Pubdate: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 Source: Guardian Weekly, The (UK) Copyright: Guardian Publications 2000 Contact: 75 Farringdon Road London U.K EC1M 3HQ Fax: 44-171-242-0985 Website: http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/GWeekly/front/ Author: Myron Von Hollingsworth http://www.mapinc.org/authors/hollingsworth+myron DRUGS A VICE, NOT A CRIME The United States Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) drug war drives the corrupt drug policy of many countries around the world. Maybe the politicians and media are required to adhere to the party line of prohibition because law enforcement, customs, the prison and military-industrial complex, the drug-testing industry, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, the CIA, the FBI, the DEA and the politicians themselves can't live without the budget justification, not to mention the invisible profits, bribery, corruption and forfeiture benefits that prohibition affords them. The drug war also justifies and perpetuates racist enforcement policies, and is diminishing freedoms and liberties that are supposed to be inalienable according to the US constitution and bill of rights. Myron Von Hollingsworth- Fort Worth, Texas, USA - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck