Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 2003
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2003 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact:  http://www.boston.com/globe/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Kim Hanna
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1232/a06.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism)

AFGHAN DRUGS FINANCE TERROR

AMERICANS CAN'T wait for a worldwide reduction in drug use, while terrorists in
Afghanistan acquire drug profits to further their campaigns ("Drug war
distortions," editorial, Aug. 16). It is astonishing and frightening that
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Pentagon have no plan to deny drug
profits to Afghanistan's warlords, the Taliban, and Al Qaeda. We're practically
arming our enemies by allowing this, for they will surely use the drug money to
buy weapons, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and perhaps acquire
former Soviet nuclear weapons or material. After Sept. 11, President Bush said
the war on terror was his administration's priority, and we saw him take quick
action on the Taliban in Afghanistan. Now we need a drastic rethinking of the
drug war and how we are to deny our enemies their illicit drug profits.

Kim Hanna

Worcester
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