Pubdate: Mon, 01 Oct 2001
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Christopher Palkow

STOP FIGHTING AN UNWINNABLE WAR

Now, perhaps more than ever, there is an even stronger case for changing 
our government's positioning in the ''war on drugs." In addition to 
disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of non-violent citizens, wasting our 
tax dollars on programs that get larger and deliver fewer results each 
year, and helping the spread of corruption among our police officers, 
prohibition of marijuana and other substances creates a black market which 
is an easy source of funding for terrorists.

Yes, that's right.

Terrorists profit directly from America's war on drugs. They grow crops and 
sell them at the black market's outrageously inflated prices.

That's exactly what the Taliban was doing until this year, when George 
Dubya handed over $40 million to coax them to stop. They destroyed the 
crops, but how much do you want to bet they will start right up after Bush 
pulls any future funding?

Ending the war on drugs would remove the threat of prison from people who 
don't belong there, generate tax dollars that aren't there now, and pull 
money right out of the terrorists' pockets.

Christopher Palkow,

Norfolk, VA
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MAP posted-by: Rebel