Comments on: Santos to US: ´decriminalize drugs´ http://www.colombia-politics.com/santos-talks-drug-decriminalisation-and-peace-in-us/ News & analysis Colombian politics Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:51:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Kevin Howlett http://www.colombia-politics.com/santos-talks-drug-decriminalisation-and-peace-in-us/#comment-56 Kevin Howlett Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:53:15 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=470#comment-56 Michael, I´d love someone to try to answer your questions! Well put! And yes, there´s very little hope at the moment of EU and North Americans entering into the debate - they might nod their collective head and feign an interest, but... What they would lose alone in POLITICAL capital means cat. chance. hell. Michael, I´d love someone to try to answer your questions! Well put!

And yes, there´s very little hope at the moment of EU and North Americans entering into the debate – they might nod their collective head and feign an interest, but… What they would lose alone in POLITICAL capital means cat. chance. hell.

]]> By: Michael Eisbrener http://www.colombia-politics.com/santos-talks-drug-decriminalisation-and-peace-in-us/#comment-55 Michael Eisbrener Wed, 26 Sep 2012 17:22:10 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=470#comment-55 The too few times I read about ending the so-called ‘war on drugs’ no one ever talks about "Where is the money?" The FARC gets a small, very small, piece. The cost of transportation rests in Mexico and elsewhere but "Where are the BILLIONS of income tax free profits going every year?" Where do you hide more billions than the world spends on Microsoft in a year? One clue will be if the appeal gets any traction. You will see what billionaires come out of hiding to denounce the thought of decriminalization. Some people are able to operate with tons of cash paid for with the lives of too many innocent people. One last question. What on and where do you spend your billions of cocaine profits? The answers are obvious with only a little thought. The likelihood of Europe or the US participating in decriminalization is less than zero. A few have too much to lose. The too few times I read about ending the so-called ‘war on drugs’ no one ever talks about “Where is the money?” The FARC gets a small, very small, piece. The cost of transportation rests in Mexico and elsewhere but “Where are the BILLIONS of income tax free profits going every year?” Where do you hide more billions than the world spends on Microsoft in a year? One clue will be if the appeal gets any traction. You will see what billionaires come out of hiding to denounce the thought of decriminalization. Some people are able to operate with tons of cash paid for with the lives of too many innocent people. One last question. What on and where do you spend your billions of cocaine profits? The answers are obvious with only a little thought. The likelihood of Europe or the US participating in decriminalization is less than zero. A few have too much to lose.

]]> By: Kevin Howlett http://www.colombia-politics.com/santos-talks-drug-decriminalisation-and-peace-in-us/#comment-53 Kevin Howlett Wed, 26 Sep 2012 05:45:51 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=470#comment-53 Thanks Loon. I suspect you´re right. As I say, the imperative is not there for European and North American leaders. Politically it will be difficult for them even to approach the subject - the press will jump on the issue. Let´s hope Santos can help shift the terms of the debate. Even if one isn´t in favour of decriminalisation it is important the world is conscious of the damage inflicted on Colombia. The war on drugs has been fought with half a heart...at best. Thanks Loon. I suspect you´re right. As I say, the imperative is not there for European and North American leaders. Politically it will be difficult for them even to approach the subject – the press will jump on the issue. Let´s hope Santos can help shift the terms of the debate. Even if one isn´t in favour of decriminalisation it is important the world is conscious of the damage inflicted on Colombia. The war on drugs has been fought with half a heart…at best.

]]> By: Loon http://www.colombia-politics.com/santos-talks-drug-decriminalisation-and-peace-in-us/#comment-52 Loon Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:12:10 +0000 http://www.colombia-politics.com/?p=470#comment-52 Great article. I respect President Santos' courage and open-mindedness in vocalizing what I suspect is something that a lot of politicians in the west are already aware of but are afraid to speak out. The war on drugs has been an utter failure and it's time to adopt a new approach. Thanks for sharing. Great article. I respect President Santos’ courage and open-mindedness in vocalizing what I suspect is something that a lot of politicians in the west are already aware of but are afraid to speak out. The war on drugs has been an utter failure and it’s time to adopt a new approach. Thanks for sharing.

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