Deterrence at Work

More evidence that deterrence works, even with stateless psychotics like terrorists and murderous drug kingpins. Apparently Usama and company wanted to poison a load of cocaine and introduce it into the American drug market. The drug lords who were initially cooperating with al-Qaida eventually balked, no doubt in large part because they realize that the US government is serious enough about fighting terrorism, and also quiet possibly unpredictable enough (some may say crazy enough), that cooperation with Qaida would lead to the certain destruction of their organizations in addition to their own lives. The story from Drudge:

PAPER: Bin Laden Had Plan To Sell Poisoned Cocaine To Americans In 2002Tue Jul 26 2005 09:43:35 ET

Osama bin Laden tried to buy a massive amount of cocaine, spike it with poison and sell it in the United States, hoping to kill thousands of Americans one year after the 9/11 attacks, the NEW YORK POST reported on Tuesday.

The evil plot failed when the Colombian drug lords bin Laden approached decided it would be bad for their business - and, possibly, for their own health, according to law-enforcement sources familiar with the Drug Enforcement Administration's probe of the aborted transaction.

The feds were told of the scheme earlier this year, but its existence had never been made public.

The Post has reviewed a document detailing the DEA's findings in the matter, in addition to interviewing sources familiar with the case.