Pubdate: Sun,  3 Sep 2000
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2000 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265
Fax: (972) 263-0456
Feedback: http://dmnweb.dallasnews.com/letters/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Forum: http://forums.dallasnews.com:81/webx
Author: Bob Ramsey
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1245/a06.html

THE 'WAR' IS A FAILURE

Re: Aug. 27 Interview with David Israelson.

Though not much new can be said about the drug war, I dutifully read The 
Dallas Morning News interview with David Israelson, director of the 
recently formed North Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task 
force. After all, The News' 1996-98 editorial support of the HIDTA played 
no small part in the task force's formation.

One thing I hadn't seen before is that drug-warrior lingo acknowledges 
fighting drugs is just as much a business as peddling dope. Mr. Israelson 
says "the ability to share [information] in the drug world is the most 
important aspect." Here "the drug world" refers not to drug pushers, but to 
the "FBI, DEA, Dallas Police Department, U.S. Customs, Texas Department of 
Public Safety."

Mr. Israelson expresses concern over the money laundering and violent crime 
associated with drug trafficking. These two aspects of the drug market 
exist only because of his efforts to support high drug prices.

His goals? "Hopefully, we'd like to see the purity go way down and the 
price go way up." The reduced purity will kill people by making the drugs 
more dangerous, and the increased prices will attract more violent 
manufacturers and dealers.

How does he measure success? By the ever-increasing number of people he 
jails, and by "dismantling" more trafficking organizations than existed 
when he started.

How does Mr. Israelson sum up the prospects after spending 30-plus years 
dismantling drug traffickers? "They never go away. They just re-form."

Mr. Israelson should retire and turn the drug market over to drug stores. 
Drugs are too dangerous to be controlled by criminals.

Bob Ramsey, Irving
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