5 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Latin America and the Caribbean: Illicit Drug Trafficking and U.S. Counterdrug Programs
This report provides an overview of the drug flows in the Americas and U.S. anti-drug assistance programs in the region. It also raises some policy issues for Congress to consider as it exercises oversight of U.S. anti-drug programs and policies in the Western Hemisphere
Recommended from our members
Latin America and the Caribbean: Illicit Drug Trafficking and U.S. Counterdrug Programs
This report provides an overview of the drug flows in the Americas and U.S. antidrug assistance programs in the region. It also raises some policy issues for Congress to consider as it exercises oversight of U.S. antidrug programs and policies in the Western Hemisphere
Recommended from our members
Why U.S. Efforts to Promote the Rule of Law in Afghanistan Failed
Promoting the rule of law in Afghanistan has been a major U.S. foreign policy objective since the collapse of the Taliban regime in late 2001. Policymakers invested heavily in building a modern democratic state bound by the rule of law as a means to consolidate a liberal post-conflict order. Eventually, justice-sector support also became a cornerstone of counterinsurgency efforts against the reconstituted Taliban. Yet a systematic analysis of the major U.S.-backed initiatives from 2004 to 2014 finds that assistance was consistently based on dubious assumptions and questionable strategic choices. These programs failed to advance the rule of law even as spending increased dramatically during President Barack Obama's administration. Aid helped enable rent seeking and a culture of impunity among Afghan state officials. Despite widespread claims to the contrary, rule-of-law initiatives did not bolster counterinsurgency efforts. The U.S. experience in Afghanistan highlights that effective rule-of-law aid cannot be merely technocratic. To have a reasonable prospect of success, rule-of-law promotion efforts must engage with the local foundations of legitimate legal order, which are often rooted in nonstate authority, and enjoy the support of credible domestic partners, including high-level state officials
Latin America and the Caribbean: Illicit Drug Trafficking and U.S. Counterdrug Programs
Drug trafficking remains a significant concern in Latin America and the Caribbean, posing threats to citizen security and U.S. interests, despite longstanding efforts by the U.S. and partner nations. The multi-billion-dollar illicit drug industry, encompassing cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and methamphetamine, empowers Latin American criminal and terrorist entities. These groups undermine governments that can be susceptible to corruption. Mexican drug organizations largely dominate the U.S. drug market, with the U.S. Department of Justice recognizing them as a major organized crime threat. The increase in drug-related violence has heightened U.S. foreign policy attention. Since the 1970s, the U.S. has channeled billions into anti-drug programs in Latin America. While these efforts often target drug supply reduction, outcomes have been mixed. Traffickers adapt by changing their operations, resulting in a persistent availability of drugs in the U.S. Some U.S. strategies, like aerial drug crop spraying, have had unintentional societal impacts. The Obama Administration has continued and expanded upon past initiatives, such as Plan Colombia and the Mérida Initiative, to encompass broader goals like citizen security and institutional strengthening. New programs emphasize rule of law and community development. The administration acknowledges the U.S. drug demand\u27s role in driving the drug trade and has called for enhanced prevention and treatment funding. Congress plays a key role by shaping funding for these programs and tying assistance to human rights and other criteria. Congress also pushes for these efforts to be paired with judicial, anti-corruption, and human rights initiatives. This report aims to provide a comprehensive view of drug trafficking in the Americas, U.S. intervention efforts, and policy considerations for Congressional oversight