Pubdate: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 Source: Galveston County Daily News (TX) Copyright: 2001 Galveston Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.galvnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/164 Author: Dean Becker PROHIBITION OF DRUGS POWERS TERRORIST FACTIONS When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the steel for the bombs came from the United States. Only with the beginning of war did US mills stop providing cheap steel for Japanese tools of destruction. There were great lamentations about US government encouragement of this trade. Sixty years later, we have again empowered our enemies. Following the recent suicide bombings, House Speaker Dennis Hastert formed a task force to combat drug trafficking, which he called "the financial engine that drives many terrorist organizations." Rather than ending the 87-year-old drug prohibition, (which would leave our enemy with a worthless stockpile of vegetables,) the efforts of the task force have already managed to raise the price of drugs, to further empower our enemy. Sixty years ago, liberty was assured by the acumen of our great leaders. Our current leadership remains steadfast in their desire to fill the pocketbooks of criminals, drug lords and our terrorist enemies. Dean Becker Houston, TX - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom