Pubdate: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times Contact: http://www.latimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248 Author: David M. Perry Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n706/a01.html MISSIONARY'S DEATH Re "U.S. Role in Peru Plane Downing Adds to Mystery," April 22: It doesn't matter so much that this reactionary nation of ours has spent billions of dollars in a futile fight against drugs. We can afford it, and anyone who wants illegal drugs can easily buy them. But when our armed forces aggressively pursue and cause the murder of innocent people whose planes happen to be in the wrong place, it's time to put a stop to the whole charade. The "drug war" is an expensive and deceptive joke. Legalization, treatment and education are the only means by which drug abuse can be addressed successfully. David M. Perry Los Angeles - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom