TO WIN AN UNWINNABLE WAR

Just as alcohol prohibition gave rise to Al Capone, drug prohibition
has spawned violent cartels behind the wave of killings plaguing
Mexico ("Mexico Goes to War," May 28). It is worth noting that the
recent upsurge in violence in Mexico 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 are particularly adept
at confusing the drug war's collateral damage with drugs themselves.
Drug prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism
abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug-war spending. It
is time to end this madness.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.