Poll Finds Both U.S., Colombia Split on Drugs

PRINCETON, N. J. —  A new poll by the Gallup Organization shows the public in both the United States and Colombia divided over the war being waged against the Colombian drug cartels.

Although feeling personally threatened by drugs and the violence associated with the drug trade, many Colombians questioned whether their government’s crackdown on the cocaine dealers will benefit the country in the long run.

Most Colombians see demand for illegal drugs in the United States as the major source of the problem and are resentful of U.S. pressure on their government to cut the supply. A majority would not welcome U.S. troops to help fight the drug war, but most Colombians said they would like the United States to provide assistance, including military advisers.

Nation’s Top Problem

A record level of Americans (63%) now cite drugs as the nation’s top problem, but there is no consensus that going after the drug suppliers is the best way to attack the problem.

Only 44% believe that concentrating on reducing the supply of drugs coming into the country from abroad will be more effective than working to reduce demand at home, and the public is divided about using American forces in Colombia.

Colombians cite “lack of safety” and “terrorism” second only to drug trafficking in general as their country’s most important problems. Ninety-five percent of Colombians interviewed, compared to 59% of Americans, say they are very concerned about becoming a victim of crime as a consequence of the drug problem.

The Colombians find much to criticize about the U.S. role in the drug war. Fifty-nine percent think that the United States is putting too much pressure on Colombia to deal with the problem. By a margin of 57% to 30%, Colombians see reducing demand in the United States rather than cutting the flow of drugs from Colombia as the more effective way to fight the trafficking problem.

U.S. Seen Falling Short

The United States is seen as falling short in providing Colombia with enough assistance in combatting drugs--39% think the United States has done all it can to help; 52% disagree.

But, in general, the Colombians seem to welcome all types of U.S. military assistance short of combat troops. Sixty-three percent want the United States to send military equipment and supplies, 61% want money for the Colombian government’s war on drugs and 57% want U.S. military advisers to assist Colombian troops in the fight.

Americans, in turn, are distrustful of the Colombians. Fifty-six percent do not think that the Colombian government is doing all it can to cut the flow of drugs into the United States. Forty-seven percent think the United States has not put enough pressure on the Colombians to deal with the problem.

The poll of 1,200 U.S. adults and 500 adults in Colombia’s two largest cities, Bogota and Medellin, was completed last weekend. It has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.