WHO SURRENDERS?

To the editor: I'm writing about E. R. Bills' thoughtful column,
"Groovy National Product" (Jan. 17, 2007). Our so-called drug war and
our war and occupation of Iraq are very similar. Both were started
with lies and 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 to expand.

The only way to end the drug war is to re-legalize the products that
are now prohibited and sell them in licensed and regulated business
establishments just as we do with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug
products. Those financially 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.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.