Pubdate: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Francisco Examiner Contact: http://www.examiner.com/ Forum: http://examiner.com/cgi-bin/WebX Author: Dianne Vantomme, Half Moon Bay "SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS' AS ALLY, NOT FOE, OF DRUG TRADE The Pentagon continues to maintain the School of the Americas purportedly to fight drug production and trafficking in Latin America (Stephanie Salter's column, "A priest's war against "School of Assassins'," Opinion Page, Jan. 31). There is mounting evidence, ironically, that the military in many Latin American countries is deployed to protect the drug trade. Recruits to the "school" at Ft. Benning, Ga., are allegedly arriving with bags of drug money to be laundered in the States. About the Rev. Roy Bourgeois himself: He is the antithesis of the angry fanatic railing against monstrous foreign policy. He made his statement, for which he served time in federal prison, and he remains a man of hope and joy. Thanks to Salter's article more of us will join Father Roy's campaign to close the School of the Americas. Bill and Henrietta Griffitts Martinez Regarding Stephanie Salter's article on the "School of Assassins / School of the Americas," and on the previous page the editorial, "Margaritas at the monastery" : Thank you for giving us worthwhile, meaningful and helpful articles. I have one question: Why is the School of the Americas so protected by our government? Dianne Vantomme Half Moon Bay - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck