Head of Southern Command Says He Lacks Resources to Fight Drug Trafficking
03.14.2014 at 05:59am
Head of Southern Command Says He Lacks Resources to Fight Drug Trafficking by Ernesto Londoño, Washington Post
Dwindling defense budgets have been a boon to drug trafficking networks in Latin America as U.S. intelligence and interdiction assets in the Caribbean have been pared down, the top American commander responsible for the region said Thursday.
“Because of asset shortfalls, we’re unable to get after 74 percent of suspected maritime drug smuggling,” Marine Gen. John F. Kelly told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing about threats and military posture in the Western Hemisphere. “I simply sit and watch it go by.” …
