Pubdate: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n048/a09.html Author: William L. Marcy IV THE DRUG WAR IS LONGER THAN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN WARS While military pressure has been exerted in all coca-producing nations at different times, the military defeat of guerrilla organizations, such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, or the Sendero Luminoso, hasn't halted the cocaine mafias' operations and ability to adapt to narcotics-control efforts because the goals of the cartels and the guerrillas are intrinsically different. (Cocaine: The New Front Lines," Review, Jan. 14). Since the defeat of the Cali Cartel in 1995, the mafias have developed an organizational structure similar to a multiheaded hydra, which can't be defeated by killing one head. Learning from the Medellin and Cali cartels, the mafias keep a low profile and feed their inputs into Mexico where the cartels vie for control over the drug trade. While Plan Colombia has brought much-needed security to that country by halting the FARC's terrorism, kidnappings and extortion, it hasn't defeated the cartels, associated paramilitary groups and their corrupting influence over Colombia. Plan Colombia and other narcotics-control programs implemented since 1972 have been unable to address the endemic corruption that pervades the region, as well as the economic factors that drive coca production. William L. Marcy IV Buffalo, N.Y. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom