TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT BIG PICTURE

I am writing in response to Mike Matthews' letter calling for the end of
the "War on Drugs." Let me first say that as retired U.S. military, I find
his comparison of the war on drugs to the Vietnam War very offensive and
naive on his part.

The war on drugs is a multifaceted program that operates on many levels and
for many reasons, least of all to be convenient to anyone. Sure there are
problem areas and pitfalls but what program of this magnitude wouldn't have?

Mr. Matthews says "the War on Drugs is an unjust war"; all I can say to
you, Mr. Matthews, is I would like you to go to the state hospital and look
in the face of a small child born from a crack cocaine mother and tell that
child that all of the pain and suffering this child will go through is for
nothing, and then go to an orphanage in Panama where there is a 5-year-old
child whose parents were killed by members of a South American drug cartel
and tell him that no one cares and nothing can be done. I ask you, do these
atrocities constitute that our government or we the people should give up?

You see, Mr. Matthews, the War on Drugs is not happening only in your
neighborhood or for that matter in the small state of Idaho, but worldwide
and in epidemic proportions. You need only look at the big picture to see
this, but first you have to want to!

EDDIE WILLIAMS

Twin Falls