NARCO-TERRORISM

Zoë Lund

(1987)

FOR THE AMERICAN DRUG USER - AN ADDICT MAINLINING HEROIN, A STUDENT SHARING A JOINT, A PARTY-GOER SNORTING COCAINE - THERE COULD BE A CONNECTIVE THREAD TO EVENTS FAR REMOVED FROM NARCOTIC REVERIE: AN AMERICAN KIDNAPPED, A EUROPEAN AIRPORT BOMBED, A LATIN AMERICAN ELECTION DISRUPTED, AN ASIAN OFFICIAL ASSASSINATED.

OFFERED ONE DRUG OFFICIAL, "THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO BE MADE IN INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING ARE STAGGERING. AS BAD AS TERRORISM HAS BEEN SO FAR, I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING YET."

U.S. News and World Report, May 1987
"Drugs, Terror and Politics" (Concerning "narco-terrorism")


Far removed?

On the contrary, such has often been my narcotic reverie, and I wager that of countless others.

Of course, the kidnapped American, the bombed European airport, the disrupted Latin American election and the assassinated Asian official are known to be other than what the US News and World Report would ever reveal. Yes, Americans bringing corporate imperialism of touristic colonialism are more than ever a target. Yes, an election such as that which was held of late in El Salvador at gun-point is a probable candidate for disruption. Yes, hijackings and other airport bombings will continue as long as airlines have strong national identities and a hostaged airplane can free one's imprisoned comrades or give voice to a cause. And yes, there are many officials in Asia who cry out for execution.

This is not new. What is, is that the powers that be are waking up, if impotently, to the fact that there has always been a relationship between "drugs" and what is called "armed justice."

Pukey as usual, the surface Left will spew forth an outcry in vain defense of their chaste and drug-free image. They are as bad as Nancy Reagan. These pre-terrorized "Leftists" are hopeless. No good will ever come from their quarter because anyone with courage, practical sense, or even a sense of aesthetics couldn't tolerate their company.

The honest and brave thing to do is to chant "Yes! - Drug money does fund armed actions of armed justice. It makes sense and I'm for it." But chant real soft. Act big.

However, all this good work going on between what US News calls "drug barons" and "terrorists" - omigod one and the same - is going to continue whatever you do here in a puddle in New York. Or don't do in a puddle in New York.

But isn't it time we took a lesson from what goes on internationally and apply it on our own neighborhood streets?

The enemies of the people are the enemies of the pushers. That means the US of A on a global scale. That means the police on ours. Criminals should be politicized. Political activists should try to become criminalized. The latter is always harder. Criminals make the best political activists. What is needed is the meeting of political acuity and criminal audacity.

Drugs in daily life serve as quotidian criminalizers. The State bemoans the "criminalizing of our youth." We can cheer it. But next, that small foot in the door of criminality that comes from daily copping, a process which for the heroin addict means "if I try to be like everyone else, it hurts,", a process enforced by addiction, must be nurtured and enlarged upon. Heroin can become grist for the munitions mill. If a junkie tries to be like "everyone else" in society at large, he hurts. (I know.) Thus ones own body forces one to face The Man every day. And know him as your enemy.

The next step is to connect The Man in Blue with South Africa, Israel, El Salvador. To connect your detox experience at Central Booking with torture in the Third World. Because The Man is the same Man. And he lives in this land. But it's our land too. We have to take it back.

Each Within His Reach! Strike what you know should be hit with what you have to hit it with. The best weapon you can find. And don't get caught!

When you do something, you achieve three things:

You do it.

You learn that you can do it.

You show other that it can be done.

DO IT!