cannabisnews.com: Retired Colonel to Lead Drug Fight? Retired Colonel to Lead Drug Fight? Posted by FoM on January 15, 2001 at 08:22:43 PT By Carol Rosenberg, Knight Ridder Newspapers Source: Seattle Times In September 1998, retired Army Col. James McDonough, then the director of strategy for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, fired a brazen blast at his boss, President Clinton.Upset over an account that the commander-in-chief was engaging in Oval Office sex while on the telephone drumming up support for sending U.S. troops to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former Army colonel bristled in a crisp column to the Wall Street Journal: "All human beings, if they are to remain in balance, must go through alternating cycles of work and relaxation," declared McDonough. "In this case, however, the act of casual sex at a moment of great importance smacks of callous indifference, sophomoric arrogance, and reckless disregard of the sanctity of U.S. soldiers' lives." The sharp-tongued candor surprised few friends and admirers of the retired colonel, who soon moved to Tallahassee, Fla., as the first director of the Florida Office of Drug Control.Now 54, the short, balding former West Point boxing champion may be poised to return to Washington as successor to his old boss, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, as the new national drug-policy control chief.Given his background - including 27 years in the Army - and the Bushes' practice of rewarding those whom they see as loyal, McDonough may be uniquely suited to the post.Since arriving in Florida in February 1999, he has worked closely with Jeb Bush, the president-elect's kid brother. He's just down the hall from the governor's suite.He has crisscrossed the state, advocating a get-tough, anti-legalization policy to Kiwanis Club members and newspaper editorial boards, in schools and on radio programs."I didn't know him Day 1. I've just grown to be very impressed with him," said John Daigle, executive director of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association. He called McDonough an "intriguing" combination of "action-oriented and thoughtful.""He is crisp and to the point and has military experience, no doubt about that," Daigle said. "At the same time, I've heard him be very respectful of people on the other side" - notably those who advocate decriminalization - "not to say he doesn't have his own strong feelings."His celebrated candor aside, the Vietnam veteran, who was awarded a Purple Heart, comes off as a renaissance man well-suited to a post that is part strategist, part politician and part public-relations man.A West Point and Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate with a political-science degree, he has written three books, including "Platoon Leader," an acclaimed Vietnam memoir that became a B-grade movie, and is credited as the principal writer of the Army's central war-fighting doctrine, "Field Manual 100-5 Operations."He said in a recent interview that he had not been formally approached by the Bush transition team but then rattled off four priorities he would adopt if appointed: increased emphasis on treatment, prevention campaigns, international leadership by the United States, and consistent, but tough, law enforcement."You have to break the people that traffic in drugs," he said. "You have to break them. They are murderers. They are vicious. They are dangerous."He added that the new president should support Plan Colombia, the Clinton administration's civilian-military formula for curbing cocaine trafficking.He ended his military career in command of the Southern European Task Force Infantry Brigade, which deployed to Rwanda and Bosnia-Herzegovina - a point of pride that may have piqued the Wall Street Journal protest.But he has said that, like McCaffrey, he dislikes the expression "war on drugs.""It sounds like you've got machine guns and dropping bombs and are trying to take terrain and destroy enemy forces," he said. "Such an overstated simplicity leaves you no place. First of all, it's not a drug war. Second of all, it's not been lost, whatever it is."Source: Seattle Times (WA)Author: Carol Rosenberg, Knight Ridder NewspapersPublished: Monday, January 15, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Seattle Times CompanyAddress: P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111Fax: (206) 382-6760Contact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/CannabisNews Articles - Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=drug+czar Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by Theo on October 02, 2001 at 16:12:57 PT: Fusarium Oxysporum This is more of a question than a comment. I was interested in what sort of other chemicals, and biological agents are being used in the war on drugs, and if the BWC or CWC has anything to say about it. I would really appreciate some help in my research. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Stripey on January 17, 2001 at 23:47:34 PT Fellas . . . . . . hide your gardens, or you're gonna be in jail for a long time. . . here come mandatory minimums! Oh, and go ahead and buy that still you were thinking about, because alcohol is safe and okay if you're 21 and not driving. I wonder if he'll destroy as many lives as Barry. . . [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by NiftySplifty on January 15, 2001 at 18:15:40 PT Harry Browne for Drug Czar! I know I've said it before, but Harry would be a sweet Drug Czar. Just in case, I went ahead and e-mailed him suggesting it. I'm not sure anything will happen, but at least I asked him.Nifty... [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by dddd on January 15, 2001 at 17:42:14 PT nightmare McDonough will make barry look like a wimp.Ashcroft/McDonough,,a dark era for reform. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on January 15, 2001 at 16:38:48 PT Important News Release Edward H. Jurith Named Acting Director of ONDCPRelease Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 NewsHawk: SledheadWashington, D.C. President Clinton today named Edward H. Jurith Acting Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Jurith will act as the temporary replacement for Barry McCaffrey, who stepped down as Drug Czar last week.Jurith, 49, has a distinguished career in federal drug policy issues. He is currently General Counsel for ONDCP, the agency's top legal officer, and previously served as Director of ONDCP's Office of Legislative Affairs. Prior to joining ONDCP, Jurith served as Legal Counsel and Staff Director to the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control from 1981 through 1993 under Committee Chair Charles B. Rangel (D-NY). Jurith served as an Atlantic Fellow in Public Policy at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom from 1997 to 1998, where he advised the British government in the development of a strategy to reduce that country's rate of substance abuse. Jurith was an associate in New York at the firm of Lyon & Erlbaum from 1976–1981, where he specialized in criminal and civil litigation and appeals. Jurith graduated cum laude with honors in government from American University in 1973 and received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in New York in 1976. He is a member of the New York and District of Columbia Bars.Acting Director Jurith will take over the top ONDCP post immediately, and will carry on promulgation of the National Drug Control Strategy. "ONDCP will continue to work with health, social, and law enforcement professionals, as well as parents, teachers, coaches, community coalitions, and international representatives to meet the goals set forth in the National Drug Control Strategy," Jurith said.CONTACT: Bob Weiner - Jennifer de Vallance (202) 395-6618For more information about the 2001 National Drug Control Strategy Report, access the ONDCP website at:http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/policy/ndcs.htmlhttp://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press/2001/011001.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by MikeEEEEE on January 15, 2001 at 16:36:39 PT I could see the want ad now If you can lie, have no feelings or compassion, or like to hurt people, and furthermore, if you can step all over the constitution, we want you, become our new drug czar.Write to:Big Waste,PO Box #1Loser,Washington, DC 666-666 [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by romper on January 15, 2001 at 15:37:09 PT war McDonough says this is not a war on drugs and does not like to here it called that he says we have to break these people they are murderous and violent. Maybe I see things different but if this is not a war why do we need a person with military experience as our drug czar? He is right about one thing this is not a war on drugs he is planning its a war on people just like you and me. For the life of me I just don`t understand why the american people believe the nonsense scum like this guy preach. The abuse every civil right we have destroy our planet and persecute thousands of people every year just for doing something they enjoy. It really disturbes me to see all these people on tv waving their little flags and cheering for their new president who is only going to cause more destruction and violence and these poor brianwashed sheep can only cheer and cry as they are bent over a table and violated.I don`t agree with violence and living in fear so maybe it`s time to sink their level and start our own war against them. Lets put them on trial for all the lives ruined childern withut parents unsafe enviroments to live in because of pollution taking half our paycheck every week just so they can use our own money against use. The list of crime the government commits against us and other countries around the world is absurd but yet every one just takes it in stide maybe McDonough is right we go through cycles in our lives maybe its time for the people of this country to bear arms and take back what is ours our freedom to pursue happiness.?????????????????????????????? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 15, 2001 at 12:54:35 PT Thank you DCP Thank you for such a nice compliment. I'm really glad that we have such a fine group of people that express their opinions on Cannabis News. It is because of everyone that we are making a difference. I will take a little credit but I sure won't take it all by any means. Cannabis News would be a lonely place without all of you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on January 15, 2001 at 12:48:58 PT: Right on, Kap I agree whole-heartedly with you, and appreciate your digging out the stories about the Fusarium disaster. The real problem here is that the average legislator, when reminded of these facts will just yawn, and look at his watch to see how long it is until his 3 Martini lunch with lobbyists. Blocking these nominations is going to require a massive outpouring of disgust by people all over the country, not just us few letter-writers who receive polite by ignorant responses to our entreaties. Who has media friends that would like to initiate a little muckraking? If harboring illegal Guatemalans is enough to disqualify you from the Cabinet, then I think environmental destruction, and fudging data on drug morbidity and mortality merit far worse punishment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by DCP on January 15, 2001 at 12:17:14 PT Thanks, FoM Dear FoM: This is off this subject and is not a comment onthis posting, but I want to express my appreciation to you for the time and effort that you spend to establish and maintain this web-site. Cannabisnews is one of the greatest forces in exposing the failures and senselessness of the War on Drugs. When the laws of this country are finally revised to reflect common sense, the will of the people and the Constitution, it will because of you and others who havededicated yourselves to freedom and the abolishing of laws against victimless, consensual acts. Thank you, FoM [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on January 15, 2001 at 11:53:06 PT: More waiting horrors According to this link:US Fumigation and Ecocide in Colombia and the Third World http://usfumigation.org/Literature/Scientific%20Papers/Glyphosate&Fusarium/index.htmThe fungus that McDonough and Sands are so proud of, when mixed with glyphosphate (the scheisse that is being sprayed down there right now) has a potentiating, synergistic effect. Namely, causing other, food plants to suffer.This guy is as bad as Ashcroft, and for the same kind of reasons: he's a zealot who'd happily poison an entire continent to make his point. And fatten his wallet.This possible nomination really *has* to be stopped. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by kaptinemo on January 15, 2001 at 11:39:03 PT: It's Fungusmaaaaaan! I had a feeling we hadn't heard the last of this eco-terrorist. His exploits in pushing this particularly odious 'resolution' to the 'drug problem' was bound to, just as pond scum, rise to the top, again. Keep something in mind as you read the articles I've posted links to: always follow the money. McDonough's good buddy David Sands makes the bugs. Which McDonough seeks to peddle...and no doubt pocket a little of the profit for his being 'industrious'. Some articles you might find of interest:Operation Eradicate:http://www.nsplus.com/ns/19990911/newsstory10.htmlThe Cannabis Killer:http://www.biotech-info.net/cannabis.htmlEnvironmental Catch-22:http://www.ilovethisplace.com/wwwboard/hemp/messages/117.htmlBiological Warfare in the War on Drugs:http://www.tni.org/drugs/links/bwarfare.htm13th Int'l Conference on Drug policy reform.http://mycoherbicide.net/OUR_ARTICLES/dprmycoherbicides.htmFrom the last article:"Sometime during the 1970's and early 1980's, governmentagencies undertook classified research on the disease and isolated a strain of fungus called Fusarium oxysporum from dying coca plants. One of these agencies was the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, known as ARS, which duplicated some of the research and isolated pathogenic strains from Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli. The best known strain was called EN-4 and was isolated by a Dr.David Sands..."During the 1980's similar research, often by the samescientists, focused on using other fungi to kill other drug plants, including marijuana, opium, ephedra, and khat. Another variety of Fusarium oxysporum was chosen for use against marijuana, and another fungus from another genus was chosen for use against the opium poppy. While the US government was doing this research, it is also true that the Soviets, the British and probably others were also involved, especially in the research against opium poppy."And, as General McCaffrey would say: "and... oh, by the way" some of the early research by ARS showed that strain EN-4 killed other plants completely unrelated to coca. But, such findings were ignored.During the late 1980's, as if by magic, an epidemic of Fusarium wilt attacked the coca-growing area of the Huallaga Valley in Peru. Many reports from campesinos in the area claim that it was preceded by US helicopters or small planes applying a substance to coca fields. But because of the difficulty of getting into the area during that time – this was during the civil war – it was very difficult to get solid information on what was really going on. However, my colleague, Sharon Stevenson was able to publish an article on this issue in the Miami Herald in1991 citing numerous interviews....""...The US Embassy, however, proclaimed the disease to be a"natural" outbreak of the fungus and criticized those whobelieved otherwise. The embassy did follow the developmentof the disease, through local newspapers and through US-funded human rights organizations and other informants. For instance, they noted that in area, Leonicio Prado, 3,000peasant families could no longer grow any food crops, because the blight had not just killed the coca, but everything else. After the disease hit, the entire population had to pan for gold in order to survive – a very unstable existence.The Agricultural Research Service also contacted local scientists in Peru, one of whom wrote a report funded by the USG clearly implicating the fungus in the death of other plant species, including native food crops. In spite of his honest reporting, he was run out of town because he was found out to be working for the US, and the locals thought that he was actually spreading the fungus! Was this original Peruvian epidemic a "natural" occurrence, or was it part of another US clandestine program? I don’t know..."There's lots more in this last article, and I strongly advise anyone concerned with the environment to read what this win-at-all-costs scorched earth mentality has in mind...and the kind of price he is willing to make the entire planet pay for his Drug Free America wet-dream. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Duzt on January 15, 2001 at 09:36:47 PT Stop being cowards If this combination becomes reality (ashcroft/mcdonough), then I sure hope everybody, for once, will come out openely and say, "we won't accept this." We, as Americans, can't let our government take even more control of our lives. Nobody seems to notice that more and more of the decision makers are military people, we have no intellectuals (nothing to do with a degree) representing us. It's time to realize that they can't arrest us all, as long as we have numbers, and we do. Stop being ashamed of who you are and start educating people. I'm tired of hearing people say, "man, I would never tell so and so that I smoke pot." This is such BS and the reason things change so slowly. If you are so ashamed that you smoke, or so afraid of what people may think or say, then you shouldn't smoke (or do whatever substance you choose). We live in a society of fear, and that's not a free society. I've lived in several countries around the world, and of all that I have liveds in, by far, the US is the most repressive and has the least personal freedoms, it's sad how poeple here see themselves as so free, wait until Ashcroft and McDonough are through with us. http://www.wonderbuds.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Harvey Pendrake on January 15, 2001 at 09:15:32 PT Sure. Why not. "His celebrated candor aside, the Vietnam veteran, who was awarded a Purple Heart, comes off as a renaissance man well-suited to a post that is part strategist, part politician and part public-relations man."We don't need a public-relations man (or woman) in this position, and we sure as hell don't need another politician. And as far as strategy...isn't this the guy whose been hot and heavy to let a FUNGUS loose on the environment to rid the world of politically incorrect plants? Fungus among us.McDonough and Ashcroft. Quite a team. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by observer on January 15, 2001 at 08:58:54 PT McDonough, Rabid Idealogue McDonough, the rabid moralist idealogue, would be perfectly in character to "lead" this jihad."You have to break the people that traffic in drugs," he said. "You have to break them. They are murderers. They are vicious. They are dangerous."Standard demonizing technique. That's what the Good Germans said of "the Jewish Problem", in 1930's Germany, too. This technique is used by propagandists to make ever more harsh punishments seem acceptable.Note: the people using drugs (considered "trafficers" when possessing over 28 grams) are for the most part peaceful adults who responsibly use cannabis in the privacy of their own homes. It is the armed jackbooted thugs, prosecutor/judges and jailers that are causing and directly committing violence, not peaceful pot smokers. . . . Like Nazis, drug warriors like to portray their victims as murders. Nancy Reagan declared, "If you're a casual drug user, you're an accomplice to murder."121 President Bush agreed: "Casual drug use is responsible for the casualties of the drug war. . . . Dabblers in drugs bear responsibility for the blood being spilled."122 . . . A Partnership for a Drug-Free America ad said that anyone who buys marijuana is responsible for murders of police.125 . . . As with Nazi actions against Jews, drug warrior actions against users are made more palatable through rhetoric portraying victims as nonhuman. "We will not tolerate those who sell drugs and those who use drugs," said President Reagan. "All Americans of good will are determined to stamp out those parasites."127 "We are talking scum here," a drug cop told one reporter, "Air should be illegal if they breathe it."128 "One 'reality'-based crime program (Night Beat, WNYW-TV, 12/92) took us to a police briefing, where the chief of a narcotics unit on camera tells his assembled officers -- not once but twice -- 'Remember, you are dealing with the scum of the earth.'"129 One researcher of police attitudes found that "when confronted with the violence they sometimes inflict [against drug offenders], they justify themselves by asserting that their victims are not really human: 'they're scum,' 'they can't feel pain,' and so forth."130 One official described prisoners under his command: "Those aren't people -- they have to be treated quite differently."131 Such an attitude can be deadly, as demonstrated by the source of that particular description, an SS murderer.(Richard L Miller, Drug Warriors and their Prey, 1996, pgs.23-24)http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0275950425 McDonough, 2001:"You have to break the people that traffic in drugs," he said. "You have to break them. They are murderers. They are vicious. They are dangerous."Anti-Semitic Nazi magazine "Der Sturmer" (published by Julius Streicher, c. 1935) :These had themes such as ritual murder, Jewish criminality, the world Jewish conspiracy, Jewish sex crimes . . .In 1934, for example, the ritual murder special edition produced international uproar . . .http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/faculty/streich3.htm"Ritual Murder" Propaganda. Another form of propaganda employed by Streicher concerned the "Ritual Murder." Sometime in 1934 "Der Stuermer" began publishing accounts of Jewish ritual murder which horrified the whole world . . .[Streicher:] "Look at the way the Jewish people have been following for thousands of years past; everywhere murder, everywhere mass murder. Neither must we forget that behind present-day wars there stands the Jewish financier who pursues his aims and interests. The Jew always lives on the blood of other nations; he needs such murder and such victims."[Streicher:] "No one should be allowed to grow up in the midst of our people without this knowledge of the monstrous character and dangerousness of the Jew" . . .Julilus Streicher, Nuremberg Tribunal Chargeshttp://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/Streicher.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Robbie on January 15, 2001 at 08:54:03 PT: ALERT! This is NOT a good idea. This man is responsible, as drug czar for Florida, this man was caught faking numbers for ecstasy deaths. From an article linked below:>>Since then, McDonough has defended the work. He asked why a reporter would question shortcomings in the research instead of helping his staff fight drug abuse.This guy is demonstrably worse than Barry Mac, and drug reformers should worry. Knowing Bush as we are coming to, it would not surprise me that Dubya would pick this Nazi. Beware.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n675/a02.html?4110 US FL: Bad Research Clouds State Death Reports [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on January 15, 2001 at 08:53:27 PT: More of the Same Let's see, his top qualification is that he did not like Bush's predecessor. Sounds good to me. Now we have the fabulous precedent that the job goes to a military man. How about a fabulously qualified medical woman for the job? No, that would make just too much sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on January 15, 2001 at 08:29:49 PT Compassionate fascist >>"You have to break the people that traffic in drugs," he said. "You have to break them. They are murderers. They are vicious. They are dangerous." Right. Just like the alcohol runners in the 1930s, who were vicious murderers... except that nowadays the legal alcohol industry has zero violence in the distribution of their product. (Consumption is another matter, of course!) And I won't even get into how "vicious, dangerous murderers" can apply to government agents fighting the drug war...>>"All human beings, if they are to remain in balance, must go through alternating cycles of work and relaxation," declared McDonough. "Just be sure you relax using only governmentally approved substances, because it's my job to make sure you don't relax with the aid of the wrong substances!" [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: