Pubdate: Sat, 09 Aug 2014
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)
Copyright: 2014 Columbia Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.columbiatribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91
Note: Prints the street address of LTE writers.
Author: Henry J. Waters III

DRUG WAR

A Persistent Scourge

Today we return to a continuing failure of American policy that is 
primarily responsible for illegal immigration troubles and criminal 
violence on our southern border -- the utterly failed U.S. war on 
drugs, which produces the world's most active black market and 
provides funding for murderous cartel traffickers in nations to our south.

Four-star Marine Gen. John Kelly, who heads the U.S. military's 
Southern Command, says homicide rates in Guatemala, Honduras and El 
Salvador are higher than in recognized combat zones like Afghanistan 
and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Central American region has 
become a "killing zone" mainly because of the U.S. black market in 
drugs and "because of the insidiousness of the vast resources of 
kingpins. It's the malignant effects of immense drug trafficking 
through these non-consumer nations that is responsible for 
accelerating the breakdown in their national institutions ... and 
eventually their entire society, as evidenced today by the flow of 
children north and out of the conflictive transit zone."

One reason they come is because they think they might be able to stay 
because of an asylum law passed in 2008 during George W. Bush's 
presidency, but as Mary Anastasia O'Grady wrote in the Wall Street 
Journal (and reprinted here July 29), many seek refuge closer to 
home, mostly in Mexico and Costa Rica.

Even without the new challenge of refugee children, for generations 
the case has been clear for drug legalization in the United States as 
the only way to break the black market and its sustenance of 
drug-related crime.

Without artificially high black-market prices, the cartels would not 
have the money and motivation to commit murder and otherwise disrupt 
societies where they ply their trade. Illegal immigration pressure 
would be lessened and drug-smuggling into this country might 
disappear altogether if unregulated trade at black market prices is eliminated.

We continue to fight over who among our own political leaders is to 
blame for border pressure when none, regardless of party or demagogic 
pronouncement, could stem the tide with mere "border control."

Indeed, the more border hawks might try, the more steam they would 
give the black market and the greater the incentive for smugglers. If 
we don't get rid of the source of the problem, we will forever be 
swimming against the tide.

HJW III

Lies written in ink can never disguise fact written in blood.

AUTHOR LU XUN
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom