Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 Source: The Monitor (TX) Copyright: 2002 The Monitor Contact: http://www.themonitor.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1250 Author: Stephanie Duda Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism) BATTLING DRUGS IS IMPORTANT To the editor: I have lived in the Rio Grande Valley for 15 years. Since I have lived here, I have been under the premonition that the U.S./Mexico border, as well as all international borders in the United States, shared a primary concern: keeping illegal substances out of the United States. When George Bush Sr. was our president, he recognized and understood the need to declare a "War on Drugs." However, since the Sept. 11 tragedies, our country has demanded a "War on Terrorism." While I agree that keeping terrorists out of the U.S. is imperative for the Border Patrol, I am deeply troubled the "War on Drugs" has been diluted and drug trafficking is not considered a matter of national security. Perhaps residing in the Rio Grande Valley for 15 years, not more than 10 miles from an international border where thousands upon thousands of pounds of drugs are confiscated each year, makes me more apt to be troubled by this fact. However, no matter where a U.S. citizen might live, it is even more troublesome that millions of children, teenagers and adults, living much further from an international border where drugs might be more accessible, die each year due to a drug-related cause, and even more citizens are addicted to an illegal substance but have not yet reaped such grave consequences. Former President Bush obviously understood the great impact that drugs can have, not only on a family, but on an entire community and country when he declared the "War on Drugs." While I do not doubt that George W. Bush probably shares the same concern, it is essential that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 not cloud our consciousness to the ever- present terror of drugs. The "War on Terror" and the "War on Drugs" should share the top priority. Stephanie Duda, Mission - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl