6/20/2014

Is the US AWOL in the 'war on drugs' in Latin

America? (Jerry Brewer panel discussion, Washington, DC, 17 June 2014)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcJcYRAeOfM


On Tuesday, AEI hosted a discussion on the impact of rampant organized crime in Mexico and Central
America, fueled by US demand for illegal drugs. In his keynote address, Representative Matt Salmon
(R-AZ), chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, argued that the United
States has been AWOL in Latin America for far too long; we should be much more engaged in this
hemisphere than anywhere else, as it is right on our doorstep.

Richard J. Douglas argued that the United States is not seen as a reliable partner in the Western
Hemisphere and must become one in order to build better relationships with Latin American countries.
Iigo Guevara added that Mexico, Colombia, and the United States need to work together to combat
drug trafficking, and the Central American Armed Forces Conference is the best institution to initiate
this triangular collaboration.

Jerry Brewer Sr. wrapped up the event by noting that the police force in Mexico must be trained by the
United States on tradecraft and surveillance; battling espionage-like tradecraft by the drug cartels is far
E D I T O R I A L and O P I N I O N
6/20/2014
2
beyond the current capabilities of the normal police force.
--Alex Della Rocchetta
Event Description
Mexico and Central America are struggling with rampant organized crime, fueled by US demand for
illegal drugs. Mexicos president, Enrique Pea Nieto, focused on economic reforms for his first year in
office and only now has begun to tackle violence in the country. Central American nations are too weak
or, in the case of El Salvadors new government, too complicit in criminality to confront the powerful,
multibillion-dollar criminal enterprises that collaborate with Colombian cocaine smugglers, a
Venezuelan narcostate, illegal arms smugglers, and Hezbollah to threaten the security and well-being of
the Americas.

Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, will
assess the threat to US interests and recommend policy options, and a panel of experts will discuss.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATES
United States of America

jbrewer@cjiausa.org

Jerry Brewer is C.E.O. of Criminal Justice
International Associates, a global threat mitigation
firm headquartered in northern Virginia. His website
is located at www.cjiausa.org
BREWER Published archives
TWITTER: CJIAUSA