Pubdate: Sun, 05 Feb 2012
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: David Salahi

WAR WITHOUT END

Re "A drug war success story?," Opinion, Feb. 29

William C. Rempel's Op-Ed article on the 1989 cocaine bust in Sylmar 
that ultimately strengthened the Mexican drug cartels illustrates the 
folly of the continuing war on drugs.

This war is an arms race in which the opponent has no morals and no 
qualms about a scorched-earth strategy. Increasingly, the casualties 
are innocent people and entire economic sectors, such as Mexican 
tourism and trips by charitable organizations to the country.

Instead of continuing to squander billions in a losing battle, we 
should decriminalize drugs and pour the money into substance-abuse 
education and treatment. And, if there's any increase in drug abuse, 
at least the only victims will be adults who freely made informed choices.

David Salahi

Laguna Niguel
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