DRUG WAR, IRAQ WAR ALIKE

I'm writing about Redford Givens' outstanding letter: "Drug war worse
than Iraq" (Outpost, Dec. 21). I'd like to add that the Iraq war and
our drug war have a lot in common.

Both were started under false pretenses. To most Americans the word
"democracy" is a noble word. To most Iraqis the ideal government and
only legitimate government is a Muslim theocracy.

The drug war was started to solve problems that didn't exist. Our
so-called war on drugs has created many more problems than it has
solved. Prior to the passage of the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914,
the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. Neither did drug lords,
drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know them today.

Prior to our invasion and occupation of Iraq, our so-called leaders
told us it would be like hitting a pinata, and all sorts of goodies
would fall down (like cheap oil). Instead we have whacked the side of
a hornet's nest.

Now our so-called leaders want us to stay the course and keep
swatting at the hornets (while the so-called leaders and their
families are safe and secure and enjoying the good life).

Both the drug war cheerleaders and the Iraq war cheerleaders keep
telling us that terrible things will happen to us we fail to stay the
course.

In the meantime, the war and occupation in Iraq is getting worse and
the war on drugs is proving to be counterproductive.

Stay the course is good advice if you headed in the right direction
and making progress toward your goal. Stay the course is terrible
advice if you're headed down a dead-end road or off a steep cliff.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.