Counternarcotics
Last week, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, released new data about coca cultivation in Colombia in 2010. According to the new estimates by the U.S. Government, "Colombia is holding the line against coca cultivation after major decreases in 2007 and 2008." In other words, coca cultivation in Colombia has hardly changed since 2008, when cultivation declined from 167,000 hectares under production in 2007 to 119,000 hectares in 2008.
In this 50th episode of the Just the Facts Podcast, Adam talks with Daniel Mejía, an economist from Colombia's Universidad de los Andes, who just co-edited a book, "Éxitos, fracasos y extravíos," which thoroughly critiques, and proposes alternatives to, the U.S.-backed anti-drug policy in Colombia.
Adam gives an update on the Colombian FTA debate, the extradition of a Venezuelan narcotrafficker from Colombia to Venezuela, another mass grave in Mexico, Uruguay's amnesty law, and Peru's elections.
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At a conference in Mexico sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Adam talks with Professor Bruce Bagley, chairman of the Department of International Studies at the University of Miami and a longtime expert on U.S. counter-drug policy in the Americas.
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Adam talks to Steven Dudley, co-founder of the recently launched website insightcrime.org, about this new resource and organized crime and narcotrafficking trends in the region.
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Following on the previous post about the State Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, released today: A big hat-tip is due Bloggings By Boz for noticing a significant drop in the number of tons of cocaine interdicted by Mexican authorities in 2010.
The State Department has just released its annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), which details foreign countries’ efforts, both U.S.-aided and otherwise, to halt the production and transit of illegal drugs.
A recording of a presentation by WOLA's Adam Isacson, given at George Washington University's Elliott School on February 28. The handout referenced in the piece is viewable below, or download it here.
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On Tuesday, El Universal, one of Mexico City's leading newspapers, published an interview with Mexican President Felipe Calderón, in which he expressed his frustrations with U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.
Upon Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's January 24-25 visit to Mexico, Adam talks to WOLA's Maureen Meyer about U.S. assistance, human rights, Mexico's struggle against drug-fueled violence, and the long leadup to the country's 2012 elections.
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