Sounds to me like those folks in the cover Aircraft were sightseeing. Im also betting they were lightly armed if anything. Not a well planned mission. Sad but it usually takes something like this to get proper equipment for the troops in the field. Maybe next time the sprayer will be covered by some aggressive folks who will be watching and well armed.
And yes the US is just shoving money down a hole in this war on drugs. Either get it done or reduce the demand......
wonder what a war on prostitution would be like.......