Pubdate: Thu, 12 Apr 2012
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2012 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Campbell Clark
Note: Campbell Clark writes about foreign affairs from Ottawa

LATIN AMERICA'S DRUG-WAR FATIGUE BRINGS TALK OF LEGALIZATION

Latin America has drug-war fatigue and some of its leaders want to
start talk about legalizing drugs. What will Stephen Harper suggest to
nations facing a body count of tens of thousands when he heads to the
Summit of the Americas this weekend?

Security is, after all, one of the three pillars of the Americas
strategy he touts. Even if he's not inclined to legalization, his
government has done little to bolster police and judicial systems
falling apart in drug wars.

Here's a place where Mr. Harper needs more ambition. The battles with
drug cartels threaten to destabilize a region, one where he claims to
have a grand, high-priority policy to promote trade and democracy. The
worst outcome of drug-war fatigue could be countries giving up,
without legalization or enforcement, and allowing the corruption and
influence of murderous cartels.

Mr. Harper's approach to security in the region has echoed the
Americas strategy he promised with pomp in 2007. Grand rhetoric hasn't
been backed up with big substance. His hemispheric security plan has
been to offer $15-million a year, sliced into tiny grants for various
projects.

But this is an issue that's threatening the stability of nations. Some
50,000 have died in Mexico's drug wars and the violence, corruption
and influence of cartels threaten Central American countries such as
Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, and some Caribbean nations, too.
These are countries where Mr. Harper says it is important to increase
trade and ties.

It's also an issue that's being pushed northward, including by some
leaders who treated legalization as taboo two or three years ago.
They've seen high death tolls fighting cartels tooth and nail with no
end in sight. Many are Mr. Harper's conservative allies. Even
anti-cartel warriors like Mexico's Felipe Calderon will now at least
talk about legalization.

"I think the surprise is that there are these centre-right presidents
that are now willing to talk about the 'framework' surrounding drug
policy," said Jennifer Jeffs, president of the Canadian International
Council. They feel the organized crime is a bigger problem than drug
use.

Guatemalan President Otto Perez says the war on drugs has failed, and
it's time for legalization. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos
told the Washington Post there has to be discussion of another way to
confront the challenges. "If we find that there is a better
alternative that will take away the profits from the criminal
organizations and that maybe you can address the problem of
consumption in a more effective way, then everybody will win," he said.

On this issue, Mr. Harper, like U.S. President Barack Obama,
represents the consumers. Americans, and Canadians, too, do a big
share of the drug buying but they aren't as closely touched by the
violence and corruption. The two nations are among the least inclined
to legalization.

U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, when he was in Mexico and Central
America last month, said the Obama administration would never legalize
drugs. But he did add: "It's worth discussing."

In Canada, the Harper government has been against legalization, too.
Diane Ablonczy, the junior minister for the Americas, said last June
"there are a lot of red flags" about moving toward legalization. After
all, they support tougher drug laws.

But the fatigue is wearing. Wars against Colombia's cocaine cartels
didn't stop drugs but shifted power to cartels in Central America.
Local governments and police have been corrupted. It is, on a grand
scale, like Al Capone's Chicago in the 1920s, and increasingly leaders
think the way to deal with it is to lift Prohibition.

Of course that would take the United States. It's the big market.
Canada wouldn't do it alone, because of the impact on border trade.
But Mr. Harper should at least open the door for the debate.

In the meantime, there's nothing good in allowing drug cartels to gain
more sway. More ambitious efforts to strengthen police forces and
judicial systems in countries in danger of being swamped by organized
crime would serve Canadian interests, and regional ones, too. Mr.
Harper argues security is a pillar of Canada's Americas strategy and
he should be living up to the rhetoric.

Campbell Clark writes about foreign affairs from Ottawa
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D