Bolivia's Morales asks bloc to condemn US on drugs

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(AP) HAVANA — Bolivian President Evo Morales said Monday that a regional South American bloc should "decertify" the U.S. in its counternarcotics efforts, hitting back at Washington's criticism of his South American nation on drugs.

Speaking in Cuba while receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Havana, Morales accused the United States of being the root cause of the international drug trade as a leading consumer of cocaine.

"If the United States can certify or decertify, why can't UNASUR (the Union of South American Nations) decertify the United States if the origin of drug trafficking is U.S. consumption of cocaine?" Morales said.

. . .

Morales, who is still the titular head of his country's coca growers' union, objects to the leaf's classification as a controlled substance. He frequently extols its virtues in traditional uses such as brewed into a tea or chewed as a mild stimulant to ward off altitude sickness.

"The drug trafficking (issue), just like terrorism, is fundamentally political," Morales said Monday. "Before, they accused leaders of being communists to persecute them, now its 'drug trafficker' or 'terrorist.'"


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/19/ap/latinamerica/main20108477.shtml

 

[Splinterguitar69]

I already love this guy.

A lot of articles have been posted calling out the US on it's drug policies. Especially from countries we crop dust, raid, and settle troops in. Anyone else notice that? It probably won't phase US politicians because they are backed by pharmaceutical companies, but once people catch on and start writing them they will have to choose either to join in on repealing the WOD or not get elected next term

 

[Zubi420]

I hope the pink tide and more support from establishment and mainstream politicians and office holders in countries, especially south and central america and the Caribbean, will spread in this issue. I feel like this generation, perhaps even as soon as under a decade, has a chance to seriously change the War on Drugs policy and maybe even pressure the U.S. into legalization. The economic disaster might also help pressure the U.S. and support for ending the War on Drugs is spreading like never before, and has become a mainstream issue. Once the U.S. ends its War on Drugs or legalizes, i think the rest of the world, or most of it, will follow through. Most nations, i believe, pursue the war because 1: they are as corrupt as the U.S. and have interest in keeping drugs illegal or 2: They are pressured into keeping Drugs illegal by the U.S. empire.

 

[Splinterguitar69]

I hope the pink tide and more support from establishment and mainstream politicians and office holders in countries, especially south and central america and the Caribbean, will spread in this issue. I feel like this generation, perhaps even as soon as under a decade, has a chance to seriously change the War on Drugs policy and maybe even pressure the U.S. into legalization. The economic disaster might also help pressure the U.S. and support for ending the War on Drugs is spreading like never before, and has become a mainstream issue. Once the U.S. ends its War on Drugs or legalizes, i think the rest of the world, or most of it, will follow through. Most nations, i believe, pursue the war because 1: they are as corrupt as the U.S. and have interest in keeping drugs illegal or 2: They are pressured into keeping Drugs illegal by the U.S. empire.

There's so much money being thrown around in the lobbies for prohibition. The US will be the last to legalize, IMO