Whack-a-mole: Escobar & Bin Laden: Bigger than the man

A very interesting comparison of U.S. strategy in the war on terrorism and the war on drugs, or - as this author calls it - the narco-terrorism war. Pablo Escobar was the head of the Medellin, Columbia drug cartel, whose death was hailed as a victory of the U.S. "Plan Columbia."

Escobar & Bin Laden: Bigger than the man - Colombia news | Colombia Reports: "Though there are similarities and differences between the two men, I liken Osama bin Laden's assassination with Pablo Escobar's in 1993. Both were the most wanted men in the world. Both were considered narco-terrorists. Both were a threat to U.S. interest. The U.S. also benefited at certain times from these men. There was a long man-hunt for both men. Both were assassinated by and/or with U.S. help.

If we could learn anything from these past 18 years after Escobar’s death, what could that be? Killing one man at the head of something that is bigger than the man does not make the issue go away, especially if the root problems are not tackled. 18 years have passed and the so-called war on drugs (now a narco-terrorist war since 9/11) continues. It has evolved."