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Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Mon Dec 19, 2005 at 08:20:37 PM EST
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The Bush Administration drug warriors are about to become apoplectic. Bolivia elected a new President Sunday, Evo Morales, an Aymaran Indian, of the Movement towards Socialism, who garnered more than 50% of the vote. For the first time in 500 years, Bolivia will revert to indigenous rule.

Among Morales' promises:

Señor Morales, who used to lead a coca-growers’ union, has promised to legalise the cultivation of coca, the primary ingredient in cocaine — to the horror of the US, which has pursued a big coca eradication effort in Bolivia in recent years. Bolivia is the world’s third largest producer of cocaine.

My view: Bolivia has been a democracy since 1982. Since Bush is so fond of bringing democracy to other countries, and insistent that once they get their government set up their people should rule, I think he wholeheartedly should endorse Mr. Morales and his policies.

As between an Executive Order that authorizes warrantless spying on citizens and one that legalizes coca plants, I'll endorse the latter.

[hat tip Raw Story.]

Update: Reuters, UK reports Morales blasted U.S. drug policy in a speech on Monday, the day after his election.

"The fight against drug trafficking is a false pretext for the United States to install military bases and we're not in agreement," he told reporters. "We support an effective fight against drugs. Neither cocaine or drug trafficking are part of the Bolivian culture," he said in his stronghold of Cochabamba as the first official results from Sunday's vote trickled in.

....The U.S. government insists much of Bolivia's coca is processed into cocaine, but farmers say they grow the plant for traditional medicinal uses, herbal teas and religious ceremonies.

How do experts advise Bush should treat President Morales?

Some analysts said the United States should move quickly to engage Morales and discuss ways to bridge their differences. "I would hope that Morales' position would lead to the U.S. taking a more realistic policy because if there's one thing we've learnt in last 20 years is we can't stop the drug trade," said Nicolas Shumway, director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas, Austin.

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    Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants | 24 comments (24 topical)
    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#1)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Mon Dec 19, 2005 at 08:28:49 PM EST
    I think the trade deficit just took another hit.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#2)
    by cpinva on Mon Dec 19, 2005 at 11:02:34 PM EST
    if nothing else, it should be entertaining to watch him dance his way around this. we'll call it "the texas cocaine two-step", in honor of his non-native state.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Mon Dec 19, 2005 at 11:25:01 PM EST
    Come on now cp, Dumbya only snorted all that stuff to keep it off the streets. He was doing it for the kids, man! Hey, here's an idea. Maybe we can start random White House drug testing in order to get the boy to go AWOL again. I'd rather see him pissing in a cup than on the Constitution. As for Bolivia...we only like democracy when the IMF-approved candidate wins. Look for things to get messy again south of the border.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#4)
    by ras on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 12:16:53 AM EST
    QIB, We often disagree, but ... great line! As for the rest of it; Lefties, if they'd tone down the rhetoric, would prob be astonished to find that support for legalizing drugs (inasmuch as practicable) is as strong amongst conservatives as it is amongst liberals. Try it, with grace and respect, and you will succeed. But remember, I said, "with grace and respect." That's the key.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#5)
    by chupetin on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 01:28:34 AM EST
    Is it just me, or does anybody else not give a rat's ass what Ras thinks "The Left" should do. And what should we try with "grace and respect"? convince conservatives to speak up for what they believe? If conservatives really believe in the legalization of recreational drugs they should say so. Not be against because progressives are for it.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#6)
    by ras on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 02:22:40 AM EST
    Chupetin, Depends on priorities. If posing matters, then proceed as usual. If results matter, then don't.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#7)
    by soccerdad on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 03:26:00 AM EST
    from the post "The fight against drug trafficking is a false pretext for the United States to install military bases and we're not in agreement," he told reporters. ==================================

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#8)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 03:27:06 AM EST
    ras name one instance in world history where right wingers either practiced or were swayed by grace or respect. Hey here's a very respectful statement: “I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist because of the irresponsibility of its own people.” —Henry Kissinger, June 27, 1970 Oh and how's this for grace: “It was worth it.” -Orrin Hatch, after the African embassy bombings in 1998, stating that he would still have supported Bin Laden back in the 1980s even knowing what he would do subsequently.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#9)
    by soccerdad on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 03:34:46 AM EST
    Damn not enough coffee let me try again sorry from the post "The fight against drug trafficking is a false pretext for the United States to install military bases and we're not in agreement," he told reporters. ==================================
    Through the Foreign Military Financing program, military aid has drastically increased during the Bush administration. In 2000, U.S. military aid to Latin America was $3.4 million, a tiny share of worldwide FMF spending of $4.7 billion. By 2006, overall spending on Foreign Military Financing actually decreased to $4.5 billion, after peaking at $6 billion in 2003. But military aid to Latin America increased to over 34 times its year 2000 levels, to $122 million.
    snip
    He elaborated that there are both "traditional terrorists," like the criminal gangs in Central America and paramilitary and guerilla groups in Colombia; and "emerging terrorists" like the "radical populists" who tap into "deep seated frustrations of the failure of democratic reforms to deliver expected results." Radical populists apparently include Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales, a former leader in the Bolivian coca growers' union who now heads that country's main opposition party
    . snip What exactly is a radical populist. Chavez has been elected, survived a US backed coup. But the elite of Ven. don't gey to "play" with th elite if the US so they are pissed. They cant make money that way Here's a hint as to real motivation
    Tom Barry, co-director of Foreign Policy in Focus, said, "Latin America is a continent that is drifting to the left, maybe out of U.S. control." To many in Washington, that seems to be at least as scary as a robust terrorist network in their backyard
    . LINK As is usual for foreign policy as practiced by this regime, military and intimidation is the answer to everything.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#10)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 03:51:17 AM EST
    Thanks SD...so the usual suspects want to get rid of democracy when they don't like the outcome. So who are the terrorists again? But wait, maybe if we gracefully respect them they will not violently topple the elected governments like they always have in Latin America. Yep, sounds like a plan...

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#11)
    by soccerdad on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 04:47:25 AM EST
    The wars on Drugs and Terrorism as presently executed are really just justifications for increased military deployments and military aid in order to try and secure our "national interests" i.e. access to natural resources such as oil. Since we have either entered into, or will shortly do so, the era of of peak oil look for a long series of "resource wars" initially disquised as wars against terrorists, communists, radical populists or what ever you want to call them this month. Iraq and the upcoming strikes against Syria and Iran are just the beginning not the end. One would be surprised if there isnt more US activity in SA aimed at bringing some of the "rogue" governments back into line.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 06:36:44 AM EST
    not just any democracy but a bush democracy...a rightwing christian democracy where only nuclear families count and the only good citizens are ones that do not want to pay their fair share and their foreign policy should be shoot first and ask questions later

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#13)
    by Johnny on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 07:30:27 AM EST
    Will the new prez of Bolivia have the sack to call the Drug War and aggressive military action against an independent nation?

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#14)
    by desertswine on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 07:49:20 AM EST
    I agree with longtime Bush Family friend, top Republican fundraiser, and ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, that Canadians (ras) should shut their pie-holes.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 08:31:22 AM EST
    i am interested in knowing what "grace and respect" means --exactly what it means. I know about extremely rightwing Christian from the Virginia Beach area who supports the legalization of drugs. How do we convert this attitude into action.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#16)
    by Dadler on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 08:54:42 AM EST
    Ras, So making it an actual issue means conservatives can't support it? Are you saying conservatives are too timid to come out and stand up for something that comes with risk for them? You lost me on the "toning down the rhetoric" charge, since change occurs when the rhetoric is strong and effective.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#17)
    by Dadler on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 10:04:50 AM EST
    And what are WE going to do now with Bolivia? Are we going to treat them, as we should, as democrative equals, with respect and deference? Are we going to respect and support their transition from post-colonialism to genuine independence? Are we?

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 10:18:10 AM EST
    Sounds like some people don't wanna work for Maggie's pa no mo'. I wish the Bolivian people luck with their new leadership. FWIW, I never understood how you could expect a peasant farmer to grow coffee or bananas when coca is so much more profitable. I mean if there is a "drug problem" ( I don't think there is one (It's more of a prohibition problem), but most do), it is our problem, not the Bolivians. It seems to me the voters of Bolivia have finally realized that after years of a failed subservient drug policy.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#19)
    by Johnny on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 10:44:50 AM EST
    No dadler. The US has NEVER EVER NEVER EVER treated any left wing gov't with anything remotely resembling respect. Especially left wing gov'ts composed of brown people.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#20)
    by Dadler on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 08:28:35 PM EST
    That was my point, Johnny. Sarcasm intended but not very well laid down. Still, these nations will simply do things on their own. And they probably should. If we can't help, but just exploit, why should they want us involved at all? In short, they won't.

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#21)
    by Johnny on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 12:31:09 AM EST
    Thats right... There will be some pretty strong rhetoric about this coming from the narcos in DC, but I am hoping that the new preznit in Bolivia is able to stand by his words. I also hope that he chases the drug warriors out of there. We need them here, protecting my fruit picking job (full time during season, otherwise I bus tables at a 2 star restaurant)from those mexican immigrants. BUT history shows us that the US is always ready to f**k with any left-wing gov't, especially those composed of brown people, even more so should they be in the western hemisphere, south half. Maybe we need to ask the spiritual guru with the expert opinion on left wing south american leaders... Whattya say Pat Robertson, care to publicly endorse the state sponsored murder of another brown person?

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#22)
    by peacrevol on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 10:50:29 AM EST
    When's the prez's first trip to bolivia to try out some of that good ole fashioned legal bolivian nose candy?

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#23)
    by peacrevol on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 01:49:21 PM EST
    Where's my tooter...I'm goin to Bolivia!!! -GWB :)

    Re: Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants (none / 0) (#24)
    by peacrevol on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 02:00:30 PM EST
    But seriously...kdog is right on the money about the prohibition problem. Prohibition in one of the main markets creates a market in which the ones willing to bring it to the US can charge a MUCH MUCH MUCH higher price. It's ballsy, but in the words of George Jung, "You need a man with balls"...so to speak. Take into consideration the amount of money that a crop that is illegal in its own major market can bring to its cultivators as opposed to fruits and vegies and rice and so forth, of course people are going to produce it. The "war on drugs" in the US is causing increased prices by making it harder to obtain. The risk is worth it to other countries to grow it b/c if they dont, they'll stay in the poorhouse. Perhaps one of these days we'll get a prez with enough sense to realize what's going on w/ the "war on drugs" and erase its entire existence. In the meantime, we can only hope that the ones we elect will treat peaceful nations (even the ones that grow drugs that our propaganda is always telling us turns any person who uses it into mass murderers) with a little respect. But....they're a people of color....hmmmm....it never hurts to dream.

    Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants | 24 comments (24 topical)