A few drug war photos...

R.A.T. said:
Oh, we drank a few beers. We spent the last night there at the Hard Rock Cafe. Photos:

hardrock1.jpg


hardrock2.jpg


hardrock3.jpg


hardrock4.jpg


hardrock5.jpg


hardrock6.jpg


hardrock7.jpg


hardrock8.jpg
Click to expand...



Your business down there is so much cooler than mine. I get to see the insides of a lot of bars, hotels, conference rooms and factories. If I'm lucky I sneak in a hike. I can't believe that jobs exist where the hike is part of the job description..........man that has to kick ass.

If you ever come across any private contractors in need of a business development specialist.......feel free to let me know :D
 
Jeff, the guy who's face was covered in your pics, was that an undercover agent, high rank specialist or informant (obviously his ID is covered for security reasons)? To me, that is exciting, but to you its just another day, what a great life you live (coming from a 9-5'er). I see you carry 2 cameras, but no fire arms huh ! I realize your in a foreign country, did you ever feel like you were in danger, or were you ever fired at while on assignment? Thanks for the pics, cant wait to read the magazine articles & books.
 
jlouis976 said:
Your business down there is so much cooler than mine. I get to see the insides of a lot of bars, hotels, conference rooms and factories. If I'm lucky I sneak in a hike. I can't believe that jobs exist where the hike is part of the job description..........man that has to kick ass.

If you ever come across any private contractors in need of a business development specialist.......feel free to let me know :D
Click to expand...

We do this on our own dime. The article, itself, does not pay enough to go and do this type of thing. Some folks spend 3 grand vacationing in Disney World, we just choose to spend the money doing something different. The articles that I write are just a result of us doing what we do. It's all about seeing how different cultures operate. War zones bring out the best and worst in people. Screw Disney World.
 
onado2000 said:
Jeff, the guy who's face was covered in your pics, was that an undercover agent, high rank specialist or informant (obviously his ID is covered for security reasons)? To me, that is exciting, but to you its just another day, what a great life you live (coming from a 9-5'er). I see you carry 2 cameras, but no fire arms huh ! I realize your in a foreign country, did you ever feel like you were in danger, or were you ever fired at while on assignment? Thanks for the pics, cant wait to read the magazine articles & books.
Click to expand...

Notice my dress and my gear. I damn sure want someone to know that I am not an operator or a gun toter. If I thought I needed a gun to go into these places, I'd just stay at home. I've done this same type of thing in other regions of SA without anyone with us carrying a gun.
 
Harp247 said:
The dirty little bastards hid when they heard the helo's.
Click to expand...


Yes they did. The soup on the stove was still hot when we got to the lab. They had bedding for about 40 people and we found a full Galil magazine on the ground. They wasted no time leaving the area.
 
R.A.T. said:
We do this on our own dime. The article, itself, does not pay enough to go and do this type of thing. Some folks spend 3 grand vacationing in Disney World, we just choose to spend the money doing something different. The articles that I write are just a result of us doing what we do. It's all about seeing how different cultures operate. War zones bring out the best and worst in people. Screw Disney World.
Click to expand...

A-FRIGGIN-MEN. That is awesome Jeff. How did you get hooked up with those guys? Is it because of your reputation/business? Thats a tough tag-along to join.
 
jlouis976 said:
A-FRIGGIN-MEN. That is awesome Jeff. How did you get hooked up with those guys? Is it because of your reputation/business? Thats a tough tag-along to join.
Click to expand...

I've written a lot of stories on SA and the drug war. Also know a lot of folks in the various agencies so I approached them with the idea of covering it for SWAT magazine and it went from there. Good bunch of folks that are running the programs down there. Sadly, a lot of liberal press will also weasel their way on to one of these missions, then lie and nail the USG to the cross once they get back home and print the story. I assure you, if you just print the truth about what we are doing there then it will make you proud to be an American. But somehow or another everyone always wants to print the spooky conspiracy stories instead of just saying it like it is. It's a war zone, plain and simple but it is one that we are winning. There is proof of that just from looking at the dwindling FARC numbers and the number of guerillas that are simply walking away from the fight. Like another poster said in another thread, some day Colombia can be another Costa Rica. I believe in the cause there.
 
wow...:eek: those are some amazing photos Jeff... i love the helicopter shot, with the mini-gun...:thumbup:
 
R.A.T. said:
Like another poster said in another thread, some day Colombia can be another Costa Rica. I believe in the cause there.
Click to expand...

Colombia is one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America. The diversity is incredible. Heck, the reason so many drugs are grown there is because anything will grow there.

In Medellin, when you get off the plane you can smell the roses. The country is amazing. I absolutely 100% agree that it could be a future Costa Rica. Costa Rica is starting to pass and Panama is going to take its place (lower taxes, easier to do business, etc). Colombia is the place of the future. I've actually debated about moving my family down there. It is amazing.

Next week I'll be in Bogota and Cali before I head to Georgetown, Guyana. I can't wait to get to Colombia. It still hasn't been spoiled. It is amazing.
 
jlouis976 said:
Colombia is one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America. The diversity is incredible. Heck, the reason so many drugs are grown there is because anything will grow there.

In Medellin, when you get off the plane you can smell the roses. The country is amazing. I absolutely 100% agree that it could be a future Costa Rica. Costa Rica is starting to pass and Panama is going to take its place (lower taxes, easier to do business, etc). Colombia is the place of the future. I've actually debated about moving my family down there. It is amazing.

Next week I'll be in Bogota and Cali before I head to Georgetown, Guyana. I can't wait to get to Colombia. It still hasn't been spoiled. It is amazing.
Click to expand...

Colombia some of the most diverse vegetation I have ever seen in one country. From Southern Magnolia trees to tropical vegetation. Amazing. It is the most beautiful country in SA as far as I'm concerned.
 
i used to live places you needed a gun to pick up milk at the corner store.... and i never had to leave the states.... lol

liberal press or not... there will always be bad press.... and many wars are un popular period. there is also a lot of show boating about drug busts atleast localy to me. but i believe in the common good of most man kind so i cant say much i guess. but i understand some things that go on down there. and frankly if i had a family down there i would do what i had to, to keep them safe and healthy.

conspiracy or not. life is rough. and history plays a very large part, you also have to realize only a few people really have there pen in the ink as far as commonly known history.

i also realize that there needs to be change in the base market for these things. right now drugs are a non taxable commodity. the money is to be made and these are very very serious business people. as long as there is money to be made with this stuff people will try to provide it. i have lost friends to differnt ODs. so im not pro drug but im seriously questioning whats involved. if you go by jail numbers and the general working ideas then this is serious serious legal business banking on the war on drugs.
 
Man, I would be one of the guys who wanted a black circle over my face. Those drug lords don't mess around. I would probably dye my hair and beard orange, and talk with a heavy scottish accent and still make you hide my face.

Just to be on the safe side Laddie (spoken in a fake Scottish accent).
 
R.A.T. said:
Colombia some of the most diverse vegetation I have ever seen in one country. From Southern Magnolia trees to tropical vegetation. Amazing. It is the most beautiful country in SA as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...

Here are some shots...


flowers.jpg


flowers1.jpg


flowers2.jpg


flowers3.jpg


flowers4.jpg


flowers5.jpg


flowers6.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top