The DEA is probably the most shining example of how the US falls short of a true democracy. The impunity -- and opacity -- with which they operate never cease to amaze me. They seem to have incredibly broad discretionary powers; as people in this thread have mentioned, the DEA seems to have the ability to make laws, shut down businesses, keep people locked up who've been acquitted at the highest court levels willing to take their cases, and ignore not only states' rights but the sovereignty of other nations! Time and again we've seen the DEA completely ignore, negate, or disobey the decisions of institutions you would think they'd bow to. But apparently they bow to no one.
This is true, time and time again. In the past, we've seen them ignore the judicial system, the recommendations of experts in the field of pharmacology, and so forth. The drug in question always seems to end up a CI substance, regardless of the opinions of those whom, on paper at least, they're supposed to consider. One of the best examples I can think of is MDMA. IIRC, in this case, the jury - a panel of experts tasked by the government to determine the therapeutic potential of the drug - voted that it be placed on Schedule III. Sure enough, soon afterwards, the DEA placed MDMA on Schedule I. For this, and for many other "above-the-law" and "anwser-to-no-one" transgressions, I hope they rot in hell.
If the DEA is ever disbanded (which is something they'll probably successfully resist for some time no matter what fraction of the US population wants them gone) I see the same thing happening that happened to the KGB when the USSR crumbled, or the samurai right before the Meiji restoration -- they'll take their violent tactical training and sell it to the highest bidders as hired muscle, which will turn out to be powerful players in the criminal fringe.
I could imagine many of them creating and/or joining a PMC.
Also, I believe you're absolutely correct in that many of them appear to exibit narcissistic (and perhaps even sociopathic) behavior. Abuse (and especially repeated abuse) of police powers and regulations (imo) should be considered a felony; yet when it comes to the DEA, abuse of those government-granted law enforcement powers appears to come with the job.
As am I drunken_etard. However, I fear we are the Obama administration's lapdog. They tell us to fetch, we usually do so without question. Or when they fetch, we usually follow. This must change.
Notice how soon after Washington and Colorado legalized cannabis, Canadian politicians - Conservatives and Liberals alike - began to come forward and confess that they've used cannabis in the past, and also that laws regarding possession should be reformed. One example would be Justin Trudeau. Another being Rob Ford, a Conservative who admitted that he's smoked "a lot" of marijuana in the past. It was rather funny afterwards how our fascist PM avoided being seen with him, and furthermore, refused to speak to the media regarding Ford's confession. Another reason why I can't stand the fucking Conservatives.