U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro crew interdicts suspected drug smuggling vessel
Action on the high seas! But who are the criminals here? We have drug smugglers in a high speed, semi-submersible boat being pursued by US Coast Guard boats on the high seas. Yes, the USA has laws against importing some things, and the smugglers may be attempting to bring their illicit cargo ashore somewhere in the USA (okay, everyone knows that's what they intend to do), but they aren't in USA territorial waters, so do we have any legal right to stop them? Oh, that's right, we have guns and we are God's gift to the world, so we are right and they are wrong and if you disagree you are a heretic of the first water.
The reason we continue to have laws against recreational drugs is that a sizable fraction of our economy depends on maintaining high prices for those drugs. You can argue about the morality of the law and of the use of drugs, but none of that matters. The only thing that matters is the money. Confiscating drug shipments restricts the quantity available and so helps maintain the prices and profit margins. At least I think that's what's going on.
Via daily timewaster who apparently disagrees with everything I have said.
Update next day, replaced missing video with one from Popular Mechanics. Key question is where this happened.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Munro will offload more than 39,000 pounds of cocaine and 933 pounds of marijuana worth a combined estimated $569 million, which was seized in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. - United States Coast Guard Media AdvisoryIt was in international waters, but who's going to complain about the US Coast Guard playing at being pirates?
Chuck:
ReplyDeleteFWIW, I agree with you completely. The war on drugs is just another component of the military-industrial complex. Some people, especially some members of the military, may hate drugs, and drug users, but I hate whiners and bullies. The difference is that I don't have billions of dollars in equipment and personnel to enforce my "policy". And BTW, do not assume that all LEO are in support of the war on drugs. See, for example, LEAP: https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/our-issues/drug-policy/
Your pal,
James
I appreciate your sentiments James. I think you and Stu are the only ones who ever leave non-spam comments on this blog. I am trying to put together another post on the subject, but my wife wanted to go look at houses today and now I am beat.
ReplyDelete