Jamaica has been brought to a state of political crisis as a result of the failed (so far) attempt to extradite a drug kingpin, Chistopher "Dudus" Coke. A discussion of the events on a local Pacifica public affairs program, Soujourner Truth, this Friday (audio file can be accessed through the station's program archive file here), provides a very important link between two topics I've discussed this weekend--neoliberalism and the failed drug war. A good deal else is implicated as well, such as the synergy between conservatism and organized crime in battling the left. Mention is made of this history in Hollywood--a history that involves Ronald Reagan, among others.
Though this was entirely beyond the scope of the discussion, it's worth taking note of here, simply because this history has been so thoroughly erase. Reagan's pre-GE career was almost entirely dependent on MCA, which was heavily involved with the mob. In his last stint as President of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan arranged a sweetheart deal that allowed MCA and MCA alone to both produce TV shows and continue representing talent. The Justice Department eventually ended this illegal scam. Reagan himself escaped prosecution at the time, but there is no doubt that if the Democrats had wanted to pursue a Whitewater-style investigation into Reagan's past, they would not have had to go around inventing shit to accuse Reagan of.
To understand the discussion that follows, a general understanding of what's happened in Jamaica this past week is needed. A good-enough quick overveiw is provided by Jared Mccallister in the NY Daily News:
Jamaica prime minister OKs extradition of alleged drug king pin Christopher (Dudus) Coke
Jared Mccallister Sunday, May 30th 2010, 4:00 AM
After years of opposition and recent pressure from the Obama administration, Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding last week reversed his stance and okayed the extradition of alleged drug king pin Christopher (Dudus) Coke to stand trial in New York.
The failed attempt to take Coke into custody resulted in a state of emergency, gun battles and scores of deaths, as of late last week.
Coke was indicted in Manhattan in 2007 for operating a drug ring and running guns between New York and Jamaica.
Late last week, a top official reported that police regained control of Coke's Tivoli Gardens neighborhood, where his supporters battled with Jamaican Army personnel and police.
But the damage has already been done - to the neighborhood and the reputation of the Golding administration.
The prime minister may have to deal with a political backlash from constituents loyal to Coke. Golding, who heads the ruling Jamaica Labor Party, also admitted he used a U.S. law firm to lobby Washington, to drop the call for Coke's extradition.
And there remains a possibility the opposition People's National Party will step into the discourse against the Golding administration. So far, PNP and JLP leaders have praised the efforts of law enforcement and called for calm in the midst of the violence.
We now turn to somewhat extended comments from the discussion of these events and their significance from the program, the first by prolific author Gerald Horne:
