Andean Initiative: A Faulty Campaign in the War on Drugs

摘要

This paper is an analysis of the five year Andean Initiative, of the 1989Presidential Anti-Drug program, which provides increased law enforcement, military and economic assistance to Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru in an attempt to eradicate cocaine within these source countries. The program has a heavy military assistance emphasis aimed at increasing capability and will of the host nations to combat the drug trade. The paper discusses the shortcomings and potential detrimental effects of the program's lopsided military emphasis. It includes an overview of the military's role, specific program elements and drug trade problems in the source nations. It also examines past program ineffectiveness, possible consequences and implications of similar future programs; and includes criticism of the lack of simultaneous programs to address associated political, economic and social problems.