To the editor Your Aug. 1 editorial "Drug War" questioned the role of U.S. soldiers in Colombia(R)MDNM- and elsewhere as drug agents -- and rightfully so. The question is: Who in their right mind actually believes that anyone - -- especially the U.S. government -- can totally eradicate the plants used to produce illegal drugs? Most Americans cannot keep crab grass out of their own back yards. And yet the expectation is that U.S. and Colombian(R)MDNM- officials will honestly and successfully extract acre upon acre of concealed coca, opium and marijuana from armed rebels entrenched in mountainous jungle terrain. Did I miss something? [continues 75 words]
"Corruption among law enforcement agency personnel continues to be a major impediment to cooperative investigations. Law enforcement initiatives appear to have had only a slight, if any, impact on drug transportation and distribution organizations..." - Jane C. Maxwell, Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, June 1996. "Historically, prohibitions have not been effective and are always very costly to support." - City Judge John Roberts, Waco, January 1997. "At best we will stop 10 percent of all illegal drugs bound for U.S. soil. The ten percent interdiction rate is supposed to deter the 90 percent success rate." - Brad Watson, DEA, Heart of Texas Area Drug Task Force, 1995. [continues 468 words]
War on drugs is an insane failure We're not learning from mistakes and success of past Legalize drugs? Curiously, support can be found in the words of drug war advocates. "Corruption among law enforcement agency personnel continues to be a major impediment to cooperative investigations. Law enforcement initiatives appear to have had only a slight, if any, impact on drug transportation and distribution organizations..." Jane C. Maxwell, Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, June 1996. "Historically, prohibitions have not been effective and are always very costly to support." City Judge John Roberts, Waco, January 1997. [continues 505 words]
Schedule I drugs are said to have no medical value. Any use of a schedule I drug is considered abuse. Schedule II drugs are available by prescription. Angel Dust (PCP) is available by prescription. Speed (methamphetamine) is available by prescription. Cocaine is available by prescription. Tobacco is sold over the counter. Tobacco kills approximately 1,200 Americans everyday. Where is the medical value of tobacco? How does anyone use tobacco without abuse? When was the last time your doctor said, "Smoke two cigarettes and call me in the morning?" [continues 85 words]
