Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 2010 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2010 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/townhall/ci_14227323 Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 Author: Ty Tyler NO DRUG WAR: IT'S TERRITORIAL BATTLE Good knowing a few local officials recognize marijuana legalization will not quell Juarez violence. Reference to that violence as a "drug war" is a misnomer and confuses. Cartels are not fighting over a "drug corridor" for smuggling drugs into the U.S. There are millions of such corridors through, over, under and around a porous 2,000-mile border. Why fight over one! Cartels fight over territory within Mexico on which to conduct their domestic criminal activities. Drug distribution is only one of many cartel crimes. It's a turf war, not a drug war. Within Mexico, the victimization of innocent Mexicans is probably far more profitable than domestic drug sales. Any Mexican with a job, business, profession, savings and/or property is subject to extortion, kidnapping, robbery, rape, etc. Cartels would simply offset the loss of marijuana sales in the USA with increased activities in these non-drug crimes in Mexico and the USA. Such non-drug crimes more directly prey on innocents and have been exploited little in the USA. Remember: cartels/gangs have over 250 established operations throughout the USA. Legalize marijuana? Alcohol kills more people in the USA daily than there are people murdered in Mexico annually. Let's criminalize alcohol. Ty Tyler West El Paso - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D