CALL OF THE WAR

Thank you for the extended coverage of Gary Webb and his important new
book about the connection between the CIA and drug dealing ["Smoking
Guns," 7/1/98]. It is crucial to understanding the war on drugs. As
more people realize the useless destruction going on in the name of
drug prohibition, some seem baffled about why legislators don't just
call off the war.

Gary Webb is helping us to understand one important aspect of the
answer to that question. Drug selling has appealed to certain agencies
of the federal government for the same reason it appeals to those
dealers who work street markets: it's relatively easy; the odds of
getting caught are relatively low (especially when one enjoys close
ties to the law enforcement community); and the profits can be
mind-boggling. If the war on drugs were to end, that simple method to
quickly raise funds would disappear.

STEPHEN YOUNG Roselle, Ill.

Checked-by: "Rich O'Grady"