Pubdate: Wed, 07 Nov 2001
Source: Tennessean, The (TN)
Copyright: 2001 The Tennessean
Contact:  http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447
Author: Chris Wilson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/gardner.htm (Losing the War on Drugs)

WAR ON DRUGS HAS BEEN A NATIONAL FAILURE

To the Editor:

We are bombarded daily with news of our so called ''war on terrorism.'' We
are told all about the latest anthrax scares. We are constantly reminded of
the looming possibility of another threat.

I only have one concern - that this prolific war in which we are engaged
will become a mockery like our supposed ''war on drugs.''

It was a tragedy to have citizens killed in New York and Washington. Anthrax
does pose a problem. It would be safe to say though that cocaine, marijuana,
meth and a host of readily available pills have killed more people, cost
more money and tied up more of this great country's resources than all of
the terrorists in history. I know of many families who have had tragedy in
their lives from illegal drug use and have never met a single anthrax
victim.

I have never seen a B-52 attack on the cocaine factories of Colombia, never
seen a dope runner profile on the evening news, never seen special forces
deployed to the poppy fields of Turkey, never fathomed our postal service
scanning parcels for drugs and never hear our esteemed leaders commit
billions to the ''war on drugs.''

If we fight the war on terrorism as badly as we have fought the war on
drugs, given time, bin Laden and his cohorts will have no trouble destroying
this great country of ours.

Maybe it is time that we remember all of the threats to our country and not
just sensationalize the terrorist du jour.

Chris Wilson

Nolensville
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