Plan Colombia Cutbacks

Jacob Sullum | October 11, 2006

A.P. reports that "a $4 billion battle to wean Colombian farmers off the cocaine trade through a combination of military might and U.S. aid [a.k.a. Plan Colombia] is quietly being cut back in a region where cocaine production is surging." Unfortunately, it's the "carrot" part of the program—economic development aid administered by USAID—that's shrinking, while the "stick" of aerial fumigation evidently will remain as big and hard as ever, despite its complete lack of success in curtailing cocaine consumption by Americans.