# Is the war on drugs a significant drain on our law enforcement resources?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-war-on-drugs-a-significant-drain-on-our-law-enforcement-resources/48950>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [January 8, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-war-on-drugs-a-significant-drain-on-our-law-enforcement-resources/48950 "2001-01-08T03:57:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-war-on-drugs-a-significant-drain-on-our-law-enforcement-resources/48950/21 "2001-01-09T01:30:31Z")

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[/QUOTE]  
, but do people really imagine that American-funded attack helicopters are blowing up coca factories in the jungle?

[/QUOTE]

They will _indeed_ be used to blow up coca factories. Question is only _whose_ coca factorys. **All** of the factions involved in Columbia derive money from the coke trade, if by no other connection than protection/extortion.

When we give weapons support to the government, we bestow military superiority on a chosen group, no more legitimate or worthy than thier opposition. For all practical purposes, dope money **is** the governmment of Columbia.

How long till we start hearing about sending in “advisers”? How long until critics are derided as not “supporting our boys in Columbia”?

**"Never!"** fills the bill nicely, I think.

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