MIDEAST OIL

To the editor:

I was alarmed by Donald Phipps' letter to the editor in the June 2
Journal-World. Phipps argued that money spent on illegal drugs is not
funneled to terrorists. Instead, money used by Middle Eastern terrorists
comes from oil.

Though oil is a major source of finances to the Middle East, it is
incorrect to say that that is their only source of income. One of the
biggest exports of Afghanistan is opium. Money spent on opium could easily
fall into the hands of the Taliban regime.

But drug money plays a much bigger role in world terror than poppy plants
in Afghanistan. Colombia, as well as many other South American countries,
is controlled by drug lords who make a business out of smuggling marijuana
and cocaine into the United States. Drug money is used directly on the
military arms necessary to stay in power. It is almost impossible to
establish a stable democracy in Central and South America for this reason.

In regards to Middle East terrorists, I find it ironic that Phipps accuses
Bush of supporting terrorism because he is an "oil-man." Though a long-term
solution to the energy crisis is needed, the car industry is still run by
oil, like it or not. Anyone who is against drilling for oil in Alaska is
left with the only practical alternative of buying it overseas. It seems
that they would prefer buying oil from Saddam Hussein instead of drilling
in Alaska.

Nathan Markham,

Lawrence