WAR ON DRUGS LUCRATIVE FOR DRUG WARRIORS, CARTELS

I'm writing about Randall G. Shelden's thoughtful op-ed, "Expensive
Drug War Still Not Working," [Dec. 30].

I agree that our drug war is not working to reduce drug usage or the
harm caused by drugs. However, it is working to assure full employment
for the so-called "drug warriors." It is also probably working to fill
the bank accounts of many of our most prominent politicians.

To understand how, perhaps we should study the history of alcohol
prohibition. The notorious gangster Al Capone made most of his illegal
money from alcohol prohibition. Capone often bragged that he "owned"
the city of Chicago. Obviously, he didn't own all of the city of
Chicago. However, he had most or all of the politicians and police who
ran the city on his payroll. Al Capone was a successful businessman
and it's not unreasonable to suspect that the drug cartels of today
are following his business model.

It's also not unreasonable to suspect that the drug cartels may have
many high-level politicians and police officials on their payroll.
Obviously, the type of politicians the drug cartels would have on
their payroll are those who advocate the continuation of the status
quo of drug prohibition, which is making the drug cartels so
fabulously wealthy.

I'm not saying that any specific so-called "drug warrior" is on the
payroll of the drug cartels--I'm just a little suspicious. I'm just a
little suspicious of the motives of all of the drug war
cheerleaders.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.