Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2014
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock, AR)
Copyright: 2014 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
Contact: http://www2.arkansasonline.com/contact/voicesform/
Website: http://www2.arkansasonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/25
Note: Accepts letters to the editor from Arkansas residents only
Author: Jess Duty
Page: 5B

A REAL WAR ON DRUGS

Why hasn't the United States government done more since the '60s to 
stop the flow or destroy the source of incoming drugs from Colombia and Mexico?

Why haven't we napalmed the coca plant fields in Colombia and the 
marijuana fields in Mexico? Why is our Air Force practicing 
touch-and-go missions in central Arkansas instead of flying 
reconnaissance of our southern borders of California, Arizona and 
Texas? Why aren't more observation drones being used in this 
so-called war on drugs?

Why aren't there Hellfire missiles raining down on fields of the drug 
cartels of Mexico and Colombia?

I suspect there are powerful United States government players as well 
as rich businessmen protecting this drug trade. Several generations 
of our youth have been victimized and even killed by drugs from these 
two countries. Go to war today. Declare a real "war on drugs," dammit!

To actually destroy the illegal drug trade would benefit U.S. 
citizens' health and economy by diminishing illegal-drug-related 
crimes and victims. Imagine an illegal-drug-free American work force.

The wake of destruction in Mexico and Colombia could flourish a 
rebuilding of government, infrastructure, communities and 
livelihoods. Innocent Mexicans and Colombians could build legitimate 
farms and businesses, promote new and better jobs, and once again 
have purpose and opportunities to establish a better environment and 
inheritance for themselves in their country of origin.

Isn't that what they really want? No more need to flee across U.S. 
borders. Sometimes "war" is good.

JESS DUTY Benton
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom