War on Drugs... War on Peace

After many months of late night landing on the airport, in late January, the small Caribbean Island Utila (a former British Colony) woke up to an incredible scene. Honduran Naval vessels were in the harbour, helicopters in the air, soldiers spreading throughout the streets and over 1500 kilos of cocaine and a Venezuelan plane on Utila’s airport.

Over the last months it had been strongly rumored that Utila Airport was being used as a distribution hub in the cocaine transport system from South America and since then there have been two more Venezuelan registered planes captured. One plane was found in Colon and one crashed in Yoro. Also, a fishing boat was captured in Honduran waters by the U.S. Navy with more than 3000 pounds of cocaine, which was tracked from Venezuela.

Venezuela has been sited by the U.S. State Department as a “ major drug-transit country” and is now the “main outlet” for Columbian cocaine traveling to the USA and Europe. Further to this, there are growing implications that the FARC Terrorist Group is funneling the cocaine from Columbia through to Venezuela to finance their efforts with little intervention from the powers that be.

In reaction to the report, Venezuela’s Bolivarian President Hugo Chavez stating that the problem lies in the hands of North American Countries and was quoted as saying that President Obama should “clean up the mess”.

Here in Honduras, outgoing President Manuel Zelaya has called for the legalization of drugs and was quoted saying “instead of pursuing drug traffickers, societies should invest resources in educating drug addicts and curbing their demand.”

Evo Moralez, President of Bolivia is on the same page and has called for the legalization of the coca plant (the base ingredient of cocaine). His reasoning being is that in rural areas of Columbia, Peru and Bolivia the coca plant has been a staple for hundreds of years and is used in natural medicines, teas and dietary supplementation. To indigenous people the criminalization of the coca plant would be similar to the criminalization of barley. Both are just plants. It is the chemical refinement of coca that creates cocaine and the fermentation of barley that brings alcohol. The plants in their natural state are beneficial to humans.

In the USA there is also a growing voice calling for drastic changes in drug policy. The Drug Policy Alliance, who’s supporters include global heavy hitters like George Soros, are making their voice heard in the Obama Administration and the Alliance actively support decriminalization/legalization/education strategies in the USA and abroad.

To find a global solution is difficult. It is very doubtful that any society that has seen the devastating effects of cocaine would consider the legalization of cocaine as a solution to the problem. But the fact that most prison systems are overloaded with simple drug users while the major players, the real players, remain invisible to us all leaves little doubt that change is needed.

A good historical reference to the current situation is the Prohibition of Alcohol in the USA (1919-1933). Gang warfare and racketeering in this era was at an all time high. Once repealed, even the supporters of Prohibition saw its failures.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. stated in an open letter in 1933 “When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.” 

There is no question that alcohol is full of damaging effects, both physical and social, but in this modern age only Muslim Countries practice Prohibition of alcohol. And these same countries are considered, by most people in the Western World, as extreme in their repression of basic human rights.

Fundamentalists from all religions see little difference between a drinker, a crack head or a heroin addict. They are all failing God and themselves. This point of view may be the truth as drugs and alcohol can be very damaging to the body, but used responsibly they can be beneficial.

Laws should be created to bring peace to a society not to divide it. They should promote individual freedom not suppress it. The Ten Commandments (just ten) are the building blocks that have created some of the greatest Societies in history both Christian and Muslim. These Ten Commandments are the Laws that have been the keys to the success of mankind over the last 5000 years.

Unfortunately, many Modern Laws seem not to have the same effect. These laws can destroy a person’s life and render them unemployable for one small mistake. They can render a family bankrupt for being unable to understand the fine print on a contract or make someone obscenely wealthy as a bonus for making their Company fail.

The incedent on Utila was a small move in a giant game. A game involving Mafias, Cartels, Terrorist Groups and Governments. The vast amounts of money created by this 800 Billion USD per year business can make or break revolutions, bring down Governments or finance secret wars. With so much division on how to deal with the problem World States could become further polarized and things become worse if middle ground is not found.

Legalize cocaine, No. But, do not punish the weak and fill our jails with them. This is a waste of resources. Educate everyone, Fathers, Mothers, Teachers, politicians and Children to the dangers of all drugs, including alcohol. Save prison for the rapists and murderers and for the Masters who are behind the These Drug and Terror Wars.

Remember without Law, there can be no crime.