Saturday, June 22, 2019

It is not meth

In Guatemala, a transit route for much of the cocaine that flows into the United States, drug trafficking looms as a major issue in Sunday’s elections – just as a U.N. anti-corruption body prepares to leave the Central American country.
Former first lady Sandra Torres, of the center-left UNE party, leads the race to succeed President Jimmy Morales, a former television host. She has pledged to send troops onto the streets to fight violent crime and to tackle poverty by boosting social programs.

Torres, who has pledged zero tolerance for drug trafficking, has around 20% of voting intentions according to the latest polls, ahead of veteran right-wing candidate Alejandro Giammattei, with around 14%.
Pollsters predict neither candidate will win more than 50% of votes, which would result in a second round in August.
High levels of violence by gangs and drug traffickers, as well as a sense of impunity for criminals, have prompted rising numbers of Guatemalans to flee the country for the United States, sparking an angry response from U.S. President Donald Trump and threats to slash U.S. aid to Central America.
I would think shipping military grade meth is an act of war.  Cocaine does not bother me. But this is where the refugees come from, a steady stream kicked out by cocaine cartels and corrupt government officials.  Somewhere we have a Hezbollah shipping meth precursor, and when we catch them it is a new war.

No comments: