Dear Editor,

I am not at all ashamed to say that I cried upon reading the story of
Rusty Windle ["Drug Warriors," Nov. 5], who was shot and killed in a
drug warrior task force raid of his home. I cried not just for Rusty,
but also for those who have already died and are yet to die in the
same fashion.

The foot soldier who shot Rusty was not only cleared of wrongdoing, he
was praised by his superiors.

His superiors are the ones who should face charges, for they have
allowed, as have so many local jurisdictions across America, to be
co-opted by federal agencies and mandated into implementing tactics
used within regimes where the only Bill of Rights lists the rights of
government. The War on Drugs breeds contempt within law enforcement
for citizens' civil rights with disregard for individual privacy,
right to property, right to self-defense, and many other rights
defined and declared as inalienable by our Bill of Rights. Even the
most basic right, the right to life, has been deemed to be forfeitable
by the anti-drug lords that wage this war. The war on drugs is a war
on people.

It has as much to do with drugs as the Boston Tea Party had to do with
tea. And just as King George's oppression of the colonists was
basically economic, the war on drugs continues and grows because it is
a multibillion dollar industry.

The drug warriors in Washington have no plans on ever ending their
cash-cow drug war. They are addicted to the power and the money.

They become the pushers, addicting local police forces no differently
than drug lords wish to addict those weak enough to sample their wares.

The drug lords fear decriminalization and regulation as much as the
drug warriors, as that would put both sides out of business.

Take a long hard look, America. It's the drug warriors who are
addicted.

It time for you to stand and JUST SAY NO! to this draconian
policy.

In the cause of liberty and justice for all, I am, Very sincerely
yours, R.L. Root