Rory Carroll, On Drugs (BoRev.Net)

Rory Carroll, On Drugs

I don't know if you've noticed, but this whole drug war thing isn't working out so good, sweartogod. Fortunately for you dummies, Guardian reporter Rory Carroll knows exactly who to blame:

Across the whole of South America [drug production] has spiked 16%, thanks to increases in supply from Bolivia and Peru. Defenders of the drug war point out that the military-led strategy clawed back territory from armed groups and stabilised Colombia.

Darn it, Bolivia and Peru! Why are you spiking our drug supply? And can't we just "stabilise" you guys with some awesome "military-led strategy" too? Is there something so goddamned special about Bolivian soil that it can't be turned into several thousand makeshift graves for coca cultivating (or not) peasants too, hmmmm?!

Of course, there is this one tiny technical problem with Rory Carroll's otherwise terrific analysis: he is completely full of shit. Here's what the UN Office on Drugs & Crime has to say about that 16% spike:

The total area of land under coca cultivation in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru in 2007 was 181,600 hectares, a 16% increase over 2006, and the highest level since 2001 (although well below figures from the 1990s). The increase was driven by a 27% rise in Colombia (for a total of 99,000 hectares), and smaller increases of 5% and 4% respectively in Bolivia and Peru.

Anyway, nice reporting, "Rory." You are every bit as useful and accurate as everybody else in the whole entire drug war!