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[Dread Times] Another view on Obama.

January 23, 2009

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, IRAQ – JANUARY 20: US Army Staff Sgt. Beverlee Burton of Cleveland, Ohio cries as she watches Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America…

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Blair Anderson has left a new comment on the post “Another view on Obama“:

BHO’s references to unfolding the ‘clenched fist’ seems to have been interpreted as focused on foreign targets, whereas the problem resides at home with a legacy of rebellion from the African American sector still the target of racist policy (80% of Police stops with search in NY, African American/Latino!). That this leads to unintended outcomes including ‘death by ballistic invasion’ of otherwise law abiding citizens, and a massively disproportionate representation in the justice system.

It is notable that NZ media never visit this question either. Such is ‘white privilege’.

My fear, despite an earnest ‘hope to the contrary’ is that BHO may yet be seen as the highest ‘Uncle Tom‘ in office.

Bayou Bourbeau plantation, a FSA cooperative, ...

I believe that the USA has to revisit its drug policy before ANY progress can be made in truly emancipating its folk of colour.

Consider, the Mexican Border (war) has claimed more lives in the past year than Americans have lost in Iraq, and twice that of 9-11. Columbia similarly. Hamas and Hezbollah earn their weapons by trading in certain lucrative agricultural substances (mainly cocaine)
Image via Wikipedia
whereas elevating the USA presence in Afghanistan correspondingly raises yet again the question of the role of drug policy, institutionalized corruption, arms and the Taliban.

Perhaps the USA needs a lesson from Class D. (smile)

Posted by Blair Anderson to Dread Times at January 23, 2009 6:59 PM

One Response to "South Ossetia"

August 11, 2008

The destabilisation of the Caucasus region has had no end of assistance from the cross border trade in certain agricultural substances. Indeed, the presence of radicalised agents, including many of Osama’s mates in the region has not been because they like the food and the climate. The channeling of weapons and money via crucial links, the valleys and passes in and out of the region was noted back in June as one of the priorities of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

“…Russia will expand cooperation with CIS countries to ensure mutual security, combating international terrorism, extremism, drug turnover, transnational crimes and illegal migration. One of the main priorities of the country is neutralizing of terrorist act and drug turnover directed from Afghanistan, prevention of violation of stability in Central Asia and South Caucasus. “

The trouble is we are not having this conversation… there are so many pretenders to peace and security for whom oil addiction makes it the biggest drug of all, but there is another ‘self repairing’ pipeline as durable and as flexible and as disguised that carries the ‘black stuff’ – a product more fungible than cash, more concealable than a Kalashnikov AK-47 AKM Assault Rifle and more dangerous than an RPG.

Makes humbug of the Amnesty line of thinking… that unless the policy (victim) is hanging at the end of a rope, druggies have no human rights.

Yet there is the nexus. The balkanisation of the Caucasus is the french connection all over again; same story, different actors.

Drug Policy has defined international affairs since USA banned opium in the Philippines just over one hundred years ago… only the magnitude is now ‘orders of’.

Where is GREEN thinking on drugs now?

—
Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Social Ecologist ‘at large’
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com/
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Posted in Afghanistan, Blackmarket, Caucasus, Drug War, Georgia, Osama Bin Laden, Russia, terrorism | Leave a Comment »

The Situation in Afghanistan

June 18, 2003

(excerpt)

We received two briefings this morning – on the overall situation in Afghanistan and on the challenges posed by drug cultivation and trafficking. Mr Costa’s excellent briefing was a stark reminder of the inter-relationships between economic, political and security factors contributing to ongoing instability. Addressing the drug economy is a necessary first step in countering a range of illegal activities. The link between drugs, the authority of the central government, its ability to implement key milestones in the Bonn Agreement and broader security, continues to present major challenges. We are very appreciative of the efforts of the UN Office for Drugs and Crime and those member States making significant contributions to drug eradication efforts in Afghanistan.