Director Of The Office Of National Drug Control Policy Speaks At Homeland Security Policy Institute

PR Log (Press Release) – Sep 09, 2009 – WASHINGTON — The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) welcomed Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to discuss the Obama administration’s recently released National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy, and U.S. drug policy writ large.  Frank Cilluffo, HSPI’s Director, moderated the roundtable.

Kerlikowske stressed the magnitude of the challenge posed by illegal narcotics, observing that the drug trade and its ancillary effects extend beyond law enforcement, and represent the “most difficult, and probably long-term, problem when it comes to everything from foreign relations, to the border, to domestic policy, to what our workforce is going to look like in the future.”  The problem demands “our full and complete attention.”  

Cilluffo noted that, “to some extent, the challenge we’re facing now exists because of some of the successes we, and most importantly the Colombians, had vis-à-vis the Medellín and Cali drug cartels; that didn’t remove the problem entirely, but redistributed the center of gravity to Mexican drug trafficking organizations.”  In reply, Kerlikowske raised the importance of developing appropriate measures of success, which capture the breadth of the problem.  He argued further that intelligence assets are crucial to success.

Regarding the current situation in Mexico, Richard Gerding of the Dutch Embassy asked what factors could hinder success.  Kerlikowske responded that the key to success is the continued resolve of the Calderon administration and, more importantly, of the people of Mexico.  To this point, Cilluffo noted that Mexican public opinion strongly supports the federal government’s fight against drug trafficking.  

See HSPI’s website for audio and video of this event as well as other resources.

About the GW Homeland Security Policy Institute's Policy & Research Forum series:
   
The Homeland Security Policy Institute Policy and Research Forum series is designed to spotlight cutting-edge policy solutions and innovative strategies to some of the most pressing national and international concerns. The forum features leading officials, practitioners and thinkers in a systematic way designed to better highlight their work and promote a dialogue on effective solutions to current issues.