Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2007 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: Larry Nickerson Letters: Folly Of The War On Drugs U.S. POLICIES ONLY STRENGTHEN NARCO FACTIONS Re: "Guns at the Ready - Colombia's FARC a threat still worth fighting," Monday Editorials, and "Marijuana plants discovered close to Dallas DEA offices," Friday Metro. Those of us who have followed the drug war take note of The Dallas Morning News' recent new fervor for a war that, like Iraq, has created much opposition due to the folly of its policies. The editorial laments the Colombian FARC, yet it is U.S. drug war policies that grew the narco factions and keeps them well financed and strong today. Those policies empowered the narcos to take down South American countries one by one. We can't keep illegal drugs out of our prisons, much less off our streets. The ungodly amount of money is a result of the black market and the opportunities to get in on the take. When the local Drug Enforcement Administration cannot even keep a notable growing operation out of its back yard in Dallas, you have to wonder who is in on it. Larry Nickerson, Haltom City - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman