Pubdate: Sun, 25 Apr 2004
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) 
Copyright: 2004 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Don H. Pace

WAR ON DRUGS WASTING RESOURCES

The 9/11 commission hearings firmly established that because of
diversion of funds from the war on terror to the war on drugs,
resources were not available to the FBI to prevent the attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001.

Is it not time that politicians recognize that even conservatives like
me believe that the war on drugs cannot and will not be won?

The continuation of the war on drugs, and the funds dedicated to it,
may have significantly contributed to the deaths of more than 3,000
people on 9/11.

The war only benefits those thousands of bureaucrats who, without the
war on drugs, might have to find other employment.

Is it not time to recognize drugs as an addiction problem, like
alcohol, legalize them, and regulate usage as we do alcohol and
tobacco? A kid in middle school cannot get cigarettes, but can easily
get drugs. What is the difference?

I hope that The Republic will begin to focus on this waste and
diversion of needed resources from wars that can be won.

Don H. Pace
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin