SUPPORTING AMERICA'S ENEMIES

Last Tuesday America was attacked by the enemies of peace. My heart
goes out to all those who died, their loved ones and friends.

Its time America focused on its real problems and real enemies. In so
many ways America's problems are worsened by not focusing on our real
problems. This lack of focus not only embolden's our enemies but in
many cases actually provides them material aid.

In America we are fighting a drug war against our own citizens at a
cost of at least $60 billion a year. Think of what this kind of money
could do if re-allocated to more pressing needs or even to your own
pocket. After all, it was your money once.

But this is not the worst part of this whole business. The worst part
is the other $60 billion a year in drug money that leaves the
country. And the $350 billion a year leaving other countries that
have joined in our drug crusade. This money goes to support our
enemies. Among them the FARC communists in Columbia and the Taliban
in Afghanistan.

Right now it looks like the Taliban is our most pressing problem. The
Taliban makes its money from taxing the sale of opium. Now it is true
that our government has been pressing the Taliban to stop supporting
the drug trade. And there is evidence that they may have actually
prevented some significant number of farmers from growing opium in
Afghanistan.

But these gains may be temporary. You see there is a glut of opium in
Afghanistan. Prices are down. So it may have been convenient for the
government (like socialist governments everywhere) to do a price
support program to keep the farm economy growing. What better way to
do this and curry American favor than declare a ban on opium
production. I expect that as soon as prices start to come back
Afghanistan will resume growing opium. In any case the shipments of
opium from Afghanistan never stopped. They have been shipping opium
stockpiled when prices were low.

Isn't it insane to follow a policy that not only weakens America but
finances her enemies? You would think we were bent on
self-destruction. David Hackworth in a recent article:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=22830

says we are spending more on enforcing prohibition in Columbia than
we are fighting terrorists.

So here we are destroying America, financing our enemies, and
focusing on the wrong threats. It is time we changed. Well past time.
Its time to stop supporting anti-American terror. Its time to end the
drug war.

As a first step please help me get E.J. out of the gulag. So he can
be an aid to our economy rather than a drain. He needs work. If you
can help leave a message at:

http://sites.netscape.net/ejpagel/freeej

M.L. Simon is an industrial controls designer and Libertarian activist