tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635675.post8723913940533225213..comments2023-10-29T05:11:37.677-07:00Comments on Porcupine blog: The Importance of the Illegal Drug TradeLarry Gambonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04965037776214596919noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635675.post-45919798895544300752008-07-20T08:33:00.000-07:002008-07-20T08:33:00.000-07:00The U.N. Drug Report's own characterization of the...The U.N. Drug Report's own characterization of the black market economy is the most damning of all.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://aleftindependent.blogspot.com/2007/09/single-most-profitable-sector-of.html" REL="nofollow">"Single Most Profitable Sector of Transnational Criminality"</A><BR/><BR/>"In the 2005 World Drug Report, UNODC valued the world narcotics trade at some US$320 billion, a figure in keeping with previous estimates from a variety of sources. Estimates for other major illicit flows are considerably less. For example, in 2005 the International Labour Organization estimated the value of global human trafficking to be US$32 billion. Estimates of the value of the trade in conflict diamonds range from 1.5 - 2 per cent to 3 -15 per cent of the overall trade in rough diamonds. Small Arms Survey puts the value of the illicit firearms trade at no more than US$1billion. The relatively high value assigned to the drug trade is understandable because, unlike human beings, diamonds or firearms, the drug supply is consumed each year and in need of continuous renewal. As a result, drug trafficking remains the single most profitable sector of transnational criminality." 2007 U.N. World Drug Report<BR/><BR/>(I have a chart from the U.N. report posted here: <A HREF="http://aleftindependent.blogspot.com/2008/04/fantasy-criminal-justice-policy-speech.html" REL="nofollow">Fantasy Criminal Justice Policy Speech for Sen. Barack Obama</A>)<BR/><BR/>It is great to see that someone else has recognized the national and global significance of the negative consequences of the drug war created black market economy.<BR/><BR/>(Most of the negative public safety, public health, national security and democratic continuity consequences and outcomes of the war on drugs all ripple out from the hundreds of billions of dollars a year that are generated.)<BR/><BR/>Prohibition puts more drugs into the hands of more children by giving the morals and ethics of the tax free sales and distribution of the world's $ 320-billion annual consumer demand for intoxicant drugs into the amoral hands of addict dealers and the unethical self-regulation of gangsters. Both thrive on selling more and more to new generations of children. This is a subsidy program for the growth of crime, addiction and even terrorism.<BR/><BR/>In Sept. 2006 U.S. foreign policy expert Barnett Rubin told the U.S. congress Foreign Relations Committee: "The international drug control regime, which criminalizes narcotics, does not reduce drug use, but it does produce huge profits for criminals and the armed groups and corrupt officials who protect them. Our drug policy grants huge subsidies to our enemies."<BR/><BR/>More recently British military expert John A. Glaze wrote a report for the U.S. Army War College that asserted that "an estimated 70 percent of the Taliban’s income now comes from protection money and the sale of opium."<BR/><BR/>Harm reduction supporters and drug war abolitionists around the world want to see governments stop this subsidy program for criminals and terrorists. Regulate, license and tax out of existence the black market for drugs. Drug war proponents such as John McCain and Barack Obama 'just say no'.Pat Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03017488554120389322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635675.post-71504718749044865312008-06-20T03:02:00.000-07:002008-06-20T03:02:00.000-07:00Thanks for stopping by at mine Mr. Gambone, China'...Thanks for stopping by at mine Mr. Gambone, China's loss is your gain!Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635675.post-64584706446124085832008-06-19T22:24:00.000-07:002008-06-19T22:24:00.000-07:00FARC has a Stalinist popular front program.Even if...FARC has a Stalinist popular front program.<BR/><BR/>Even if they won whatever agrarian demands they want, it would not eliminate the need for socialism.<BR/><BR/>If FARC disarmed and let the hostages go, Plan Colombia would be hard to justify. <BR/><BR/>Who is kidding who? Tanks for fighting guerillas?Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635675.post-43327134286923160222008-06-18T17:06:00.000-07:002008-06-18T17:06:00.000-07:00Me too! And I think just about every other sociali...Me too! And I think just about every other socialist or anarchist as well...Larry Gambonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04965037776214596919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635675.post-80528351624973665512008-06-18T09:44:00.000-07:002008-06-18T09:44:00.000-07:00I'd certainly be much more comfortable with a FARC...I'd certainly be much more comfortable with a FARC that looked more like the Zapatistas...B. Dewhirsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07949715179057866177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635675.post-73814864426401445262008-06-17T22:34:00.000-07:002008-06-17T22:34:00.000-07:00Colombia is armed to the teeth by the US because o...Colombia is armed to the teeth by the US because of two problems, that because they receive so much aid to fight, drugs and guerillas, both have to be maintained.<BR/><BR/>Colombia needs FARC to keep getting $$.<BR/><BR/>My comrades in Venezuela, say FARC should disarm, and give their weapons to the working class.<BR/><BR/>That's only Colombia.Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.com