History Lesson 30

La Guerra contra las Drogas – The War on Drugs

The drug habits of the American people – particularly for cocaine – have created an incredibly lucrative industry in Latin America. However, the production, transportation and sale of illegal drugs have also produced a tremendous amount of violence and terror in these same countries.

The efforts of the American government have been varied. They include military actions (physically invading and attacking the offenders), agricultural actions (using small airplanes to spray herbicides on fields growing Coca), political actions (offering vast economic aid to countries who cooperate in the war on drugs), and more. Nevertheless, every time a head is cut off this beast, another grows back to take its place.

How to Use This Page:

1. Listen to the audio as you read along with the Spanish on the left.

2. Open the English translation, and read the two side-by-side, making sure you understand the Spanish.

3. Close the English, and listen to the audio again, reading along in Spanish.

4. Close the Spanish, and listen once more. Maybe shut your eyes, and just try to catch as much as you can.

El tráfico de las sustancias ilegales de Latinoamérica a Estados Unidos empezó durante la Prohibición, cuando mucho alcohol cruzó la frontera procedente de México. Cuando la Prohibición se acabó en 1933, el tráfico cambió a la suministración de drogas.

Poco a poco, el problema se hizo más grande hasta la presidencia de Nixon y la guerra en Vietnam. En 1971 Nixon declaró que las drogas eran el enemigo más grande de la sociedad, y empezó una guerra para eliminarlas.

Los países de Perú, Bolivia y Colombia producían casi toda la cocaína que iba a Estados Unidos, con carteles poderosos controlando la producción y la exportación. La lucha para destruir los carteles causó mucha retaliación, y en Columbia 15.000 personas han muerto en el conflicto. Cuando por fin los líderes principales fueron arrestados y los carteles grandes cesaron sus operaciones, otros grupos más pequeños tomaron su lugar.

Con la caída de los carteles grandes en Colombia y sus vecinos, México se hizo la fuente principal de la cocaína. Este país ya había sido un importador grande de heroína y otras drogas. Aunque los gobiernos de México y Estados Unidos trabajan juntos para mejorar la situación, el problema se ha hecho mucho peor. Cada vez que arrestan a un líder de un cartel, los otros carteles combaten para tomar su lugar. En adición, los carteles usan el asesinato, la tortura, los secuestros y el terror para silenciar a los oficiales del gobierno. Hasta los periodistas están en peligro grave, y muchos han perdido la vida cuando por exponer las actividades de los carteles. Además, muchísimos políticos y policías son corruptos, y protegen los carteles en vez de perseguirlos. La pérdida de vida ha sido terrible, con más de 120.000 personas matadas en la violencia.

La situación es ciertamente un problema estadounidense. Los carteles reciben todo su dinero y todas sus armas de Estados Unidos, destruyendo las vidas de miles de personas. Sin embargo, la solución no es fácil. A pesar de los billones de dólares que han gastado, el problema es más grande que nunca.

The traffic of illegal substances from Latin America to the Unites States began during Prohibition, when a lot of alcohol crossed the border from Mexico. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the traffic changed to the supply of drugs.

Little by little, the problem became bigger until Nixon’s presidency and the Vietnam War. In 1971 Nixon declared that drugs were the greatest enemy of society, and he began a war to eliminate them.

The countries of Peru, Bolivia and Columbia produced almost all of the cocaine that went to the United States, with powerful cartels controlling the production and export. The struggle to destroy the cartels caused a lot of retaliation, and in Columbia 15,000 have died in the conflict. When at last the primary leaders were arrested and the large cartels ceased their operations, other, smaller groups took their places.

With the fall of the large cartels in Columbia and its neighbors, Mexico became the primary source of cocaine. This country had already been a large importer of heroine and other drugs. Although the governments of Mexico and the United States have worked together to improve the situation, the problem has gotten much worse. Each time they arrest a cartel leader, the other cartels fight to take his place. In addition, the cartels use murder, torture, kidnappings and terror to silence the government officials. Even journalists are in grave danger, and many have lost their lives for exposing the activities of the cartels. What’s more, very many politicians and police officers are corrupt, and they protect the cartels instead of persecuting them. The loss of life has been terrible, with more than 120,000 people killed in the violence.

The situation is certainly an American problem. The cartels receive all their money and weapons from the United States, destroying the lives of thousands of people. Nevertheless, the solution is not easy. Despite the trillions of dollars that they have spent, the problem is bigger than ever.

Preguntas Básicas

1. During what era of American history did the “War on Drugs” begin?

2.During the 80’s and 90’s, which three countries were most prominent in the importation of drugs to the United States?

3.Which country is now the scene of the most drug-related violence and drug trafficking?