Weekly Report - 3 February 2004

The Andean region `remains on the brink of collapse, an outcome that would pose a serious threat to the US goal of achieving democracy, prosperity, and security in the hemisphere' — after the US had `over the past two decades […] spent billions of dollars and significant manpower to stem the flow of illegal drugs from the region northward; to assist local security forces in the fight against drugs, terror, and insurgency; and to promote free markets, human rights, and democratic consolidation.' This assessment comes from a hefty study commissioned from an independent commission by the Center for Preventive Action of the US-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).*