Pubdate: Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2014 The Washington Post Company
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Ernesto Londono

ANTI-DRUG EFFORT SAID TO FALTER

Its leader says the Southern Command lacks resources to do the job. 
Dwindling defense budgets have been a boon to drug trafficking 
networks in Latin America as U.S. intelligence and interdiction 
assets in the Caribbean have been pared down, the top American 
commander responsible for the region said Thursday.

"Because of asset shortfalls, we're unable to get after 74 percent of 
suspected maritime drug smuggling," Marine Gen. John F. Kelly told 
the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing about threats 
and military posture in the Western Hemisphere. "I simply sit and 
watch it go by."

Kelly said that, because of tightening defense budgets, he does not 
anticipate getting additional assets for intelligence gathering and 
surveillance, even as some currently in use in Afghanistan are 
shipped home. Meanwhile, he warned, China, Russia and Iran have made 
a concerted effort in recent years to bolster their presence and 
influence in Latin America.

Kelly, who heads the Miami-based Southern Command, has been making a 
strikingly candid argument that the United States has become 
ill-equipped to respond to threats and capitalize on opportunities in 
the Americas. The general said that of the five overseas combatant 
commands, his has the "least priority." The urgency of his remarks 
Thursday was rare for military leaders, who often use congressional 
hearings to highlight success stories and seldom volunteer statistics 
that show worsening trend lines.

"Without assets, certain things will happen," Kelly said later, 
speaking to reporters at the Pentagon. "Much larger amounts of drugs 
will flow up from Latin America. We'll do less and less engagement 
with our friends and partners in the region."

In fiscal 2013, he said in written testimony submitted to the Senate 
panel, the United States and allied nations were able to interdict 
132 metric tons of cocaine, 15 percent less than the year before. 
Kelly said he estimates that authorities seize roughly 20 percent of 
narcotics in transit to the United States.

"That's all we get?" Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), the ranking 
member of the committee, asked incredulously. "All we get," Kelly 
responded. He said interdiction efforts would be bolstered with more 
ships that can transport helicopters. His command has only one Navy 
ship and two Coast Guard cutters assigned to counter narcotics 
smuggling, he said.

Kelly said he has 5 percent of the intelligence surveillance and 
reconnaissance equipment that would give his team a thorough handle 
on the activities of enterprises smuggling drugs and people to the 
United States through Central America and the Caribbean.

"I would say 5 percent is jaw-dropping, frankly, in terms of the 
threats that you've just talked about," Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) 
said. "I think this is something that we better address as a committee."

Kelly said Latin American leaders are bewildered by initiatives that 
have legalized marijuana in two U.S. states - a step several other 
states and the District are contemplating. "They're in disbelief when 
they hear us talking about things like legalization, particularly 
when we still encourage them to stay shoulder to shoulder with us in 
the drug fight in their part of the world," he said. "'Hypocrite' 
sometimes works its way into the conversation."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom