“Colombia is in a risky position. They've got a peace process that's going nowhere, and a drug production problem that's skyrocketing.” ProblemProcessPositionDrugProductionsColombia Author:Barry McCaffrey
“Chávez inadvertently made the US drug war tactics look good. Quite a feat, given the disaster which is the drug war. After expelling the DEA (not necessarily a bad thing, given its record in Colombia and elsewhere), he failed to devise a credible strategy for Venezuela.” LooksMadeWarGivenRecordsDrugStrategyDisasterBad ThingsElsewhereTacticsWar On DrugsFeatsCredibleColombiaVenezuela Author:Rory Carroll
“There's so much more to Colombia than drug trafficking, you have no idea. They're a bit worn out by the association.” IdeasBitsDrugNo IdeaAssociationWornWorn OutColombiaTraffickingDrug Trafficking Author:Pedro Pascal
“For decades, Colombia has been accused of being the world's principal provider of cocaine. If this comes to an end, it would be a dramatic change for our country - which has been suffering more than any other from the consequences of drug-trafficking.” IfsWorldHas BeensEndsCountryWould BeSufferingDrugConsequenceDecadesOur CountryDramaticPrincipalAccusedCocaineColombiaProvidersTraffickingDramatic ChangeDrug Trafficking Author:Juan Manuel Santos
“Colombia is a different country today. The state is now present in every single corner, the drug lords are in jail or dead. So we have the means to guarantee the security of FARC politicians.” MeanDifferentCountryStatesTodayLordSecurityPoliticianDrugCornersGuaranteesJailColombiaDifferent Countries Author:Juan Manuel Santos
“For many years, they said the drug lords in Colombia were unbeatable, but all the same, we've eliminated all the big capos (as the drug lords are called in Colombia). The homicide rate is as low as it was 40 years ago and the kidnapping rate has dropped to the level of 1964. Now we'll be able to bring down the street criminals specializing in extortion and robbery.” YearsSaidBigsAbleLevelsLordStreetsDrugLowsYears AgoRateCriminalsThey SaidColombiaRobberyKidnappingHomicideUnbeatableExtortion Author:Juan Manuel Santos
“Colombia is applauded for the efforts that we continue to make to combat drug trafficking.” EffortDrugCombatColombiaTraffickingDrug Trafficking Author:Juan Manuel Santos
“Today, aid to Colombia is given under the pretext of a drug war. That's pretty hard to take seriously. Ten years ago, Amnesty International flatly called it a myth.” YearsWarHardTodayGivenDrugTenYears AgoInternationalMythAidsWar On DrugsPretextColombiaAmnestyAmnesty International Author:Noam Chomsky
“The actual consequences of Plan Colombia are to devastate peasant communities, which have been driven to drug production. These peasants have no particular desire to grow coca, but their other means of livelihood have been wiped out.” MeanHas BeensDesireGrowsCommunityPlansParticularDrugConsequenceProductionsDrivenPeasantsLivelihoodColombia Author:Noam Chomsky