Quote Originally Posted by GHoSToKeR
I mean countries that rely on the International Monetary Fund for financial aid.. The US, being the wealthiest country, has the most influence over the IMF, and often uses it to coax countries (such as Argentina) in to conforming by threatening them with cutting their financial aid, etc.. I mean countries where the US has pressured the governments in to becoming tougher on drugs traffickers, dealers, even users.. I mean countries where the US has pressured the government in to allowing the US to spray chemicals over land suspected to be growing cocaine.. These countries have no choice but to do whatever the US says.
How does making stipulations on financial aid relate to empire building? If I tell my kid he has to be home at a decent time, no toking or drinking while driving my car, and by the way....grass needs mowing on saturday or no allowance! Does this constitute me as being an evil empire builder based on the fact if he doesn't follow my philosophy he gets no cash? I don't think so...he might, but I don't! lol

Don't get me wrong! I don't support Nixens' war on drugs and I don't support the spending of 16 billion a year for men in black hoods to make busts! Do you really believe that the leaders of the countries you mentioned want drug lords ruling their countries from the sidelines..HELL NO. Ask the good ol' U.S. to bring down the lords so they can have military, and financial control in the countries that they are suppose to be ruling over.
Dude, look at Canada. Took in S. Vietnam A.W.O.L.'s....open seed sites...lax laws regarding marijuana arrests. Is Canada such a military might or did they tell the U.S. to keep the cash they have to offer and they'll keep legistating however they want? Columbia and many other S. American countries could, at any time, tell the U.S. to keep their aid and actually legalize their profitable drugs for export and the U.S. couldn't, and wouldn't do shit! But thats where the problem actually lies. Fat cats in other countries don't want all that illegal money to become legal and likewise making that "Drug Lord" a highly regarded member of the community that they may have to rub shoulders with! Face it, it's not the U.S. DEMANDING to these foriegn leaders...it's their own choice.
Same logic goes for the U.S. Do you really believe that the likes of Kerry and Kennedy want to see the black man, mexican, and hippy on the floor of the senate. Kennedy, of all people, knows that legalization in the U.S. means that, like HIS forefathers, so called criminal elements now have power and influence. When the good ol' boys (Kerry/Kennedy) meet for a splash of wine they don't want to have to deal with us firing up a blunt in the same room not to mention exposing their loved ones people of our caliber! We're not "building empires", the good ol' boys just don't want their lil' empire disturbed.