The dual myths of 'Narco-terrorism': How myths drive policy

Terrorism and Political Violence

Volumn 8, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 114-131

  Miller, Abraham H ^a   Damask, Nicholas A ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0030494635     PISSN: 09546553     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09546559608427336     Document Type: Article

References (74)

1. Rachel Ehrenfeld and Michael Kahan,'The Narcotic-Terrorism Connection', Wall Street Jnl, 10 Feb. 1986, p.20.
2. George Schultz, speech before the Miami, Florida Chamber of Commerce presented 14 Sept. 1984, 'The Campaign against Drugs: The International Dimension', US Dept of State Bulletin, Vol.84, No.2092 (Nov. 1984) pp.29-34.
3. Ehrenfeld and Kahan (note 1).
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Rachel Ehrenfeld, Narco-Terrorism (NY: Basic Books 1990) p.ix.
7. Grant Wardlaw, 'Linkages between the Illegal Drugs Traffic and Terrorism', Conflict Qtly 8/3 (Summer 1988), pp.5-26; Peter A. Lupsha, 'Towards an Etiology of Drug Trafficking and Insurgent Relations: The Phenomenon of Narco-Tenorism', Int. Jnl of Applied Comparative Criminal Justice 13/2 (Fall 1989). Rensselaer Lee, 'The Latin American Drug Connection', Foreign Policy 61 (Winter 1985-86).
8. Grant Wardlaw, 'Linkages between the Illegal Drugs Traffic and Terrorism', Conflict Qtly 8/3 (Summer 1988), pp.5-26; Peter A. Lupsha, 'Towards an Etiology of Drug Trafficking and Insurgent Relations: The Phenomenon of Narco-Tenorism', Int. Jnl of Applied Comparative Criminal Justice 13/2 (Fall 1989). Rensselaer Lee, 'The Latin American Drug Connection', Foreign Policy 61 (Winter 1985-86).
9. Grant Wardlaw, 'Linkages between the Illegal Drugs Traffic and Terrorism', Conflict Qtly 8/3 (Summer 1988), pp.5-26; Peter A. Lupsha, 'Towards an Etiology of Drug Trafficking and Insurgent Relations: The Phenomenon of Narco-Tenorism', Int. Jnl of Applied Comparative Criminal Justice 13/2 (Fall 1989). Rensselaer Lee, 'The Latin American Drug Connection', Foreign Policy 61 (Winter 1985-86).
10. Walter Laqueur, The Age of Terrorism (Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Co. 1987).
11. David C. Rapoport, 'Terrorism', in Mary Hawkesworth and Maurice Kogan (eds) Encyclopedia of Government and Politics (London: Routledge 1992).
12. Ibid. esp. p.1073.
13. Ehrenfeld (note 6).
14. Nathan Adams, 'Havana's Drug Smuggling Connection', Reader's Digest, July 1982, pp.98-102.
15. For a discussion of the indictments and charges see George Volsky, 'US Drug Charges Cite 4 Cuban Aides', New York Times, 6 Nov. 1982, p.1; Leslie Werner, 'US Officials Link Castro and Drugs', ibid. 10 Nov. 1983, p.A19; Kenneth Noble, 'Official Ties Cuba to US Drug Traffic', ibid. 2 May 1983, p.A3; US Senate, Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, 'Cuban Government's Involvement in Facilitating International Drug Traffic', 30 April 1983, pp.10-14; Stanley Penn and Edward Pound, 'Havana Haven', Wallstreet Jnl, 30 April 1984, pp.1,14.
16. For a discussion of the indictments and charges see George Volsky, 'US Drug Charges Cite 4 Cuban Aides', New York Times, 6 Nov. 1982, p.1; Leslie Werner, 'US Officials Link Castro and Drugs', ibid. 10 Nov. 1983, p.A19; Kenneth Noble, 'Official Ties Cuba to US Drug Traffic', ibid. 2 May 1983, p.A3; US Senate, Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, 'Cuban Government's Involvement in Facilitating International Drug Traffic', 30 April 1983, pp.10-14; Stanley Penn and Edward Pound, 'Havana Haven', Wallstreet Jnl, 30 April 1984, pp.1,14.
17. For a discussion of the indictments and charges see George Volsky, 'US Drug Charges Cite 4 Cuban Aides', New York Times, 6 Nov. 1982, p.1; Leslie Werner, 'US Officials Link Castro and Drugs', ibid. 10 Nov. 1983, p.A19; Kenneth Noble, 'Official Ties Cuba to US Drug Traffic', ibid. 2 May 1983, p.A3; US Senate, Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, 'Cuban Government's Involvement in Facilitating International Drug Traffic', 30 April 1983, pp.10-14; Stanley Penn and Edward Pound, 'Havana Haven', Wallstreet Jnl, 30 April 1984, pp.1,14.
18. For a discussion of the indictments and charges see George Volsky, 'US Drug Charges Cite 4 Cuban Aides', New York Times, 6 Nov. 1982, p.1; Leslie Werner, 'US Officials Link Castro and Drugs', ibid. 10 Nov. 1983, p.A19; Kenneth Noble, 'Official Ties Cuba to US Drug Traffic', ibid. 2 May 1983, p.A3; US Senate, Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, 'Cuban Government's Involvement in Facilitating International Drug Traffic', 30 April 1983, pp.10-14; Stanley Penn and Edward Pound, 'Havana Haven', Wallstreet Jnl, 30 April 1984, pp.1,14.
19. For a discussion of the indictments and charges see George Volsky, 'US Drug Charges Cite 4 Cuban Aides', New York Times, 6 Nov. 1982, p.1; Leslie Werner, 'US Officials Link Castro and Drugs', ibid. 10 Nov. 1983, p.A19; Kenneth Noble, 'Official Ties Cuba to US Drug Traffic', ibid. 2 May 1983, p.A3; US Senate, Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, 'Cuban Government's Involvement in Facilitating International Drug Traffic', 30 April 1983, pp.10-14; Stanley Penn and Edward Pound, 'Havana Haven', Wallstreet Jnl, 30 April 1984, pp.1,14.
20. Richard Kunnes, The American Heroin Empire (NY: Dodd, Mead and Co. 1972) pp.12-13; Christopher Robbins, Air America: the Story of America's Secret Airlines (NY: Putnam's 1979) pp.229-30.
21. Richard Kunnes, The American Heroin Empire (NY: Dodd, Mead and Co. 1972) pp.12-13; Christopher Robbins, Air America: the Story of America's Secret Airlines (NY: Putnam's 1979) pp.229-30.
22. Warren Hickle and William Turner, The Fish Is Red (NY: Harper and Row 1981) pp.313-15.
23. Mary Thornton, 'Sales of Opium Reportedly Fund Afghan Rebels', Washington Post, 17 Dec. 1983, p.A32.
24. Leslie Cockburn, Out of Control: The Story of the Reagan Administration's Secret War in Nicaragua, The Illegal Arms Pipeline, and the Contra Drug Connection (NY: Atlantic Monthly Press 1987) Chs.9-10.
25. Peter Dale Scott and Jonathan Marshall, Cocaine Politics: Drugs, Armies and the CIA in Central America (Berkeley: U. of California Press 1991).
26. Cockburn (note 17).
27. Merrill Collett. 'The Myth of the Narco-Guerrilla', The Nation, 13 Aug. 1988, p.30.
28. Washington Office on Latin America, 'Clear and Present Dangers', 1991, pp.43-51.
29. Richard Valcourt, 'Controlling US Hired Hands', Int. Jnl of Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence 2/2 (Summer 1988) pp.163-78.
30. Grant Wardlaw (note 7).
31. Ibid. p.5.
32. Ibid. p.22.
33. Wardlaw (note 7) p.8.
34. US Senate, 'The Cuban Government's Involvement in Facilitating Drug Trafficking', pp.122, 127.
35. Lupsha (note 7).
36. Lupsha (note 7) esp. p.63.
37. Neil Lewis, 'Bush Discloses Secret Order Citing Drugs as Security Peril', New York Times, 8 June 1986, pp.1 and 42. Douglas Jehl, 'In Reversal, Military Seeks Drug War Role', Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec., 1989, p.A-1.
38. Neil Lewis, 'Bush Discloses Secret Order Citing Drugs as Security Peril', New York Times, 8 June 1986, pp.1 and 42. Douglas Jehl, 'In Reversal, Military Seeks Drug War Role', Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec., 1989, p.A-1.
39. In an internationally televised address six hours after the invasion of Panama, President Bush listed 'combating drugs' as one of the main justifications for the action: see Timothy McNulty, 'US Seizes Power in Panama', Chicago Tribune 21 Dec. 1989, p.C-1. Equally as revealing were Bush's comments after the conviction of Panamanian President Gen. Manuel Noriega, see: Sam Meddis, 'Bush Hails April Conviction of Panamanian Strong Man Manuel Noriega as "A Major Victory Against the Drug Lords'", USA Today, 10 April 1992, p.A-1.
40. In an internationally televised address six hours after the invasion of Panama, President Bush listed 'combating drugs' as one of the main justifications for the action: see Timothy McNulty, 'US Seizes Power in Panama', Chicago Tribune 21 Dec. 1989, p.C-1. Equally as revealing were Bush's comments after the conviction of Panamanian President Gen. Manuel Noriega, see: Sam Meddis, 'Bush Hails April Conviction of Panamanian Strong Man Manuel Noriega as "A Major Victory Against the Drug Lords'", USA Today, 10 April 1992, p.A-1.
41. Ellen Hume, '"Narco-Terrorism", Other Dramatic Media Topics Make Congress's Oversight Hearings Political Art', Wall Street Jnl, I Nov. 1985, p.62.
42. Ibid. p.62
43. Ehrenfeld (note 1) p.35.
44. Elliot Abrams, 'Drug Wars: The New Alliances Against Traffickers and Terrorists', US Dept of State, 'Current Policy', p.792.
45. It has been suggested to us that the issue is far more controversial than we think. See note 49 for a discussion of the controversy.
46. John Warner, 'The Relationship Between Terrorism and Drug Trafficking', Police Chief, 51/3 (March 1984) pp.94-7.
47. Ibid. p.95
48. Clyde D. Taylor, 'Links between International Narcotics Trafficking and Terrorism', US Dept of State Bulletin, No.2101 (Aug. 1985), pp.69-74.
49. Ibid. p.69.
50. Mitch Gelman, 'Revenge Seen in Grenade Hit', Newsday, 9 July 1991, p.23.
51. Rensselaer Lee (note 7).
52. Presentation by Dr Rensselaer Lee to the Bowdoin Seminar on Intelligence, Brunswick, Maine, 10 Aug. 1991.
53. Congressional Research Service, 'Combatting International Drug Cartels: Issues for US Policy' (Washington DC: GPO 1987) p.32.
54. 'A Self-Styled Robin Hood', Time, 25 Feb. 1985, p.33; David Henry, 'How to Make $7 Billion in 7 Years', Forbes, 5 Oct. 1987, p.154.
55. 'A Self-Styled Robin Hood', Time, 25 Feb. 1985, p.33; David Henry, 'How to Make $7 Billion in 7 Years', Forbes, 5 Oct. 1987, p.154.
56. Washington Post, 24 Nov. 1987.
57. Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 1987.
58. Ehrenfeld (note 6) p.96.
59. Intriguingly, it has been suggested to us that the traffickers might also be contributing to democracy, for even the US Drug Enforcement Administration acknowledges that, while drug money goes to corrupt the political structure, it also keeps the legal economy going. As the DEA notes, '... revenue generated by the influx of drug proceeds into the economy has provided the Colombian Government with funds for debt payments and national infrastructure development....' (DEA, USDOJ, 'Columbian Economic Reform: The Impact of Drug Money Laundering within the Colombian Economy', DEA-94072, Sept. 1994). The need for a certain economic quality of existence to sustain democracy has long been discussed theoretically in political science, going back empirically at least to Seymour M. Lipset's Political Man (NY: Anchor 1963). The theoretical issue, without reference to the Andean countries, has most recently been discussed in E. Muller and M. Seligson, 'Civic Culture and Democracy, American Political Science Review 88/3 (Sept. 1994), pp.635-52. This issue is beyond our inquiry. Our point is to note the vested interest that the traffickers, in contrast to the insurgents, have in the status quo.
60. Intriguingly, it has been suggested to us that the traffickers might also be contributing to democracy, for even the US Drug Enforcement Administration acknowledges that, while drug money goes to corrupt the political structure, it also keeps the legal economy going. As the DEA notes, '... revenue generated by the influx of drug proceeds into the economy has provided the Colombian Government with funds for debt payments and national infrastructure development....' (DEA, USDOJ, 'Columbian Economic Reform: The Impact of Drug Money Laundering within the Colombian Economy', DEA-94072, Sept. 1994). The need for a certain economic quality of existence to sustain democracy has long been discussed theoretically in political science, going back empirically at least to Seymour M. Lipset's Political Man (NY: Anchor 1963). The theoretical issue, without reference to the Andean countries, has most recently been discussed in E. Muller and M. Seligson, 'Civic Culture and Democracy, American Political Science Review 88/3 (Sept. 1994), pp.635-52. This issue is beyond our inquiry. Our point is to note the vested interest that the traffickers, in contrast to the insurgents, have in the status quo.
61. Gabriela Tarazona-Sevillano, with John R. Reuter, Sendero Luminoso and the Threat of Narcoterrorism (NY: Praeger 1990).
62. Ibid. See also in this journal Rex A. Hudson, 'Colombia's Palace of Justice Tragedy Revisited', TPV 7/2 (Summer 1995) pp.93-142 for an exhaustive analysis.
63. Ibid. See also in this journal Rex A. Hudson, 'Colombia's Palace of Justice Tragedy Revisited', TPV 7/2 (Summer 1995) pp.93-142 for an exhaustive analysis.
64. Mary V. Mochary, 'Narcoterrorism: The Next Phase', Terrorism: An Int. Jnl 12/6 (1989) pp.438-9.
65. Rensselaer Lee (note 43).
66. Idem, 'Why the US Cannot Stop South American Cocaine, Orbis (Fall 1988), pp.499-519.
67. Dan Meyer, 'The Myth of Narcoterrorism in Latin America', Military Review (March 1990) pp.64-70.
68. Washington Office on Latin America (note 21).
69. Collett (note 20) p.30.
70. Cockburn (note 17) pp.247-9.
71. Scott and Marshall (note 18) p.25.
72. Roy Godson, 'Crisis of Governance: Devising Strategy to Counter International Organized Crime' (unpub. copy, courtesy National Strategy Information Center, Washington DC), 21 April 1994.
73. Idem, 'The Crisis of Governance: Devising Strategy to Counter International Organized Crime', TPV 6/2 (Summer 1994) pp.163-77. See also William J. Olson,'The Crisis of Governance: Devising Strategies to Counter International Organized Crime', ibid. pp.146-62.
74. Idem, 'The Crisis of Governance: Devising Strategy to Counter International Organized Crime', TPV 6/2 (Summer 1994) pp.163-77. See also William J. Olson,'The Crisis of Governance: Devising Strategies to Counter International Organized Crime', ibid. pp.146-62.