INTO PERSPECTIVE -
While hostility isn't a factor, there should be some rememberence of the GI heroin evacuees of Viet Nam which no one ever heard about, beyond reliable rumour.
There were thousands.
Strange that Larry Flynt was shot after publishing a series of articles pinning the source on the Christians In Action (not the Church type).
It should also be remembered that the Afghanis did far more damage to the Russian Army with drugs than they could ever dream of doing with bullets.
Throw an economic Blockade around Colombia; despite the U.S. street (and office) demand, that would do far more to get the mess cleaned up.
BACK TO REALITY -
It's about money; forget it.
It would be interesting to pressure some Senators to ask why the CIA is operating Air Force aircraft in the drug world, but not the military threat world.
Since when does the CIA play Forward Air Controller to another country's air force - for any reason?
In the U.S. the economy demands both parents working with the kids in day-care. The U.S. used to shred the communists for that. The difference - cash flow.
Now, with their autonomy, the kids are into drugs and the crime necessary to support the demand. More cash flow.
When the drugs became known among U.S. air traffic controllers (Jim Bergquist, et al), the drug testing nearly stopped. Cash flow continued.
Except for the cash flow, drugs would be one major crime in the U.S.
Whether a baloon bursts in the stomach of a 'mule' passenger or an innocent aircraft is shot down, drugs are no small problem in the aviation world.