Paul Coverdell: “As the cold war fades into memory, our foreign affairs establishment must aggressively target and confront the new…”

“As the cold war fades into memory, our foreign affairs establishment must aggressively target and confront the new threats facing America. The crime and violence sown by international narcotics mafias requires a new thinking and focus. While diplomatic efforts for most of our Nation's history have focused on checking unfriendly governments, the challenge of narcotics trafficking and organized crime forces us to grapple with a more shadowy and elusive adversary. These cartels are not confined by borders and operate outside of the bright scrutiny of international affairs. They respect no nation's laws or ethics, outmaneuver government bureaucracies with a ruthless efficiency and have financial resources which dwarf many national budgets. In the face of this great menace, our State Department cannot hope to make progress without a forward looking strategy, clearly defined goals, and the ability to learn from experience and agilely adapt to match this constantly changing threat.”