Pubdate: Tue, 21 Aug 2007
Source: Miami Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2007 The Miami Herald
Contact:  http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n976/a02.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

DRUG-WAR VIOLENCE

Re Michael Shifter's Aug. 19 Other Views column, Help Mexico with costs of 
the drug war: Just like alcohol prohibition gave rise to Al Capone, drug 
prohibition created the violent drug-trafficking organizations blamed for 
all the killing in Mexico. With alcohol prohibition repealed in the United 
States, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings.

Mexico's recent upsurge in violence began after an anti-drug crackdown 
created a power vacuum among competing cartels. From a political 
perspective, Mexican President Felipe Calderon stands to benefit from the 
violence. The drug war is perpetuated by the mainstream media's complicity 
in refusing to put so-called ''drug-related'' crime in context. U.S. 
politicians have proven particularly adept at confusing the drug war's 
collateral damage with drugs themselves.

Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, which 
are used to justify increase drug-war spending. It's time to end this 
madness. Drugs are here to stay. Changing human nature is not an option. 
We've been trying that for decades. Reforming harmful drug laws, however, 
is an option that Congress should pursue.

ROBERT SHARPE, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C.
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