Pubdate: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 Source: Baxter Bulletin, The (AR) Copyright: 2007 The Baxter Bulletin. Contact: http://www.baxterbulletin.com/customerservice/contactus.html Website: http://www.baxterbulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2860 Author: Kirk Muse Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE WAR ON DRUGS I'm writing about Pat Jones' outstanding letter: "Troops need to be brought home ASAP" (6/02/07). Our so-called drug war and our war and occupation of Iraq are very similar. Both were started with lies and under false pretenses. The war in Iraq is over. We won. What we have now is an occupation of Iraq. Occupations cannot be won. Who is going to surrender and sign the peace treaty? The so-called war on drugs cannot be won. Who is going to surrender and sign the peace treaty? The war on drugs is an occupation, a career, an industry and huge bureaucracy. The goal of the drug war is not to win, but rather to continue and expand. The only way to end the drug war is to re-legalize the products that are now prohibited and sell them in legal, licensed and regulated business establishments. Those benefiting from our drug prohibition policies don't want this to happen, and they will do everything in their power to make sure it doesn't happen. Kirk Muse, Mesa, AZ - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman