Pubdate: Tue, 05 Mar 2002
Source: Union, The (CA)
Copyright: 2002 Nevada County Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theunion.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957
Author: Mike Kennedy

DRUG TRADE AN OBVIOUS SOURCE FOR ARMS PURCHASES

As a reformed drug user/dealer who spent many years in Europe (I'm not very 
proud of this), I feel I may be able to shed some light about the possible 
links between drugs and terrorism. I was stationed in Germany, but we (my 
partners and I) procured our materials mostly in either Amsterdam or 
Rotterdam. We dealt mainly in hashish and marijuana, when we could find the 
latter, and opiates. The seedy folks we dealt with were either Arab or 
Jamaican and most of the "hot" hash was "black afghan" - good stuff huh? 
So, does the illicit drug industry support terrorism? Probably not. 
However, there is a lot of money in the game and those who wish to supply 
themselves with wealth for arms would be inclined to exploit this market. 
The people we dealt with were well armed (the arms were openly displayed) 
with weapons that the public was prohibited from owning (so much for "gun 
control" eh?). Don't get me wrong. I don't have a problem with someone 
smoking pot. I do, however, have a serious problem with the ilk that brings 
it here from elsewhere. I ask all Americans to see the "big picture" and 
not just the issues that affect them personally.

Mike Kennedy, Grass Valley
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager