Pubdate: Fri, 08 Dec 2000
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2000 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190
Fax: (408) 271-3792
Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/
Author: Steve Hogan
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1823/a03.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1815/a04.html

END THE DRUG WAR

TWO stories in the Dec. 4 Mercury News illustrate the elements of the
disastrous ``drug war.''

The British are apparently considering ways of storing every single phone
call, e-mail message, and Internet connection made by its citizens in the
hope of halting the thriving market for illicit drugs (Page 2A). Meanwhile,
American officials have begun discussions with Colombia's neighbors (Page
4A), who will be the unlucky beneficiaries of drug traffickers seeking to
escape the U.S.-funded military attacks against their drug fields, labs and
export routes.

The track record in our little war is certainly impressive:

- - We've imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Americans for simple drug use,
exposing them to violent and hardened criminals.

- - Their families, deprived of wages and benefits, are often left
impoverished.

- - Inner cities have become battle zones, with innocent bystanders routinely
killed or injured in the cross-fire.

- - Police and law enforcement agencies concentrate on drug eradication,
leaving fewer resources available to combat murder, rape, and assault.

Our constitutional rights have been trampled. Now we can add to this sorry
list the export of bad drug policies to Britain and the destruction of a
good portion of South America in our futile efforts to criminalize a social
problem. How long do we intend to continue this insane war?

Steve Hogan
Sunnyvale
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MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst