U.S.-government sanctioned aviation-narcotics complex

The contracting out of various covert operations to private contractors helped create the current U.S.-government sanctioned aviation-narcotics complex that has found new business in the "global war on terror."

Contracts like Dyncorp's, issued in 1996 for counter-narcotics "services" in Latin America, kept the global network of aircraft contractors, expatriates, and foreign contractor ne'er do-wells, which fully began operations during the Vietnam War and continued through Iran-Contra, intact. The Bush administration has given these contractors a free ride to engage in their old tradecraft unchallenged by the DEA or FBI.