This Is the Truth on Drugs … Any Questions?

David Sirota / Truthdig Apr 3, 2009 Finally, after America has frittered away billions of taxpayer dollars arming Latin American death squads and incarcerating more of its own citizens on nonviolent drug charges than any other industrialized nation, the government is starting to re-evaluate federal narcotics policy. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

FBI Runs for the Border

Staff / Truthdig Mar 25, 2009 In a move that further militarizes a bloody drug war that left 6,300 people dead in 2008 alone, the White House is sending FBI agents and equipment to the US-Mexico border to defend against the "spillover" of drug violence The relocation of federal agents to the U Southwest follows the dispatching of thousands of Mexican soldiers to combat drug cartels earlier this year. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mexico Militarizes Border Town

Staff / Truthdig Mar 4, 2009 The confrontation between the Mexican state and violent drug gangs is escalating, with the Mexican government moving to stomp out the bloody drug-related conflict in the border town of Ciudad Juarez. The first of some 7,000 troops have moved in to try to take control of the city. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mexican Drug Lords Depend on Gun-Crazy America

Staff / Truthdig Feb 26, 2009 More than 6,000 people died in Mexico's drug war last year, far too many as a result of US-purchased firepower Though Mexico has strict gun laws, smugglers have no trouble legally purchasing military-grade weapons, such as AK-47 rifles, in the U, and then shipping them south of the border, where they are used with devastating effect. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Chesa Boudin on Colombia’s Civil War

BLANK Dec 26, 2008 A new book casts an illuminating spotlight on Colombia’s guerrilla war, fueled by cocaine profits and U.S. military aid. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Mexican Drug Wars Claim 5,000 Lives in 2008

Staff / Truthdig Dec 5, 2008 It's been a creeping tragedy that has escaped serious attention by many major media outlets, but the recurring waves of drug violence in Mexico have taken the lives of about 5,000 people in 2008. In response, the Mexican government has deployed more than 40,000 troops, though corruption within the state's security forces remains a grave problem. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Puts Fresh Cash Into the Drug War

Staff / Truthdig Dec 4, 2008 While the rest of the world has been preoccupied with a financial meltdown, a handful of wars and a terrorist attack or two, Mexico has been waging war on its homegrown drug industry, and the death count is mounting. U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza announced that El Norte is sending a couple hundred million down south to aid the cause. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bolivia Puts DEA on Hold

Staff / Truthdig Nov 2, 2008 Bolivian President Evo Morales on Saturday made another move to signal his administration's displeasure with the United States, announcing that he is "indefinitely" halting all activities of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency within his country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The U.S. Role in Mexico’s Drug War

Staff / Truthdig Jul 30, 2008 Washington's role in Mexico's drug war, from the $400 million in annual military aid to the U.S. security contractors teaching torture techniques to Mexican police, is often ill-reported in the mainstream media. Canadian journalist Avi Lewis and the "Inside USA" television crew look critically into the conflict that has killed 1,800 people so far this year alone. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

So Much for the War on Drugs

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2008 Despite spending countless billions and passing draconian laws, the United States is anything but a drug-free zone The percentages of those in the US who have tried marijuana or cocaine are greater than the percentages of any other country surveyed, according to a new study The Netherlands, which has notoriously lax drug policies, had less than half the percentage of marijuana users and an even lower level of cocaine dabblers relative to the U. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

War on Drugs a Bust

Staff / Truthdig Jan 8, 2008 How will we know if the war on drugs is ever won? When all the kingpins are locked up or dead? That was once the prevailing idea among those on the front lines of the much-ballyhooed "war," which Rolling Stone scribe Ben Wallace notes has now gone on for over three decades and, in his view, is an utter failure. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Forgotten War on Drugs and Election ’08

Staff / Truthdig Jun 20, 2007 Renowned sociologist Dr. Troy Duster discusses the war on drugs, race, public policy and the 2008 election. Dig deeper ( 26 Min. Read )