If we consider this a success, then it’s time to be very afraid.

Thailand: US Official Declares War On Drugs A Success.

William J.æ Snipes, the regional director of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, said the war on drugs has been effective… “Temporarily, we look at it as successful,” he said.

I had a slightly different view in my recent post on Thailand. But I guess that the DEA feels that the death of 2,245 people without investigation is just peachy-keen in an effective war on drugs.

The Thai government appeared to condone killing of drug suspects by unknown assailants as one method of fighting the drugs war,” [Amnesty] said.

Rights groups say most of the deaths were extrajudicial killings by police and security forces, in some cases under pressure to clear so-called blacklists of suspected drug dealers and users in their areas.

Amnesty said that on February 20, Somjit Kuanyuyen learned she was on a blacklist and reported to her local police station in Ban Lam District.æ After signing a paper and being told by police she was safe, Somjit returned home.

“Four unidentified men in a one-tonne pickup truck with darkened windows drove up to her house and shot her seven times in front of her seven-year-old granddaughter and her seven-months pregnant daughter,” Amnesty said.

Hey, it saves all that pesky evidence gathering and trials and stuff. No wonder the DEA likes it.