THIS WAR WAS LOST LONG AGO

To the editor:

Regarding Michelle Teheux's excellent Aug. 18 column, drugs did not
spawn Mexico's organized crime networks. Just like alcohol prohibition
gave rise to Al Capone, drug prohibition created the violent
drug-trafficking organizations behind all the killings in Mexico. With
alcohol prohibition repealed in the U.S., liquor bootleggers no longer
gun each other down in drive-by shootings. It's worth noting that
Mexico's upsurge in violence only began after an anti-drug crackdown
created a power vacuum among competing cartels. From a political
perspective, Mexican President Felipe Calderon stands to benefit from
the violence.

The drug war is perpetuated by the mainstream media's complicity in
refusing to put so-called "drug-related" crime in context. U.S.
politicians have proven particularly adept at confusing the drug war's
collateral damage. Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and
terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increase drug war
spending. It's time to end this madness. Whether we like it or not,
drugs are here to stay. Changing human nature is not an option.
Reforming harmful drug laws, however, is an option, one that Congress
should pursue.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.