Pubdate: Sun, 14 Apr 2002
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/hdinfo/letters.html
Website: http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Kasey Warner
Note: The author is U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism)

WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, ILLICIT DRUGS ARE IDENTICAL

The events of Sept. 11 forced this country to think about government's 
number one obligation to its citizens, providing security.

The events of Sept. 11 galvanized an immediate national intent to defeat 
terrorism. However, the illicit use of drugs continues, and efforts to stop 
such use often lack the same immediacy.

We need to realize -- right now -- the war on illicit drugs and the war on 
terrorism are inextricably linked; in many respects, they are one and the 
same war.

By tracing the money, tactics, geography and politics of terror and drug 
organizations, one can very quickly see the close connections.

Very simply, illicit drug use by Americans directly and immediately 
supports terrorist operations.

Many terror networks use drug sales as an important part of their financial 
infrastructure.

We know at least 12 of the 28 terror organizations identified by our 
Department of State traffic in drugs.

Drug income is the primary source of revenue for the most powerful 
international terrorist groups.

For example, Columbia's two major terrorist organizations are absolutely 
dependent upon the drug trade in America.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia receives about $300 million from 
drug sales annually, while the terrorist United Self Defense Forces of 
Colombia rely on the illegal drug trade for 40-70 percent of their income.

Peru's terrorist Shining Path is extremely dependent on drug money.

The Taliban, Osama bin laden and the Al Qaeda network are known to use 
opium and heroin revenue to fund a major part of their military operations. 
Their operations in Afghanistan are no surprise: Afghanistan produces more 
than 70 percent of the world's opium.

Drug traffickers are terrorists themselves.

Gruesome public killings of innocent people, bombings meant to intimidate 
governments, kidnappings, torture, widespread use of young people in 
operations, money laundering, using and trading firearms, and use of phony 
documents are often characteristic of terror organizations, but these acts 
are also signature activities of drug organizations.

Drug traffickers and terrorist organizations both attack legitimate 
government institutions, or corrupt governments altogether, to gain 
protection and further their illegal objectives.

Once a region is controlled by a terror organization, extensive illegal 
drug operations necessarily will follow; without effective government, drug 
operations become every-day safe business deals.

The link between terrorists and the drug trade is a huge threat to the 
United States.

The global economy allows these organizations to grow and increasingly 
damage America and the world.

As fewer and fewer nation-states support terrorism, terrorist organizations 
increasingly depend on drug financing.

Our illegal drug use unwittingly provides that financing and contributes 
heavily to further regional instability, lack of national security and 
ruined lives for our youth.

Through our illicit drug use, we are directly funding those who fight our 
own military men and women in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa and in 
the Philippines.

We know that illegal drug use is a serious health issue in this country.

Buying and using illegal drugs is not a victimless crime. We must now also 
understand the links and assistance drug use is giving to terror groups 
around the world, the same people who intend to bring down our society and 
our system of government.

Drug abusers, their families, their communities and now their government 
are all victims of illegal drugs.

Sept. 11 brought the reality of terrorism into our communities. People 
wonder how this happened. They ask, "Is there anything I can do?" A great 
place to start is in the fight against drugs.

This office places a high priority on fighting illegal drugs as part and 
parcel of the fight against terrorism; we look forward to working with 
federal, state and local agencies -- as well as private citizens -- to 
provide the security we owe to our citizens.
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MAP posted-by: Alex