Drug money is used to rig elections and train brutal corporate sponsored dictators around the world
- Serj Tankian
(on another note, I am happy this is the second time I have quoted System of a Down on HN and it was 100% pertinent to the discussion)
While it sounds good, it's pretty bullshit to say the war on drugs is about financing dictators.
It's fair to say that the CIA does have pet opium projects, with US ground troops playing guards for Afghan farmers. But that's a different thing.
You're missing the point. Drug sales can be monopolized by the powers that be to generate off-the-books revenue streams. This can then finance any questionable activity they'd prefer not to be held accountable for.
This exact scenario has happened before - see the Iran-Contra affair.
It's almost like a band that literally exists to raise awareness of the Armenian genocide are actually quite politically astute.