Swiftatsea HSV-2 high speed craft used by the U.S. to help Dominican authorities
SANTO DOMINGO.- A United States Embassy source called "perturbing and offensive" recent statements by officials close to the Presidency on its government’s alleged negligence in the war on drugs in the Dominican Republic, and comes in the wake of a wave of criticism for Washington’s delegation to president Fernandez’s inaugural, which has no senior level officials.
The source, quoted by newspaper Diario Libre, said the statements of government officials in the last weeks are incomprehensible, regarding the United States’ supposed carelessness in its cooperation with the country in that effort.
It said that "negative rhetoric" in these declarations are very different from the positive relation of work and cooperation between the U.S. and Dominican Republic to combat drug trafficking.
Yesterday the Presidency’s Administrative minister Luis Manuel Bonetti said the U.S. government places higher priority on illegal trips that to the vigilance of the airspace in the war against drug trafficking in the Dominican Republic.
The source said those statements "are offensive" for the United States, since this nation maintains a numerous investment in programs of logistical support and operational to control drug traffic in the country, in addition to the United States Coastguard Service, which has saved the lives of hundreds of people who risk it on the high seas, trying to reach Puerto Rico illegally.
Millions in aid
The source said the United States constantly deploys airplanes and boats to monitor and intercept drug shipments, and that each of those deployments costs US$4,000 per hour.
It said four boats equipped for that purpose, worth US$7.5 million, were recently donated to the Dominican Navy, as well as the delivery X-ray machines to detect shipments in containers on boats, which cost US$1.5 million.
As to aid programs on the antinarcotics topic in justice, the source said it costs around 11.7 million dollars, in addition to the \training and exchange of strategic information.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
USA does not want to shake hands with the unpredictable moron Chavez....thus tempest in a tea pot over stupid remarks by Leonel lackey....they are lucky the Ambassador is going to the inaug
From: United States
Herr Doktor Johann .. up early molesting the roosters as usual .. I am appointing you as a one man US delegation to the inaugural .. we don't want to bite the "hand that feeds".. no no no .. those remittances could become a thing of the past .. Jawohl Herr Doktor Johann?
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
That is Belial the Imbecile that is famous for strangulando el gallo or choking chickens my job is only to gently awake the roosters for work....I was in Barbacoa for a few days far from civilization....but not for long will they be far
From: United States
Herr Doktor Johann .. remember that Dominican roosters never sleep .. they just lie dormant until the next election .. get it? .. as for "Son of Karl" he got himself nicely banged up as usual .. I was starting to think you had been kidnapped by drug lords .. or better, by Hugo .. but I see you are up to your usual rounds .. Jawohl Herr Doktor Johann?
From: United States
The US should continue the cold shoulder to the RD Gov (Big Hypocrites)! All US taxpapers should rejoice at the US position.
Again, the RD Gov are experts at the BLAME-GAME (while holding out their hands for more US AID). INCREDIBLE! Is there no shame nor integrity for the RD officials? The Prez LF does know of the internal corruptions which is why they CASTRATED the RD anti-Corruption Internal Affairs Dept so, that it has no real authority.
Could it be that the RD Gov is too stupid to be embarrassed by the BANI BLOODBATH that they are instead point figures at their biggest supporter (US) to hoodwink the unintelligent?
The Ambassador should''t go either because while these officials make fancy toasts; youth in my Los Platanitos (Ensanche Caonabo) barrio in Santiago must walk to school routes with drug pushers who are protected by police & DNCD.
To end RD Gov denial & gain respect the US; EU & CANADA MUST create an ECONOMIC BOYCOTT including tourism & remittances.
From: United States
ECONOMIC BOYCOTT? NO REMITTANCES? NO WESTERN UNION? that would be an open declaration of WAR. The DR would INVADE and OCCUPY Puerto Rico. What are you talking about? You will see Dominican troops parading up and down FIFTH AVENUE buying up the latest GUCCI and ARMANI stuff. When it comes to REMITTANCES you will really see some ACTION. Just leave those REMITTANCES alone.
Written by: Jander, 14 Aug 2008 10:09 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Ungrateful ! sums it up.. Unless we have our wallets open then we are of no use to this country.
Written by: Jander, 14 Aug 2008 10:17 AM
From: Dominican Republic
It appears The 'Déme un Peso Amigo" mentality isn't confined to the street beggars.
Pathetic!
From: United States
The Presidency’s Administrative minister Luis Manuel Bonetti is actually correct. The largest consumer of drugs should pay more attention to what is happening in the Caribbean and Haiti in particular regarding the transportation of drugs.
The ranking of US school systems continues to lag behind even some third world countries and consumption of drugs is at an all time "high".
It's in the best interest of the US to stem this flow.
From: United States
The problem of NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING into the US is at a SCALE that DEFIES the IMAGINATION. DESPITE the HEAVY EXPENDITURE in the WAR ON DRUGS .. our GOVERNMENT is barely able to manage a 3% RATE OF INTERDICTION. You don't need a degree in mathematics from Harvard to see that 97% of the NARCOTICS destined for the US manages to GET THROUGH. That is the BEST we are able to manage under the INTERDICTION PARADIGM. I mean if you had to walk across a busy street in Santo Domingo and was told there is a 97% chance that you will get hit by a bus. Would you bother crossing? The PARADIGM needs to be CHANGED. The old COPS and ROBBERS methodology is NOT WORKING.
Written by: Juango, 14 Aug 2008 1:25 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Mr. Abassador Fannin:
As a US citizen, I too am offended and insulted by Mr. Bonetti's remarks, regarding the US support of the Anti Drug efforts in the DR. Talk about looking petty! To show our disappointment to the LF government and how they seem to always are blaming others and making excuses, I think you should send a low level State Dept. official to LF's fiesta this weekend. You personally should consider "Calling in Sick" ! These guys really has some stones!
From: United States
to the us government... let dr shoot down drug planes and drug shipment will be cut in half or more
From: United States
I think the US government may be doing exactly that .. sending in a token observer crew .. two things happened in the DR recently .. the DR Judiciary turned down the extradition request for a Dominican wanted for homicide in NY .. probably related to the fact that all DR requests to extradite suspects wanted in the DR have never been granted. The Bani massacre clearly revealed that DR authorities are having serious problems dealing with the NARCO TRAFFICKING transiting through the DR. If the US with it's military might can BARELY STOP 3% of NARCOTICS from entering US TERRITORY they should not expect too much from other countries that are poorly equipped and riddled with CORRUPTION.
From: United States
Current responses to NARCO TRAFFICKING in both the US and DR are based on the old COPS and ROBBERS paradigm. The one that is causing the US to lose the WAR ON DRUGS. It just does not WORK. Maybe there is NO SOLUTION immediately available. But COPS and ROBBERS is NOT WORKING.
Written by: BASTA, 14 Aug 2008 2:11 PM
From: Dominican Republic, SPM
So; Legalize and tax.
From: United States
It could help put many NARCO TRAFFICKERS out of business .. many large BUREAUCRACIES will fold as arrest rates drop .. some money for the GOVERNMENT .. but DRUG ADDICTION will continue .. the ROOT CAUSE of the PROBLEM still REMAINS.
From: United States
Now our stupid goverment wants to blame the US for their own incopetence and mediocrity dealing with drugs and high rise of crime in the country
Give me a break PLD.....................................
Written by: juanb, 14 Aug 2008 5:12 PM
From: Dominican Republic
The US Embassy in Santo Domingo said that allegations by Dominican officials that the US government is not sincere in its fight against the illegal drug trade are "worrisome and offensive," as reported in Diario Libre. In recent days Dominican officials, including Luis Manuel Bonetti, have criticized US officials for a "lack" of help in fighting drugs. An unnamed source at the Embassy told the newspaper that surveillance boats and planes that cost US$4,000 per hour, a US$1.5 million investment in x-ray equipment to detect drugs in large shipments as well as the donation of four boats worth US$7.5 million as proof of the US commitment. The US Embassy has also provided US$11.7 million in funds to help strengthen the DR's judiciary system.
Want them to come and hold our hands also?
From: United States
As AMERICANS .. we must tackle the DEADLY problem of DRUG ADDICTION among our own citizens. On our own TERRITORY. Our DRUG ADDICITION is fueling a MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR NARCOTICS TRADE that is seriously affecting entire nations thousands of miles from our shores. It might involve changing SEARCH and SEIZURE rules and the temporary SUSPENSION of BASIC RIGHTS. In essence placing our country on a WAR FOOTING that is CONSISTENT with our STATED COMMITMENT to wage a WAR ON DRUGS. Simply donating equipment to combat NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING in distants lands is not going to CUT THE MUSTARD. That is simply another act of DENIAL and PASSING THE BUCK.
From: Dominican Republic
I am afraid some of you Americans are very badly misinformed and brain washed. Britain has put intelligence and equipement in this area for years to assist the DR in the gifht against drugs and the response and respect has been fruitful and somewhat successful between the two. The US is ALL TALK and continues to brag about their aid to the DR and other countries throughout the world. Mostly lies and has been for years. The US is in such terrible debt which started a few years ago and kept this from their own people. They have tried to borrow money from many countries and Bush had to grovel to China for help =which was insulting, especially after his comments on Asia. Grow up you Americans and start looking at outside news reports for news and not from your Government controlled press. THEN you will find out what is really happening within your country. The Caribbean is a stepping stone for drugs into the US, the US should do more and they wont, its the poor Americans that suffer
From: United States
Did you just wake up Mr. Van Winkle? You are simply REPEATING what has already been WRITTEN about the topic on this blog and many others. What NEW information are you ADDING?
Written by: Adrix, 18 Aug 2008 10:06 AM
From: United States
The position of USA OFFICIALS is all bull shit. WE NEED THE TUCANOS, YESTERDAY.
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Again, the RD Gov are experts at the BLAME-GAME (while holding out their hands for more US AID). INCREDIBLE! Is there no shame nor integrity for the RD officials? The Prez LF does know of the internal corruptions which is why they CASTRATED the RD anti-Corruption Internal Affairs Dept so, that it has no real authority.
Could it be that the RD Gov is too stupid to be embarrassed by the BANI BLOODBATH that they are instead point figures at their biggest supporter (US) to hoodwink the unintelligent?
The Ambassador should''t go either because while these officials make fancy toasts; youth in my Los Platanitos (Ensanche Caonabo) barrio in Santiago must walk to school routes with drug pushers who are protected by police & DNCD.
To end RD Gov denial & gain respect the US; EU & CANADA MUST create an ECONOMIC BOYCOTT including tourism & remittances.
Pathetic!
The ranking of US school systems continues to lag behind even some third world countries and consumption of drugs is at an all time "high".
It's in the best interest of the US to stem this flow.
As a US citizen, I too am offended and insulted by Mr. Bonetti's remarks, regarding the US support of the Anti Drug efforts in the DR. Talk about looking petty! To show our disappointment to the LF government and how they seem to always are blaming others and making excuses, I think you should send a low level State Dept. official to LF's fiesta this weekend. You personally should consider "Calling in Sick" ! These guys really has some stones!
Give me a break PLD.....................................
Want them to come and hold our hands also?