cannabisnews.com: Editorial: Time To End War on Drugs  





Editorial: Time To End War on Drugs  
Posted by FoM on April 14, 2001 at 11:54:24 PT
Editorial
Source: Lima News
For those who believe calling the United States' drug policies a "drug war" is a misnomer, recent remarks by a Marine general should set them straight and send a chill down every freedom-loving American. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, commander in chief of the U.S. Southern Command, testified March 27 before the Senate Armed Services Committee concerning security in Latin America and the Caribbean. Each spring, the military's top regional commanders present security reviews to Capitol Hill covering their command's readiness posture, challenges and priorities. 
In his report, Pace discussed the command's strategic assessment, theater architecture and military-to-military engagement. However, the heart of his testimony centered on the illicit drug trade. "The illicit drug industry is a corrosive force that threatens the stability and rule of law in the Andean region," Pace told the Senate committee. However, he said the region is incapable of sustaining counterdrug operations because the nations' security forces are stretched too thin. He recommends U.S. counterdrug assistance, specifically mentioning Colombia. But this is a frightening concept. The last thing the United States needs to do is get involved in a drug war in Latin America. U.S. soldiers are trained to fight a war and defend the United States against attack. The military establishment is ill-prepared to conduct police activities and eradicating plants in Central America. But of more immediate concern to us was Pace's assessment of drug trafficking and its affect on the United States. He likened drugs to a weapon of mass destruction and said they were one of Southern Commands top transnational threats. "The illicit drug industry is also a growing threat to the U.S. homeland," he said. "According to the Office of the National Drug Control Policy, nearly 17,000 Americans lost their lives last year to drug overdose and drug-related violence. In addition to this tragic lost of life, the direct and indirect costs of illegal drug use to the U.S. taxpayer exceeded $110 billion." Illegal drug trafficking is "one of the greatest threats to democracy, regional stability and prosperity in Latin America and the Caribbean," Pace said. It ranks on a par with illegal migration, arms trafficking and crime and corruption. "Collectively, these transnational threats destabilize fragile democracies by corrupting public institutions, promoting criminal activity, undermining legitimate economies and disrupting social order," the general said in his prepared statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee. He outlined a three-pronged attack to fight the drug war: reducing America's demand for drugs, countering drug production at its source and halting the drug flow in the "transit zone." "If I had one dollar to spend," he said, "I would spend it on 'demand reduction.' ... The reason I put it in that priority is that I believe our efforts (to reduce demand) will provide the most success in the long term." Once drugs are en route to the United States, he said, "it is very, very difficult to chase those arrows once they've left the bow, to try to catch them in flight, or to determine where they're going to land." We would agree with the general that demand for illegal drugs in the United States is too high. But treating drug users and sellers as enemies of the state is the failed approach the United States has taken for too many years. Even the most stubborn of nations will eventually give up on a war they are losing. It is time to decriminalize drug use. What a peaceable person decides to put into his body is no business of government, even if it is harmful drugs. And it is time the United States relegate its military forces to its proper role of defending the American shore against invasion and stop using it to fight a failed drug war. Source: Lima News (OH) Published: April 14, 2001Copyright: 2001 Freedom Newspapers Inc. Contact: letters limanews.com Website: http://www.limanews.com CannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by SWAMPIE on April 14, 2001 at 22:56:29 PT
STRANGE DAYS INDEED!!!
IF ONLY THESE MILITARY/POLICE TYPE PEOPLE WOULD QUIT ASSOCIATING/ASSASSINATING THE PARTS OF THE POPULATION THAT USE SOMETHING AS A MEDICINE,THERE WOULD BE NO "WAR"ANYWAY!!! GRANTED ,THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO,BUT WHY TAKE THEIR BUMBLING OVERSPENDING DEFORESTATION MURDEROUS RITUALS OUT ON ANYONE THAT GROWS ,OR USES THESE THERAPUTIC MEDICINES?IF YOU GO TO THE DENTIST,WHAT NUMBS YOUR GUMS BEFORE HE STICKS THE NEEDLE IN?IF YOU LOWER THE DEMAND,YOU ALSO LOWER THE SUPPLY!ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WANT TO GET A BIG NAME AND FAT RETIREMENT CHECK,PERHAPS TO SIT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF A PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION?WE HAVE PROVED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THERE ARE BETTER WAYS OF DEALING WITH THESE THINGS IF ONLY PEOPLE WOULD TAKE OFF THE BLINDERS!!!BUT "NOOOO"DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL!! WHY???BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID SO!!!THE DRUG DEALERS ARE INVADING THE SHORES OF AMERIKKA AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR LITTLE LAMBS FROM THE BIG BAD WOLF!!!!!!ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE WOLF???WHO IS HE REALLY???MAYBE WE SHOULD SURRENDER TO HIM....HMMMM.....OVERLOAD THE SYSTEM....THEN THESE PEOPLE COULD INVEST THEIR TIME INTO SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT,LIKE ANYTHING OTHER THAN MENTAL MASTURBATION......THERE ARE ALOT OF HUNGRY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD AND IF WE FEED THEM,THEY WILL HAVE THE ENERGY TO WORK TOO!WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY AND DO ABOUT THIS???GREED GETS YOU MONEY,BUT IT GETS YOU NOWHERE WHEN YOUR SOUL IS LOST...HMMMMM.......   PEACE HAPPY EASTER!!!!
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Comment #4 posted by zion on April 14, 2001 at 20:12:49 PT
Moo.
Yeah, you think the General would give up such a cash cow like this U.S. Southern Command-Latin America Drug War Industrial Complex (can you say "moo", Peter)? This sucker's got better budget security than 10 Panama or 20 Greneda Peace Actions or even that lucrative Satelitte Missle Defense Shield program.You know, it's scary when military types prefer "police actions" to strict military defense, and actually start to get political about it, thinking that they can solve the world's social ills by putting American troops in harm's way. Just like how it's scary when Republicans think that can get government to solve social problems by increasing budgets and throwing more money at the problem.We live in strange times,-z
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Comment #3 posted by observer on April 14, 2001 at 17:25:45 PT
oops!
I misread; my bad. That was too good to be true . . . The Gen. isn't as faithful ("Semper Fi") to his oath he swore to uphold the constitution, as I had thought. Great editorialist, though. :-)
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Comment #2 posted by observer on April 14, 2001 at 14:38:42 PT
Use is ''No Business of Government''
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, commander in chief of the U.S. Southern Command, testified March 27 before the Senate Armed Services Committee . . . But treating drug users and sellers as enemies of the state is the failed approach the United States has taken for too many years. . .It is time to decriminalize drug use. What a peaceable person decides to put into his body is no business of government, even if it is harmful drugs. And it is time the United States relegate its military forces to its proper role of defending the American shore against invasion and stop using it to fight a failed drug war.Wow. Correct and true, General. He took the words right out of my mouth, there.  And he isn't retired, even. 
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Comment #1 posted by ras james rsifwh on April 14, 2001 at 14:36:42 PT
THEIR GREATEST LOSS
The greatest loss for those in our government who love war and big profits is that they have been caught with their pants down again; and this time instead of f**king Afro-Americans or Native Americans or Third World People they've been caught f**king All Americans.Yes! The same "shitstem" that permitted the slaughter of several hundred unarmed Lakota men, women, children, and babies at Wounded Knee in 1890 which was and still is "officially" referred to as the "Battle of Wounded Knee"...is the same "shitstem" that has placed Marijuana on a list reserved for the most dangerous drugs in the world; eventhough Cannabis is one of the safest known drugs...at the same time the "shitstem" is pushing alcohol and tobacco which are two of the deadliest drugs known to man.The Tree of Life has openly exposed a very darkside of internal rot in our government so that All who believe in justice, equality, freedom, and fair play can see for themselves. So now is the time for All good men to come to the aid of their country. Stop the War against Marijuana today...For Cannabis Sativa is the Healing Herb of our Nation as promised to mankind in Revelation 22:1&2 by the Father.Give all praise and thanks to Jah Rastafari who liveth and reignith in I and I. No Doubt! The Gates of the I-ternal City of the Almighty are now open. Enter One and All.Bob Lives I-ternally! Good News!
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