Pubdate: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 Source: Times-News, The (ID) Copyright: 2001 Magic Valley Newspapers Contact: http://www.magicvalley.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595 Author: Eddie Williams TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT BIG PICTURE I am writing in response to Mike Matthews' letter calling for the end of the "War on Drugs." Let me first say that as retired U.S. military, I find his comparison of the war on drugs to the Vietnam War very offensive and naive on his part. The war on drugs is a multifaceted program that operates on many levels and for many reasons, least of all to be convenient to anyone. Sure there are problem areas and pitfalls but what program of this magnitude wouldn't have? Mr. Matthews says "the War on Drugs is an unjust war"; all I can say to you, Mr. Matthews, is I would like you to go to the state hospital and look in the face of a small child born from a crack cocaine mother and tell that child that all of the pain and suffering this child will go through is for nothing, and then go to an orphanage in Panama where there is a 5-year-old child whose parents were killed by members of a South American drug cartel and tell him that no one cares and nothing can be done. I ask you, do these atrocities constitute that our government or we the people should give up? You see, Mr. Matthews, the War on Drugs is not happening only in your neighborhood or for that matter in the small state of Idaho, but worldwide and in epidemic proportions. You need only look at the big picture to see this, but first you have to want to! EDDIE WILLIAMS Twin Falls - --- MAP posted-by: GD