WE'RE BEING OUTSPENT

Re: "U.S. may send Mexico $1.4 billion in drug war -- Money in
Pentagon budget targets training, high-tech tools," Tuesday news story.

It is ironic that the government should be sending $1.4 billion to
the Mexican government to fight the drug traffic when the U.S. drug
laws help send some $30 billion-plus each year to the Mexican cartels
that finance the drug importation business.

The only way to stop the violent and criminal border traffic in
illegal drugs is to change the drug laws so that the traffic becomes
moderate, legal and regulated. Prohibited drugs, like prohibited
alcohol, are transported and sold by people like Al Capone. A legal
drug, like legal alcohol, is sold by companies like Walgreen's.

Can the $1.4 billion we send one side of this struggle overcome the
$30 billion we send the other side? Not likely.

Buford C. Terrell, Houston