WAR ON DRUGS

Prohibition Puts Money Into Terrorists' Pockets

The Gazette's excellent Feb. 22 Our View, "Another oops? / When law
officers drop in for dinner, they don't knock - or explain themselves,"
highlighted one more negative consequence of our government's irrational
endeavors to enforce drug prohibition. In the case of Pueblo's Unis family,
the drug warriors involved should be punished for violating the U.S.
Constitution.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy's recent propagandistic
campaign, which got under way at a cost of $3.4 million to taxpayers for
two TV ads during the Super Bowl and full-page ads in 293 newspapers,
attempts to link drugs with terrorism. What the ONDCP is not saying is that
the War on Drugs causes the very problems its ads complain about. It
enriches terrorists, finances violence, and makes America less safe.

In response, the Libertarian Party is soliciting $69,800 to pay for
advertisements in USA Today and the Washington Times. Those ads feature a
photograph of U.S. drug czar John Walters.

The ads state, "This week, I had lunch with the president, testified before
Congress, and helped funnel $40 million in illegal drug money to groups
like the Taliban. The War on Drugs boosts the price of illegal drugs by as
much as 17,000 percent - funneling huge profits to terrorist organizations.
If you support the War on Drugs or vote for the politicians who wage it,
you're helping support terrorism. Get the facts at www.LP.org/drugwar."

Libertarians hate terrorists. We hate them so much we'd like to squeeze
their funding down to almost zero. Vote for Libertarians to end drug
prohibition together with its many negative consequences, such as
violations of the Bill of Rights and funds for terrorism.

Joan K. Gresh Colorado Springs