Pubdate: Sun, 06 May 2001
Source: Blade, The (OH)
Copyright: 2001 The Blade
Contact:  http://www.toledoblade.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/48
Author: Lamar Bentley

OUR GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS IMMORAL

Peruvian anti-drug officials shot down a plane carrying suspected drug
smugglers, but the plane had only innocent people in it, some of whom
died in the resulting crash. The Bush administration defended the
action, saying "the Peruvian air force shooting down suspected
airborne drug-runners is crucial to the international war on narcotics."

I find it disturbing that our government supports actions by foreign
governments that would be illegal (even unconstitutional) here in the
United States. We have the right to a presumption of innocence until
proven guilty in a trial before our peers.

Shooting down a plane carrying "suspected" drug dealers is about as
far as you can get from what would be permitted here. I protest this
hypocritical way our government acts. It is immoral, threatens our own
liberties here in the United States, and cannot but reduce our
estimation in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Lamar Bentley, Berkey
- ---
MAP posted-by: Andrew