Pubdate: Sat, 04 Dec 1999
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 1999 The Denver Post
Contact:  1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Fax: (303) 820.1502
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htm
Author: Mike Plylar

WRONG WAR

Many thanks to those involved in reporting the killing of an innocent
citizen by Denver SWAT officers during an alleged no-knock drug raid
at the wrong address. Unfortunately, this has become a weekly
occurrence across America, as law enforcement and the judicial system
rush to their elusive victory in the "War On Drugs." But drugs were
not the victim here, an innocent citizen was. So, is it a "War On
Drugs" or a "War On People"?

Had Ismael Mena been in possession of a small quantity of cocaine,
would that have justified the wasting of taxpayers' resources to such
a degree or authorize law enforcement to act as judge, jury and
executioner, all for someone selling $20 worth of cocaine to a
consenting adult, who was actively searching for the substance?

Had Mena's blood or urine contained traces of an illegal substance,
would this have cleared the police of all responsibility for their
actions?

Facts are, Mena had done nothing illegal and was lawfully defending
his property from intruders. His residence was illegally entered by
agents of the government, under false pretenses, and he was killed,
for absolutely no reason. Those are the truths. All the rest will be
excuses, cover-ups and distortions of the facts, in this, another sad
chapter & the "war on drugs."

Mike Plylar
Kremmling
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