Pubdate: Sun, 02 Nov 2003
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2003 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: John Chase
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1682/a08.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas)

UNCLE SAM SHOULD FOOT BILL FOR TULIA DEBACLE

In answer to the Oct. 26 op-ed question, "Who should pay for injustice
in Tulia?": The federal government.

The feds sprinkle money throughout the land for high-intensity drug
task forces in localities whose politicians do the best job convincing
Washington that their region has a "drug problem." If Tulia hadn't
backfired, it would be justification for even more funds.

You can bet that a significant percentage of funding for the Panhandle
Regional Narcotics Task Force came from the feds.

The feds fund the busts, so they should pay for the ones that
backfire. Besides, they started us down this useless road, and they
have lots of money. How else could they be building so many new prisons?

John Chase

Palm Harbor, Fla.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake