LIKE USING GAS TO PUT OUT A FIRE

RE: "Murderous Mexican standoff," Sept. 5:

The article by Mercedes Stephenson concludes with a passionate plea.
"Helping our Mexican neighbours to develop long-term judicial and
police reforms to defeat vile cartels that prey on human misery and
suffering is a win for everyone." Over the past four decades we've
increased the number of drug offences in the Controlled Drugs Act,
we've increased per capita the number of police officers enforcing our
drug laws, raised the sentences for drug offences, and given police as
much power to fight the drug war as we dare without tossing human
rights out the window. Those enhancements haven't brought us any
closer to winning the drug war. Why would we assume, therefore, that
we have any valuable advice to give Mexico on this subject?The federal
government is calling for yet more drug offences, harsher penalties,
more police and other armed forces, more prisons, and broader
enforcement powers. It's like using gas to put out a fire. No, we
can't help our Mexican neighbours.

Mike Bryan

(Drug war is an utter failure, wastes time and money)