Bolivia Moves To Legalize Coca Production

Saturnino Mamani, with his son beside him, stands in his coca fields in Los Yungas. Photograph: Andrés Schipani/Guardian Weekly

Bolivian Leader Moves To Legalize Small Coca Plots -- ABC News

LA PAZ, Bolivia - President Evo Morales said Saturday that he plans to make it legal for Bolivia's farmers to grow small parcels of coca plants. Morales, who also heads a coca growers association, said he wants to permit individual farmers to cultivate coca plots of 40 meters by 40 meters (130 feet by 130 feet). Coca leaf is the key ingredient of cocaine.

The president predicted the measure will be enacted, noting he won re-election Dec. 6 with 64 percent of the vote and commands a strong majority in the national legislature.

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My Comment: The Bolivian Government is laying the groundwork to officially become a narco producing state. The outcome of such legislation will be a major increase in the production of coca leaves, with the hope (and intent) that small farmers can earn extra revenues from growing this crop. But if history is any indication, this policy will result in disaster for Bolivia within one generation.

Every country that has either turned a blind eye to narcotics and/or legalized the production of narcotics eventually ended up with a major narcotics problem. Colombia, Mexico, and Peru are South America's stellar examples of this policy, but countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan are also examples of what happens when the production of narcotics is permitted. In Afghanistan .... aside from the war .... opium addiction plagues a sizable percentage of the population, bringing with it all of the social and medical problems associated with this type of addiction. The poppy crops may bring a small income to the Afghan farmers who grow it, but the political, medical, social, and economic hardships that it brings makes the entire enterprise (and policy) a tragedy that approaches biblical proportions.

For Bolivia .... by decriminalizing the production of small coca crops .... we will not have to wait long for the eventual increase in the production of cocaine and the criminal enterprises that are dependent on it. And I predict .... that within one generation .... cocaine and the violence that it ALWAYS spawns will become Bolivia's #1 social, political, and health problem.

U.S. Getting Ready To Retaliate Against Al Qaeda Targets In Yemen

A Yemeni army helicopter carries out operations against al Qaeda suspects
on December 17 in the Sanaa province.

Officials: U.S., Yemen Reviewing Targets For Possible Strike -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. and Yemen are now looking at fresh targets in Yemen for a potential retaliation strike, two senior U.S. officials told CNN Tuesday, in the aftermath of the botched Christmas Day attack on an airliner that al Qaeda in Yemen claims it organized.

The officials asked not to be not be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information. They both stressed the effort is aimed at being ready with options for the White House if President Obama orders a retaliatory strike. The effort is to see whether targets can be specifically linked to the airliner incident and its planning.

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My Comment: This blog has been covering the civil war and conflict in Yemen for the past year, and was one of the first to point out U.S. involvement and support of the Yemeni Government in its civil war. I have also pointed out continuously the dangers that the U.S. has in confronting threats in this region, and why any U.S. military action should only be limited to supporting the regional players who are also our allies in the region.

It appears that this strategy is not going to be the strategy anymore, and the U.S. is now positioning itself to be a major player in one of the most forbidding conflicts in the world. I wish this was not the case, but by positioning its own forces to respond to what is now perceived as a threat to U.S. security, it is only a question of time before we are reading reports of U.S. forces being engaged in missile strikes and commando raids in Yemen.

Russian Prime Minister Putin Threatens The U.S. With An Arms Buildup

Vladimir Putin Calls For More Weapons To Stop America Doing 'Whatever It Wants' -- Times Online

Russia needs more weapons to punch through America’s new missile defence shield, Vladimir Putin said yesterday in blunt remarks that will complicate efforts to cut the nuclear arsenals of the former Cold War rivals.

The Russian Prime Minister, reasserting himself as the country’s real ruler, said that Moscow should press ahead with a new generation of weapons to stop the Americans doing “whatever they want”.

“To preserve the balance we must develop offensive weapons systems, not missile defence systems as the United States is doing,” he said during a visit to the naval port of Vladivostok on the Pacific coast.

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More News On Russian PM Putin's Remarks

Why Prime Minister Putin may be throwing a wrench in US-Russia arms talks -- Christian Science Monitor
Vladimir Putin threatens Barack Obama's nuclear stockpile cuts -- The Telegraph
Vladimir Putin: U.S. plans for missile defence shield are blocking agreement on reduction of nuclear weapons -- The Daily Mail
Putin: We’ll Overwhelm U.S. Missile Shield. (But Thanks for the Concessions, Barack!) -- The Danger Room
Putin to Obama: Thanks for those missile-defense concessions but we’re going ahead with new weapons -- Allah Pundit
“Reset” on START Needs Another Reset -- Heritage Foundation

My Comment: He is very blunt in his message .... he has sized up President Obama and his focus is to now threaten an arms race with the U.S.. Some in the U.S. media are speculating that this is a negotiating ploy .... unfortunately these pundits and reporters are not reading the Russian press. Russian Prime Minister Putin is dead serious in his determination to build up Russia's offensive capability, and while he is playing to a Russian domestic audience for election purposes, he has always been straight when it came to Russian security issues. Coupled with little if any respect thet he and many in the Russian Government have for President Obama and his administration .... it should be clear that the Russians are now going down a different path (opposite) from the U.S.

So much for resetting the relationship with Russia.

Africa's Next Civil War?

Camara has made no statement or public appearance since he was shot. Photo AFP

Guinea Unions Ask For Details Of Junta Leader's Health -- AFP

CONAKRY — The Guinean Social Movement (MSG) has addressed an open letter to interim president Sekouba Konate, asking him to describe the state of health of the junta leader, who was shot on December 3.

"Since December 4, date on which President Moussa Dadis Camara was evacuated to Morocco after an assassination bid (...) the Guinean people have received no reliable information on his state of health," the movement said in an open letter dated Tuesday.

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More News On Guinea

Guinea Tribe Arms as War Fears Grow -- War Is Boring
Injured Guinea leader unaware of surroundings: source -- AFP
Guinea: temp meets junta boss -- News 24
'Nothing more to be done' for injured Junta leader, says govt source -- France 24
Guinea Opposition Figure Says Junta Leader Should Quit Politics -- Voice of America
Year After Coup, Turmoil Still Rules Guinea -- Voice of America, Editorial

Look What Was Slipped In Before Christmasn

Obama Gives Interpol Free Hand In U.S. -- Washington Examiner

No presidential statement or White House press briefing was held on it. In fact, all that can be found about it on the official White House Web site is the Dec. 17 announcement and one-paragraph text of President Obama's Executive Order 12425, with this innocuous headline: "Amending Executive Order 12425 Designating Interpol as a public international organization entitled to enjoy certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities."In fact, this new directive from Obama may be the most destructive blow ever struck against American constitutional civil liberties. No wonder the White House said as little as possible about it.

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My Comment: Where is the ACLU?

Afghanistan War News Updates -- December 30, 2009

SLING LOAD - A U.S. Army CH-47F Chinook helicopter sling-loads a Humvee over Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 25, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Rundle

Afghan Panel: U.S. Attack Killed Civilians -- CNN

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- An Afghan presidential team looking into claims of civilian deaths in a weekend U.S.-led operation said Wednesday that it has confirmed 10 deaths -- all of them civilians and eight of them schoolchildren.

The result of the investigation contradicts a statement by a U.S. military official that nine people were killed in the raid in eastern Afghanistan and that they were all members of an insurgent network.

The attack took place in the Narang district of Kunar province.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghans Protest Civilian Deaths -- Wall Street Journal
Afghan MP accuses US troops of killing schoolchildren -- BBC
Afghans protest civilian deaths in foreign raid -- Reuters
Afghan panel says U.S. strike killed 8 schoolboys -- L.A. Times

U.S. soldier killed, 2 Italians injured when Afghan soldier opens fire at military base -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan: soldier shoots dead US serviceman -- The Telegraph
U.S. Soldier Killed in Western Afghanistan Shooting -- FOX News
Afghanistan: U.K. family praise for 107th soldier to die this year -- Mirror
Deadliest year for U.S. troops on Afghan duty: 311 killed in 2009, up from 155 in 2008 -- New York Daily News
Forces Capture Taliban Commanders in Afghanistan -- Systems
US Dept of Defense - Forces Detain Suspected Militants in Afghanistan -- ISRIA

U.S. pledges $16 billion to train, equip Afghan army, says Kabul -- Reuters
War takes grim toll on Afghan civilians, but military caused deaths declining -- Canadian Press
Haqqani Network Challenges US-Pakistan Relations -- New York Times
US Congressmen Press Afghanistan to Delay Election -- New York Times/AP
Kandahar's 'Central Park,' an oasis of calm, normalcy in often violent city -- Canadian Press
New Spyplane Lands in Afghanistan, Ready to Snoop -- The Danger Room
Mangled shoes and prayer beads at Afghanistan's 'Holocaust museum' -- Daily Star/AFP

World News Briefs -- December 30, 2009

Twin Bomb Attacks Kill Dozens, Wound Iraqi Governor -- Washington Post

BAGHDAD -- A car bomb and a suicide bomber struck a government building in the city of Ramadi on Wednesday, killing at least 24 people and wounding the governor of Anbar province, according to Iraqi police officials and witnesses.

Gov. Kassim Mohammad Fahdawi was among 57 people wounded, Anbar provincial council member Jassem Al Halbousi said. The two bombs detonated outside the provincial government building in Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Bagdhad.


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MIDDLE EAST

Iran police vow to crush protesters with no mercy.

Iran denies secret deal to import Kazakh uranium.

Hamas still undecided on Schalit deal. The woman in the way of a Palestinian prisoner deal.

ASIA

North Korea pilfering nuclear reactor site: report.

Britain blasted as 'powerless' over China execution row.

West Australia fires raze dozens of homes.

AFRICA

Sudan MPs pass key referendum law.

Pirates hijack British tanker in sea ‘safety’ zone.

Lockheed to sell 24 F-16 fighter jets to Egypt.

Death toll from Nigeria clashes climbs to 70.

EUROPE

Putin seeks to slap curbs on inflow of 'hot money'.

Panel rejects French carbon tax. Sarkozy scrambles to salvage carbon tax.

Ukraine front-runner questions democratic reforms.

AMERICAS

Obama quietly changes U.S. immigration policy.

Lula on screen: Brazil's President as superhero.

Mexico drugs boss Beltran Leyva's death scene 'altered'.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Obama blames "systemic failures" for plane attack. Obama: Iintelligence community' blew air bomber tip.

Likely casualty of air plot: Obama's Guantanamo plans.

Dutch to use full body scanners for US flights.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

French public debt hits record.

Japan Airlines shares fall 24% to hit a new record low.

China's PetroChina invests in Canada oil sands.

What Does It Take To Defend The U.S.?

Photo from Harpers

40 Years Of Debt? -- ELP Defens(c)e Blog

So what does the U.S. need to effectively defend itself?

It depends if the U.S. wants to get back to following the Constitution when going to war. For example; the Iraq invasion of 2003 should have had the President ask for a declaration of war. And yes there are times when that isn’t practical.

Some of the policy the United States signs off on is just rock-bottom wrong. And while I wouldn’t agree with my Internet friend at 40 years in the Desert on an 85 percent cut on the military budget, he has some very valid points.

Read more ....

My Comment: Eric Palmer hits it on the nose with his analysis on how the U.S. budget crisis may impact the U.S. military budget .... analyzing on what is "really necessary" for the U.S. to defend itself.

As a Canadian citizen, I can probably give some perspective on this discussion. In the 1980s and early 1990s Canada ran up a budgetary deficit that was out of proportion of what it can afford. When the Liberals regained power in 1993 they instituted tax increases and program cuts to combating runaway spending, a program that became successful when budget surpluses returned .... and have been with us until this recent recession. Unfortunately, during this time the Canadian military was impacted on every level. The decision was made at the time to only buy the bare minimum, and maintain a force of professional soldiers who can reconstitute the Arm Forces when the government's fiscal house was sorted out.

It is only now that the Canadian Arm Forces is approaching a minimal level of force readiness and projection. While big purchase items will still need to be done .... the direction is the opposite of what the U.S. must face in the incoming years. Unfortunately for all of us, the Canadian Arm Forces are just a fraction of what the U.S. can field on any given day. And while Canada will still be protected under the U.S. umbrella, many other countries who have become complacent with U.S. protection may now start to live in a world where their Big Brother (i.e. the U.S.) will no longer be beside them.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 30, 2009

MARINE FRIEND - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Autayvia K. Mitchell interacts with local children during a patrol through Tajik Khar, Garmsir, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, 2009. Mitchell is assigned to the Female Engagement Team, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. The FET works with Afghanistan women to determine medical and humanitarian assistance needs. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson

Forgetting Combat Basics -- Armchair Generalist

Tom Ricks has been following the ruminations of Marine Corps CWO2/Gunner Keith Marine (yes, a Marine named Marine) in observations of how combat troops have been neglecting the basics in Afghanistan.

Recognize small arms fire for what it is in accordance with the enemy's local TTPs. If it is just a few pop shots, more than likely the enemy is attempting to get a reaction from you and see what you do.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

New Spyplane Lands in Afghanistan, Ready to Snoop -- Danger Room

The SecDef gives the definitive analysis of the situation, a must-read -- Fabius Maximus

Destiny of the Frigate Pt 2 -- New Wars

Iran nuclear plant 'immune to conventional strike' -- AFP

Russia's Nerpa nuclear attack submarine passes final trials -- Defpro

The Great Geek Shortage At Sea -- Strategy Page

USAF Seeks To Replace UH-1N Helicopter -- Defense News

Robots to shape wars of the future -- Navy Times

Message To The White House

Cartoonist Michael Ramirez comments on the failed Christmas bombing of Flight 253.