Narco Terrorism You Live in Thesis

Davids purports that the MNF would operate under U.N. jurisdiction, with the Organization of American States as its head. (Saskiewicz, 2006) in his review of Davids' book, Saskiewicz (2006) notes that Davids " does not address the difficulties associated with sharing intelligence with foreign nations, nor does he prescribe a means by which this could be accomplished." In turn, he leaves the impression, based on interpersonal relationships and camaraderie, allied MNF members would merely cooperate and share intelligence. This potential "dream," Saskiewicz (2006) proposes would cause nightmares for personnel assigned to any special-security office.

In addition, Davids' assertion the MNF would ultimately fight narco-trafficking organizations, along with political considerations, coupled with logistical and manpower constraints, would most likely dissuade the majority of Latin American militaries from contributing forces to the MNF. MNF financing would also likely serve as an astronomical block to Davids' and/or similar proposed wars against narco terrorism. Regardless of challenges to a number of Davids' contentions in waging an all-out war against narco terrorism, Saskiewicz (2006) stresses that Davids' work confronts a policy issue that should have been taken off the back burner and addressed prior to it evolving into a contemporary critical challenge, that if not constructively countered, will become an even greater monster that, as Tandy warns,"... threatens not only your nation [Pakistan and Afghanistan], but the world." (Peters, 2007)

How Narco Terrorism Will Continue to Change the Face of Tomorrow's Terrorism the following figure portrays one U.S. security personnel taking his position "in a poppy filed following Taliban attack during a poppy eradication operations in Tarin Kowt in Urugzan Southern province of Afghanistan, Sunday, April 29, 2007." When U.S. State Department officials, alongside Afghan authorities eradicated the poppy in the southern Afghanistan, Taliban fired rockets and small arms. (Peters, 2007) More personnel from the U.S. And other countries, this researcher contends, will be "in place" if narco terrorism does not decrease.

U.S Security Personnel in a Poppy Field following Taliban attack during a poppy (Peters, 2007; Rafiq Maqbool/AP Photo)

According to the DEA, Taliban insurgents earn most of their funds from taxing and protecting Afghanistan's $3 billion opium trade. "The lines between drugs and terrorism have blurred," Tandy contends. (Peters, 2007) Narco terrorism, a contemporary political war situation, unless more effectively countered, will continue to be extremely volatile and dangerous. Manwaring (2005, pp. 41-42) stresses the situation requires careful attention by the U.S. And the other countries of the Western Hemisphere and that the entire global community, in fact, "must understand and cope with the threat imposed by diverse third generation gangs that are engaged in destabilizing and devastating violence, which is more and more often being called 'terrorism,' 'criminal anarchy,' 'narco-terrorism,' or 'complex emergency situations.' If the U.S. And other concerned world countries ignore threats from Latin America and the Caribbean, the expanding/increasing gangs of "lawless areas," along with basic instability in these areas, along with ongoing compromise of national security/sovereignty could destroy the free market economies, democracy, and prosperity recently achieved. In turn, these events could "profoundly affect the health of the U.S. economy - and U.S. concomitant power to act in the global security arena." (Manwaring, 2005pp. 41-42) Hutchinson (2002) also expresses concern regarding the U.S. national interest in regard to narco terrorism faraway countries. Elementary, he contends:

Drug production in Mexico, in Colombia, in Thailand, and in Afghanistan produces the supply of drugs that devastates our families and our communities." (Hutchinson, 2002)

Illegal drug production monies that attack a civilized society in one part of the world, likewise destabilize democracies across the globe. Illegal drug production not only undermines America's culture - it clearly funds terror, as it attacks and erodes democracy. Consequently, narco terrorism presents a current threat, while it presents a clear and present danger to the national security of the U.S., as well as other countries in the future. Davids purports that a civic action unified strategy to provide peasant farmers with what is needed produce legal crops will not suffice, that the drug affected regions' social conditions have to be economically and socially transformed. By global cooperation to provide "those areas with basic services, such as running water and electricity, and, by investing in the social and economic development of those regions," Davids contends, more battles in the war against narco terrorism could be won. (Saskiewicz, 2006)

References

Chouvy, Pierre-arnaud. "Narco-Terrorism in Afghanistan." Terrorism Monitor, Volume 2, Issue 6 (March 25, 2004). Retrieved June 30, 2008, at http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=23648.

Hutchinson, Asa. Narco-Terror: The International Connection Between Drugs and Terror= (Speech). Institute for International Studies. Washington, DC., April 2, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2008, at http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/speeches/s040202.html.

A www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=106764405

Manwaring, M.G. (2005). Street Gangs: The New Urban Insurgency. Carlisle Barracks, PA: Strategic Studies Institute.

Peters, Gretchen. " DEA Chief Calls for Narco-Terror Campaign Cooperation Between Afghanistan and Pakistan Key to Fighting Drug-Terror Connection (ISLAMABAD, Pakistan), abc NEWS, Oct. 2, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2008, at http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=3677997.

A www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=author:%5bSaskiewicz%2c+Paul%5dSaskiewicz, Paul. "Narco-Terrorism: A Unified Strategy to Fight a Growing Terrorist Menace. www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=narco+terrorism%20publication:%5b%22Special+Warfare%22%5dSpecial Warfare, www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=narco+terrorism%20pubdate:%5b20060628;20060704%5dJuly 1, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2008, at http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1123327031.html.

A www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=107562310

Thackrah, J.R. (2004). Dictionary of Terrorism. New York: Routledge.

Since December 2005, DEA agents have supplied actionable intelligence on more than 19 occasions that deterred or prevented hostile acts, including rocket and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, she said.

Cooperation between counternarcotics and counterinsurgency agents is key to future progress, she said. The DEA is providing training to Pakistan's Frontier Corp, which operates in the volatile tribal belt, to help stem the flow of drugs smuggled by pro-Taliban militants in cahoots with Pakistani heroin syndicates. (Peters, 2007)

Analysts say dismal relations between Islamabad and Kabul, Afghanistan, is one of the main obstacles to creating a workable counternarcotics strategy for the region, which produces 90% of the world's heroin.

Tandy called on both countries to "set aside historical differences and band together against this common enemy -- " the illegal drug trade that is fueling the volatility and terrorism in this region." (Peters, 2007)