General Barry McCaffrey is best known for being in charge of the failed drug war while Clinton was in office. During his time as the Drug Czar he also offered Tv stations financial incentives (using tax dollar money) to smuggle anti drug messages into their television programming. In 2005, the Government Accountability Office found that the ONDCP had violated domestic propaganda and publicity prohibitions by preparing prepackaged news stories that did not disclose to television viewers that the government had produced them and had illegally spent appropriations to develop, produce and distribute the covert propaganda. Due to a three year statute of limitations the GAO opinion (B-303495) was limited to fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004 however its detailed analysis of the core legal issues involved is applicable to the McCaffrey era ONDCP propaganda scandal. During his time in office the use of all drugs increased across the board. In 1996 22.1% of respondents to a poll stated that they had used illegal drugs compared to 28.4% in 2001. Even though drug usage rates increased while he was the Drug Czar he has since found a new source of income by spitting the same tired propaganda on news outlets. Generally he is used as the voice of prohibition and I personally feel he does a great job since he still believes the same propaganda he used in 1997 will work today. He’s a very soft target in any debate and he could probably get cut down by an 8th grade debate captain. Here’s some of his greatest hits.

Crime is among the most urgent concerns facing Mexico, as Mexican drug trafficking rings play a major role in the flow of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transiting between Latin America and the United States. Drug trafficking has led to corruption, which has had a deleterious effect on Mexico’s Federal Representative Republic. Drug trafficking and organized crime have also been a major source of violent crime in Mexico.

Mexico has experienced increasingly high crime rates, especially in major urban centers. The country’s great economic polarization has stimulated criminal activity in the lower socioeconomic strata, which include the majority of the country’s population. Crime continues at high levels, and is repeatedly marked by violence, especially in Monterrey, Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Michoacan, and the state of Sinaloa. Other metropolitan areas have lower, yet still serious, levels of crime. Low apprehension and conviction rates contribute to the high crime rate.

In this documentary Ross Kemp follows some of the most dangerous drug running routes on the US/Mexico border. A grim reminder of what has happened since Calderon decided to “take on the cartels”. It’s not rocket science. The more enforcement. The more fractured the drug gangs are. This may seem like a good thing to those fighting “The Drug War” however there are some very serious consequences which have come as a result. The escalation of violence from the Mexican government has destabilized what were previously gang turf. This means that as the police take control of one section, the gangs must move into someone elses turf in order to continue their business. The second effect is that by decreasing supply the police are also raising the price of the products so the gangs end up making more money off of a product if there is more stringent enforcement.

A swat team storms a drug dealers home. In full paramilitary regalia the anti-drug unit busted in through the front door with guns drawn. Luckily the home owner wasn’t home, but it was what the swat team did next which stunned the home owner. You see he had set up a video surveillance system of his entire home. As the other cops began rummaging through his belongings, a few others decided to turn on the flat screen, fire up the wii, and start bowling! The crazy thing is that this wasn’t just a few moments that these cops stuck around (imagine how they left the fridge and the chips supply!) They stayed there for 9 long hours! A wii bowling tournament developed and the soon 13 officers and 3 sargeants could all be seeen playing the game throughout the duration of the “raid”. In all seriousness, this is somewhat funny to see that cops are goofballs, but on the other hand. This raid alone most likely cost tens of thousands of dollars. Not to mention all the logistical support that led up to this moment. We must remember that these individuals are also being paid by the tax payer, and they are receiving billions of dollars a year fighting a “war” that the American people don’t support, and believe is unwinnable.

CNN reports on how much of a failure our drug laws has been.

After spending many billions of our tax dollars money to try and prohibit narcotics we have done nothing more than create billionaire criminals and horrendous violence. Perhaps it’s time to end the drug war.

Great new video showing the real numbers behind the drug.