Pubdate: Thu, 27 Sep 2001
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2001 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Leroy Casterline

END DRUG WAR

In his Sept. 20 column, "Invasion of a different sort," Reggie Rivers 
points to the similarities between our disastrous drug war and our war on 
terrorism, and expresses hope that we will avoid the abuses of the former 
in attending to the latter.

I, along with many of my fellow Americans, share this hope. But beyond 
that, I also hope that we end the war on drugs completely, by regulating 
all illegal drugs just as we now regulate alcohol. The time for this action 
is now because fighting the war on drugs is not conducive to winning the 
extremely critical war on terrorism - it is, in fact, counterproductive.

This is true for a number of reasons. It is widely known that much of the 
money flowing to terrorist groups comes directly from the drug trade. 
Ending the war on drugs will instantly remove a very important source of 
funding from all terrorist organizations.

The war on drugs is divisive at a time when it is crucial for all Americans 
to stand together. It has become a war on our friends and neighbors, a war 
on our civil rights, a war on the guarantees of our Constitution, a war on 
the freedoms that have made us great. The excesses of this unholy war have 
led many Americans to distrust their own government, not without cause.

As a patriot, a citizen who loves his country and an ex-serviceman, I 
implore our leaders to end this unjust war so we can concentrate on those 
who would destroy us. Please, just say "no" to the war on drugs.

LEROY CASTERLINE
Fort Collins
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MAP posted-by: Rebel