Pubdate: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 Source: Gazette, The (CO) Copyright: 2002 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/876 Author: Joan K. Gresh WAR ON DRUGS Prohibition Puts Money Into Terrorists' Pockets The Gazette's excellent Feb. 22 Our View, "Another oops? / When law officers drop in for dinner, they don't knock - or explain themselves," highlighted one more negative consequence of our government's irrational endeavors to enforce drug prohibition. In the case of Pueblo's Unis family, the drug warriors involved should be punished for violating the U.S. Constitution. The Office of National Drug Control Policy's recent propagandistic campaign, which got under way at a cost of $3.4 million to taxpayers for two TV ads during the Super Bowl and full-page ads in 293 newspapers, attempts to link drugs with terrorism. What the ONDCP is not saying is that the War on Drugs causes the very problems its ads complain about. It enriches terrorists, finances violence, and makes America less safe. In response, the Libertarian Party is soliciting $69,800 to pay for advertisements in USA Today and the Washington Times. Those ads feature a photograph of U.S. drug czar John Walters. The ads state, "This week, I had lunch with the president, testified before Congress, and helped funnel $40 million in illegal drug money to groups like the Taliban. The War on Drugs boosts the price of illegal drugs by as much as 17,000 percent - funneling huge profits to terrorist organizations. If you support the War on Drugs or vote for the politicians who wage it, you're helping support terrorism. Get the facts at www.LP.org/drugwar." Libertarians hate terrorists. We hate them so much we'd like to squeeze their funding down to almost zero. Vote for Libertarians to end drug prohibition together with its many negative consequences, such as violations of the Bill of Rights and funds for terrorism. Joan K. Gresh Colorado Springs - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom