Pubdate: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2008 The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www.tbo.com/news/opinion/submissionform.htm Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n640/a04.html Author: Peter Christopher WE'RE LOSING DRUG WAR All of the "straw man" arguments supporting the drug war do not remove the fact it is not working and is costing more in money, lives and civil liberties each year. Steve Johnson is wrong in his July 3 letter "Not A Victimless Crime." We need look no further than Prohibition to find the reason why those addicted females turned to prostitution or gangsters shoot it out. The real truth of the internecine relationship of guns, money and drugs worldwide may be that they can only be reined in through drug regulation and treatment no matter what testimony the drug abuse-law enforcement-prison industrial complex provides our elected or drug war cheerleaders to spout. Peter Christopher, Hurdle Mills, N.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake