Pubdate: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 1999 Los Angeles Times. Contact: (213) 237-4712 Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Forum: http://www.latimes.com/home/discuss/ Author: MARC SADOFF WAR ON DRUGS Jorge Castaneda sums up many great reasons for ending the war on drugs (Commentary, Sept. 2), but he's wrong in one statement he makes, calling the drug war "this absurd war no one really wants to wage." For the drug kingpins, Latin American politicos, prison construction companies, CIA covert operations funding and the beer and liquor industries this is no absurd war. Keeping the war on drugs alive is an essential business survival strategy. But, let's talk about the moral threat to society. MARC SADOFF Pacific Palisades - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck