P L A N* C O L O M B I A
BEFORE
PLAN COLOMBIA
Situation
in the U.S.
Situation in Colombia
Policy Before Plan Colombia
PLAN
COLOMBIA
Role
of the U.S.
Military Mission
Coca Eradication
RESULTS
OF PLAN COLOMBIA
Ecological
Devastation
Socio-Economic Devastation
Cultural Devastation
A
CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE
Plan
Colonia
Parallels: Colombia and Vietnam?
By.
Carmen Guhn-Knight
cmguhnkn@mtholyoke.edu
Updated 05.05.06.
With Thanks To Mount Holyoke College
and Thanks to the Beehive
Design Collective
for the Black and White Cartoons
Before Plan Colombia:
At the turn of the century the U.S.’ ‘War on Drugs’ was failing miserably. Cocaine use had risen in the early 90’s and showed no signs of decreasing. The 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals that over 14% of Americans ages 12 and older have used cocaine.[14] Over 60% of inmates in federal prisons are jailed for drug offenses, and increased gang violence in inner cities has been linked to drug-related issues.[2]
Colombia is the source of most of the cocaine and 2/3 of the heroin found in the U.S.[2] Since the coca plant is an essential ingredient in cocaine, transporting coca into the U.S. is illegal. The government has allowed for one monopolistic exception; Coca-Cola is the only corporation allowed to import coca.[15]
Additionally, in recent years military insurgents have hindered the U.S.’ oil interests in Colombia. The Colombian guerrilla forces endanger the $4.3 billion in direct U.S. investment.[11]
U.S.
international policy rhetoric in regards to Colombia began to shift
from Cold War anti-communist counter-insurgency towards a new focus:
counter narcotics and counter terrorism.[11] With
the failing drug war at home, the risky oil business, and the omnipresent
threat of terrorists,
Washington is discovering a prime time to interfere in Colombia yet again.