Pubdate: Wed, 02 Feb 2000
Source: Calgary Sun (CA AB)
Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  2615 12 Street N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 7W9
Fax: (403) 250-4180
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySun/
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Author: Ken Sailor
Note: Parethetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n136/a06.html

RE: "New Vietnam in the making," Eric Margolis (Jan. 30), referring to the 
growing crisis in Colombia. Although there is some kind of juvenile 
satisfaction in the idea of sending the cavalry in from across the 
continent to solve Colombia's problems, the reality of military 
intervention is far more complex, and typically leaves both the donors and 
the recipients worse off than before.

The obvious reasonable alternative that has not been attempted in this case 
is a simple one: North American drug legalization and regulation. Dry up 
the source of cash for the rebels and for the drug producers and they are 
likely to be much easier to deal with. Of course, because of the drug-war 
rhetoric, such a proposition is rarely considered seriously.

Ken Sailor

(The Colombian rebels are financing themselves through kidnappings and 
extortion.)
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart