
I wonder if Kyle knew that Routh's family and friends had hidden firearms and ammunition from Routh because they knew he was a danger to himself and others the day he and Littlefield were killed on the rifle range? I wonder if that will come up in the trial?
I also wonder if the trial will shed light on the Veterans Administration (who paid this dinky, no hit blog a visit the day I posted my last post) and the indadequate treatment of PTSD. Does the VA need to take a different tack? You know, mabye get a clue from the fact that thatthe war on drugs is a complete fucking failure also?
Or will it all be swept under the rug and the Texas HEE-Rohs murderer be executed? They execute a lot of people in Texas. The biggest executers in the US, in fact. (Feb 7 prosecution not seeking death penalty)
Jebus, no wonder my dad couldn't wait to get the fuck out of there.
This case just brings up how goddamned stupid the whole Iraq war is for me. The bitterness I feel at watching a whole new generation of broken vets. Lives lost or wasted and the only people benefitting from this war are people who are part of the war machine.
That includes me, because I wouldn't have a roof over my head, food to eat and insurance to cover my counseling for my PTSD if not for my husband's service and current employment with a mil contractor. My counselor should have been able to help a shit ton more veterans, but the nature of the military beast is to hide it's wounds, lick them when they are alone, don't let it become part of the service jacket. To suck it up, Buttercup, to soldier on,to ride the waves of bu·reau·crat·ic indifference at the highest levels right down into the gutters of a freeway underpass.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Bush on Drugs
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.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wars suck
War on the Middle Class in the US:
Outsourcing is just fabulous, eh?
Is the Fed Bailing Out the Economy or the Banks?
Foreclosures hit pets, too
Jan 29, 2008 17:20 ET
San Diego's Finest Real Estate Commences Foreclosure Bus Tours
Local Real Estate Company Offers Tours of Foreclosed Properties Throughout San Diego Starting With Solana Beach, Del Mar and Carmel Valley
How's that War on Drugs going?
Getting worse, eh?
Mmmm, this oughtta make "the surge is working McCain" look good.
But, er, how much good has he done from this committee if veterans who could have suffered traumatic brain injury may be getting unnecessary or inadequate health care and
Army suicides are up? More veterans are homeless?
Go check out his voting record. Here are a couple of his votes on veteran's issues.
Are the resource wars ramping up?
Tomgram: Michael Klare, Barreling into Recession
posted January 31, 2008 3:35 pm
Outsourcing is just fabulous, eh?
Is the Fed Bailing Out the Economy or the Banks?
Foreclosures hit pets, too
Jan 29, 2008 17:20 ET
San Diego's Finest Real Estate Commences Foreclosure Bus Tours
Local Real Estate Company Offers Tours of Foreclosed Properties Throughout San Diego Starting With Solana Beach, Del Mar and Carmel Valley
How's that War on Drugs going?
Getting worse, eh?
Mmmm, this oughtta make "the surge is working McCain" look good.
But, er, how much good has he done from this committee if veterans who could have suffered traumatic brain injury may be getting unnecessary or inadequate health care and
Army suicides are up? More veterans are homeless?
Go check out his voting record. Here are a couple of his votes on veteran's issues.
Are the resource wars ramping up?
Tomgram: Michael Klare, Barreling into Recession
posted January 31, 2008 3:35 pm
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
This is why I don't use illegal drugs.
Too many people are dying . Yeah, I know it's a long article. Tough shit. Read it anyway and don't excuse yourself if you just smoke a little dope. Unless you grow it yourself, chances are it came through Mexico, or was grown in one of our National Forests that are under the control of Mexican gangs.
Do yourself a favor and don't leave a comment about a California State Assemblyman who introduced a bill to legalize pot. It took how long to get to the point where they could vote on a Budget? Oh, yeah, it took 106 days.
The GOP is not the only problem here.
Medical marijuana is already legal in California.
Fuck
The
DEA
And their big fatty Federal Budget
Actually the DEA budget is nothing compared to the $$$ these monsters make selling drugs. Come on, 1.4 billion to fight a 14 billion dollar trade?
Do yourself a favor and don't leave a comment about a California State Assemblyman who introduced a bill to legalize pot. It took how long to get to the point where they could vote on a Budget? Oh, yeah, it took 106 days.
The GOP is not the only problem here.
Medical marijuana is already legal in California.
Fuck
The
DEA
And their big fatty Federal Budget
Actually the DEA budget is nothing compared to the $$$ these monsters make selling drugs. Come on, 1.4 billion to fight a 14 billion dollar trade?
Update 8:36 PM 2/28/2009 Norm Stamper says that the War on Drugs is costing aroung 70 billion dollars a year. Jeeeemeny Christmas, what a waste. I'll bet my 14 billion dollar number is only the Mexican trade, or something.
Update 7:31 PM 3/1/2009 40 billion dollar, 230 US city trade And I don't care if gun manufacturers are making money. Fuck the NRA.
Survey says, ding! ding! ding!
The drug lords that decapitate and murder thousands will win because Americans are stupid shmucks who won't stop using their product. Hope your little bag of pot is worth six thousand lives to ya.
The question is which gang will sell them? 
Monday, December 28, 2009
Yemen is the new Afghanistan
Abdulmutallab, A Banker's Son Turned Muslim Radical
Family Says Accused Northwest Bomber Ceased All Contact Months Ago
By RICHARD ESPOSITO and BRIAN ROSS
Dec. 28, 2009
{..."The Obama administration has been admitting lately, that Yemen is the new Afghanistan," said Clarke. "It is the new sanctuary. The new al Qaeda base, where people from around the world, who want to be trained are sent. No longer to Afghanistan, but to Yemen."...}
New?
Osama bin Laden's father is from Yemen.
Crap-ola. The whole "War on Terror' is going to be the same miserable failure that the "War on Drugs" is, and for the same reasons. The reasons for terrorism are not addressed, just like the reasons for the drug trade, the sex trade, the human traffiking are not addressed.
A) A grossly unfair economic system tilted in favor of developed countries and wealthy banksters.
B) Overpopulation stressing availability of needed natural resources for development.
C) Poverty, ignorance and desperation versus advanced military weapons systems.
Family Says Accused Northwest Bomber Ceased All Contact Months Ago
By RICHARD ESPOSITO and BRIAN ROSS
Dec. 28, 2009
{..."The Obama administration has been admitting lately, that Yemen is the new Afghanistan," said Clarke. "It is the new sanctuary. The new al Qaeda base, where people from around the world, who want to be trained are sent. No longer to Afghanistan, but to Yemen."...}
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
New?
Osama bin Laden's father is from Yemen.
Crap-ola. The whole "War on Terror' is going to be the same miserable failure that the "War on Drugs" is, and for the same reasons. The reasons for terrorism are not addressed, just like the reasons for the drug trade, the sex trade, the human traffiking are not addressed.
A) A grossly unfair economic system tilted in favor of developed countries and wealthy banksters.
B) Overpopulation stressing availability of needed natural resources for development.
C) Poverty, ignorance and desperation versus advanced military weapons systems.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
White House Taking 'Seriously' Al Qaeda's Eying Of America's Gun Show Loophole
“I knew there would be knuckle dragging Obama bashers flapping that one right wing so hard that they (lke their hatred) spin in circles.
Thanks for not disappoint ing y'all!
roflamo”
Favorite (2) Flag as Abusive
Next Comment Previous Comment
AussieLib
7 Fans
Become a fan
21 minutes ago (3:59 PM)
How are comments like this even remotely relevant?
I've been watching the thread, I've seen a lot of comments offering personal experience s in regards to gun shows, many stating that purchasing a full auto is not simple, others stating that full auto conversion s are not easy, simple or reliable.
There have been a few that have been ridiculous talking points, a few that have been standard loon comments, but most seem to be calm, rational and significan tly less condescend ingly arrogant than the above.
My response?
It's hard to be calm and reasonable when a country that is less than an hour away from me has lost tens of thousands of people in a ridiculous war on drugs that my country funds both sides of --
"Mexico updates four years of drug war deaths to 34,612"
http://www
"U.S. Flailing as American Guns Fuel Mexico’s Drug War"
By Adam Rawnsley November 10, 2010
http://www
"NRA and Some of Its Board Members Have Direct Financial Interests in Stopping Ban on High-Capac
Is that arrogant enough for you?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
Friday, January 08, 2010
The war on terror
Dumb. Dumb as the war on drugs. Doesn't work.
France deports radical Imams. Makes sense to me that they should get rid of an Egyptian who preaches hatred of "The West" in France.
We go broke chasing our tails.
Doing exactly what Osama bin Laden wants us to.
France deports radical Imams. Makes sense to me that they should get rid of an Egyptian who preaches hatred of "The West" in France.
We go broke chasing our tails.
Doing exactly what Osama bin Laden wants us to.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Here I go again, on immigration
Does this dorkwad thinks he's actually doing something good for the cause? I actually find humor in that. Did he forget what country he's in?
Here are some thoughtful and short posts on immigration.
A look inside the government’s deportation flights
By Associated Press | Sunday, August 1, 2010
"..Most of those aboard the flight came to authorities’ attention after being convicted of a crime in the U.S. One was convicted of murder, 16 for assault, 11 for driving under the influence, nine for drug charges and six for theft. Another six had no criminal background..."
Honestly, I am not sure what the deal is with the 6 with no criminal convictions. Perhaps real immigration reform would help people like that in the future.
Bay Area protests put focus on immigration policies
By Matt O'Brien
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 07/29/2010 04:17:05 PM PDT
Updated: 07/30/2010 12:15:57 PM PDT
"..The program has identified more than 4,000 immigrants with criminal records in Bay Area jails this year, and many of those immigrants were then handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to government records..."
Immigration memo sparks controversy U.S. officials consider ways to allow some illegal migrants to stay through administrative actions. Republicans see it as proof that Obama is aiming to bypass Congress with a 'de facto amnesty.'
Don't think I don't understand why people risk life and limb for a chance at a better life than the one where they come from. My neighbor told me that at her citizenship confirmation there were people from 80 countries there. I was usually in the minority on most of my jobs, I worked with immigrants from all over the world, and I have heard some stories that would curl your hair from some of my co-workers.
Don't think that I don't understand that the "War on Drugs" and Nafta and Cafta and our corrupt politicians cozying up to corrupt Latin American politicians is good for anybody except big business and (at the very least morally) corrupt politicians.
And oh, yeah, Americans and their drug habits. Are we really so insulated from the truth that 25,000 Mexican people have been slaughtered? Gee, might that have actually increased the amount of people fleeing north to escape from Mexico? Could just be that Mexico is a corrupt shit-hole also. Could be that a few rich control everything in Mexico and the US policies have control over the economy through this tiny minority of the population there.
Mexico now gets more of its revenue from drugs than it does selling us oil, and they are our number two supplier of oil. You think Mexicans know Cantarell is in decline?
And oh, yeah, Americans and their drug habits. Are we really so insulated from the truth that 25,000 Mexican people have been slaughtered? Gee, might that have actually increased the amount of people fleeing north to escape from Mexico? Could just be that Mexico is a corrupt shit-hole also. Could be that a few rich control everything in Mexico and the US policies have control over the economy through this tiny minority of the population there.
Mexico now gets more of its revenue from drugs than it does selling us oil, and they are our number two supplier of oil. You think Mexicans know Cantarell is in decline?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Death in the war on drugs
Update 1:11 PM 3/16/2010
"Many experts have pointed out that militarizing the drug war is counterproductive. Shortly after his inauguration in 2006, President Felipe Calderon began assigning large numbers of troops to fighting the drug war. The National Human Rights Commission specifically cited the case of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico’s murder capital, when it concluded that “using the Mexican military against drug cartels has brought no improvement in public safety.” "
Mexico gunmen kill American consulate staff
They kill journalists don't they?
That's what this movie was about. Juarez and dead journalists and dead factory worker girls. It's about murders, not about the drug trade, but with journalism being so dangerous, how do we know those girls were not just collateral damage?
I've been reading this site for years. They are all over the Americas. I guess I missed this one:
Tijuana: Gringo, This Bullet Is For You
Posted by Bill Conroy - February 28, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Yeesh, the article doesn't make me want to run out and get a passport to go play tourist in Tijuana, that's for sure. Didn't used to have to have a passport to go to Tijuana.
'Hit teams' attack US consular staff, families in Mexico: US
(AFP) – 7 hours ago
"...Shortly after the killings were disclosed by the White House, the State Department issued a travel warning for Mexico.
It said Americans working in consulates in the northern cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros were authorized to send family members home until April 12 because of security concerns.
The departure authorization only affect relatives of US government personnel in those cities, the statement said..."
The travel warning said that due to the "recent violent attacks," US citizens were urged to "delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states."
Full State Dept (Mexico) warning
17 killed as Acapulco tourist idyll shattered by growing drug violence
March 15, 2010
Fucking idiot drugs gangs are shitting in their own nests by killing people on the outskirts of Acapulco.
"Many experts have pointed out that militarizing the drug war is counterproductive. Shortly after his inauguration in 2006, President Felipe Calderon began assigning large numbers of troops to fighting the drug war. The National Human Rights Commission specifically cited the case of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico’s murder capital, when it concluded that “using the Mexican military against drug cartels has brought no improvement in public safety.” "
Mexico gunmen kill American consulate staff
They kill journalists don't they?
That's what this movie was about. Juarez and dead journalists and dead factory worker girls. It's about murders, not about the drug trade, but with journalism being so dangerous, how do we know those girls were not just collateral damage?
I've been reading this site for years. They are all over the Americas. I guess I missed this one:
Tijuana: Gringo, This Bullet Is For You
Posted by Bill Conroy - February 28, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Yeesh, the article doesn't make me want to run out and get a passport to go play tourist in Tijuana, that's for sure. Didn't used to have to have a passport to go to Tijuana.
'Hit teams' attack US consular staff, families in Mexico: US
(AFP) – 7 hours ago
"...Shortly after the killings were disclosed by the White House, the State Department issued a travel warning for Mexico.
It said Americans working in consulates in the northern cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros were authorized to send family members home until April 12 because of security concerns.
The departure authorization only affect relatives of US government personnel in those cities, the statement said..."
The travel warning said that due to the "recent violent attacks," US citizens were urged to "delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states."
Full State Dept (Mexico) warning
17 killed as Acapulco tourist idyll shattered by growing drug violence
March 15, 2010
Fucking idiot drugs gangs are shitting in their own nests by killing people on the outskirts of Acapulco.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Education vs. prisons in California
Jeez, what a report We spend more on prisons in California than we spend on ALL of the education system.
The NPR report goes on about how California Correctional Peace Officers Association has increased labor costs of running the prisons.
What the fuck do you expect when most of the unions in the US have been decimated by business? Businesses leaving the country and businesses intimidating or firing groups who may want to form a union.
Thank you "Three strikes law."
Thank you "tough on crime" rhetoric spouting politicians. You managed to gin up the fear in people enough to really create animals who are jammed in like sardines and ready to explode at anyone of a different race in prison.
Thank you federal "war on drugs"
I can think of so many other factors, but why? It is what it is.
The NPR report goes on about how California Correctional Peace Officers Association has increased labor costs of running the prisons.
What the fuck do you expect when most of the unions in the US have been decimated by business? Businesses leaving the country and businesses intimidating or firing groups who may want to form a union.
Thank you "Three strikes law."
Thank you "tough on crime" rhetoric spouting politicians. You managed to gin up the fear in people enough to really create animals who are jammed in like sardines and ready to explode at anyone of a different race in prison.
Thank you federal "war on drugs"
I can think of so many other factors, but why? It is what it is.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Mexican kidnapping spills over border to San Diego
Kidnappings No Longer Just a Mexico Problem
This is part II.
I linked to Part I and commented on it(as did some of you) here .
"And you see a lot of cartel members moving to the north side of the border. They're living in the U.S. because they're fearful of operating in Tijuana where they used to because they're afraid they're going to get kidnapped. Now the kidnappers have followed them."
Anyone Can Be a Target
What is most troubling to law enforcement is that kidnappings used to happen only to people within the drug trade, as payback for deals gone wrong, but that has changed since the AFO lost its monopoly.
"That's where we've seen a change in the last couple of years," said San Diego FBI chief Keith Slotter. "Some of the splinter groups decided they don't need to play by the old AFO rules. In their minds kidnapping purely for profit is simply a money-making operation for them."
Oy. Did anybody NOT figure that this was only a matter of time? And a logical consequence of trying to rid Mexico of a culture of corruption with American 'War on Drugs' money, which only took down the AFO ? The last link is to a (2000) PBS Frontline show that reported on that gang like at least 20 years after I heard of them, and I have done my best to steer clear of drugs and druggies. Not easy to do when you don't make much money.
Unrelated interesting tidbits, the PR watch's Weekly Radio Spin rips on the corporate clowns dominating the World Water Forum .
And why President Obama is right about trying to get us to focus beyond the AIG bounuses .
This is part II.
I linked to Part I and commented on it(as did some of you) here .
"And you see a lot of cartel members moving to the north side of the border. They're living in the U.S. because they're fearful of operating in Tijuana where they used to because they're afraid they're going to get kidnapped. Now the kidnappers have followed them."
Anyone Can Be a Target
What is most troubling to law enforcement is that kidnappings used to happen only to people within the drug trade, as payback for deals gone wrong, but that has changed since the AFO lost its monopoly.
"That's where we've seen a change in the last couple of years," said San Diego FBI chief Keith Slotter. "Some of the splinter groups decided they don't need to play by the old AFO rules. In their minds kidnapping purely for profit is simply a money-making operation for them."
Oy. Did anybody NOT figure that this was only a matter of time? And a logical consequence of trying to rid Mexico of a culture of corruption with American 'War on Drugs' money, which only took down the AFO ? The last link is to a (2000) PBS Frontline show that reported on that gang like at least 20 years after I heard of them, and I have done my best to steer clear of drugs and druggies. Not easy to do when you don't make much money.
Unrelated interesting tidbits, the PR watch's Weekly Radio Spin rips on the corporate clowns dominating the World Water Forum .
And why President Obama is right about trying to get us to focus beyond the AIG bounuses .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)