I was quite surprised by the letters in response to U.S. Rep. Joe
Barton's position regarding the war on drugs and the fact that the
Arlington Morning News published them. In the editor's note was posted
a Web site (www.mapinc.org ) stated as the source of many of the
letters. I went there thinking that I would spend maybe half an hour
checking it out, thinking it was perhaps a self-interest site. I found
myself there for most of the day. In trying to put this letter
together, it became evident that it would take a book to express the
real horror of this drug war. I could not believe - or I should say
that I tried not to believe - that which I was reading.

Rather then express my anger by telling of all the why's and come away
looking like a fool, I felt that it would be better for those people
who were interested and could really be objective to look for
themselves. In doing so, perhaps you too will become angry.

George de Merle, Arlington