Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 Source: Chapel Hill News (NC) Copyright: 2005 Chapel Hill News Contact: http://www.chapelhillnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1081 Author: Kirk Muse Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) THERE'S NO WAY TO ELIMINATE DRUGS I'm writing about Stephen Heath's thoughtful letter, "Plan Colombia has not worked" (July 10). If Plan Colombia had exceeded all expectations and all of the cocaine in Colombia had been eliminated, it would not affect the supply of cocaine or any other drugs reaching the United States. As long as people want recreational drugs and they are willing to pay a substantial price for the drugs, somebody will produce the drugs and somebody else will get the drugs to the willing buyers. This is guaranteed. We cannot keep illegal drugs out of our highest security jails and prisons, so how can we reasonably expect to be able to keep illegal drugs out of our country with thousands of miles of coastline and thousands of miles of international borders? The obvious answer is that we cannot. - -- Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth