| April 21, 2000 #146 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rebuttal to John Q. Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Below is Mark Greer's reply to Wilson's questionable assertions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I don't know which is more disconcerting, the fact that a Pepperdine
University professor would naively claim that more drug testing and
coerced treatment is the cure for the drug problem or that the Wall
Street Journal would print such easily refuted allegations (A New
Strategy For The War On Drugs WSJ 4/13). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Q. Wilson's ideas seem to miss a number of key points, not the
least of which is that this is America which at least used to be the
Land of the Free. His solution to the drug war would be to catch every
drug user, test virtually everyone, and force treatment on what he
refers to as "barbarians." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How about this for a solution; leave those who choose to use drugs
alone until and unless they break any laws that effect others or until
they commit real crimes and provide treatment on demand when a drug
user needs help and asks for it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Somewhere along the way in our misguided attempt to "save" people from
their own free will and choice we have forgotten that it is not, and
never has been, any of the governments business whether or not one
chooses to use drugs. Our failure to grasp this simple Constitutional
reality has resulted in a worrisome undermining of the Bill of Rights,
asset forfeiture laws, mandatory minimum prison sentences, an
overburdened and ineffective criminal justice system, corrupt police
agencies. The Land of the Free has become the largest incarcerator of
its citizens in the free world. We currently top 2 million people
behind bars and the U.S. has the dubious distinction of housing more
than twenty five percent of the worlds prisoners. A large percentage of
these are non violent drug users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Just what exactly did our founding fathers mean by "inalienable rights
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" God save us all from
do-gooders like Wilson who want to save us from our own free choices
even if they are bad choices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It would be interesting to know how closely allied Wilson is with the
billion dollar drug testing and coerced treatment industries. He
certainly sings their song. His "solutions" can only bring to mind the
Nazi Germany analogy. Vilify, control, incarcerate and punish... what a
country! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A bad week for the czar: National Review published policy insider Eric
Sterling's Congressional testimony criticizing ONDCP's failures and
McCaffrey's failure to acknowledge them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There were a few positives for the czar; one was this Baltimore Sun
puff piece which carried only his side of things. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two other articles- starting from quite different places, zeroed in on a favorite McCzar tactic: attack the messenger. In the Hersh case, it's a risky preemptive strike against a formidable publication. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It didn't help that the Army colonel who formerly headed the mission
in Colombia was forced to admit he tried to hide cash from his wife's
trafficking fiasco. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) CAN'T SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Deaths are up, high school kids can get drugs more easily than ever,
drug use by junior high kids has tripled, drug prices are at historic
lows, drug purity is as high as ever, and we are still not treating
most of the millions of addicts desperate for help." Eric E. Sterling,
president, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, to the House Committee
on Appropriations, March 23, 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I have been following closely our national anti-drug strategy since
1979 when I became the counsel to the House Judiciary Committee
principally responsible for anti-drug matters.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Chairman, sadly, I don't believe that General McCaffrey can be trusted to give you an accurate appraisal of our drug situation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) TAKING COMMAND IN DRUG CRISIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
McCaffrey, who knows plenty about warfare of the non metaphorical kind, says the notion of a "war on drugs" has done huge damage, suggesting that addicts are enemies and that total victory is possible. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) DRUG CZAR UP IN ARMS OVER GULF WAR INQUIRY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the White House drug czar, has mounted an
unusual preemptive strike against investigative reporter Seymour Hersh
over a potentially explosive story for the New Yorker that has not yet
been published. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
McCaffrey has written the editor of the magazine and other news
organizations to complain that the veteran author has been conducting
"defamatory" interviews filled with "false allegations" and is doing so
out of "personal malice." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The result has been a flurry of detailed letters, charts and "for the
record" memorandums among McCaffrey, his former military colleagues,
Hersh and New Yorker Editor David Remnick about who is being unfair to
whom. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) GET FORBES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Is the government out to get a reporter who exposed media collusion in
anti-drug policy? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A freelance reporter shines an unwanted spotlight on financial aspects
of a government propaganda campaign which reek of questionable
practices and media manipulation. In response, the government agency in
charge faxes letters to the editors of the publication that printed his
story, and to at least one columnist at another publication and
potential market for the freelancer, questioning his credibility,
ethics and political positions. A scenario from a dictatorship or from
a communist country? No, it's happening right here and now in the
U.S.A. The President's Office of Drug Control Policy (ONDCP, or the
drug czar's office) is going after the messenger who exposed its policy
of paying media organizations to write or air stories favorable to its
political strategy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) COLONEL ADMITS HE USED CASH FROM WIFE'S DRUG SMUGGLING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK -- A U.S. Army officer who once oversaw the government's antidrug wars in Colombia admitted Monday that he had paid his household bills with thousands of dollars he knew his wife had received from smuggling heroin from Bogota to Manhattan and Queens. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (6-7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This skeptical treatment of the drug war in an unsigned editorial in
the Newark Star-Ledger sounds unimpressed. Is this a sign of things to
come? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A straight news story from a Midwestern state demonstrates that
although changes in the way drug cases are handled has made their
disposition more efficient, the drug/crime problem has continued to
grow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) EDITORIAL: MISBEGOTTEN WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It should come as no surprise that we are losing the war on drugs.
People continue to use illegal substances. What may be surprising to
some is that many abusers are not ne'er-do-wells hanging on the
fringes of society. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A new government report found that 70 percent of people who abuse drugs
work full time, and 80 percent of those who abuse alcohol are full-time
employees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
That's a different problem involving different people than the one
we've been told we must fight. Maybe we should turn down the noise on
drugs a little so we can hear the facts better. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) COCAINE TRADE FLOURISHES DESPITE DECADE-OLD DRUG COURTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
System Takes Criminals Off Street But Doesn't Dent The Market,
Prosecutors Say | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By his own word, Luis Michell-Retan needed just 18 months in Milwaukee
to establish himself as a mid level cocaine dealer. At 20, he has just
a sixth-grade education. He came to the country illegally from Mexico
and can't speak English. But opportunities still abound in the local
cocaine trade, and customers don't ask for resumes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When the countywide Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Unit was established
in 1988, the joint effort by law enforcement agencies and the district
attorney's office resulted in a 54% increase in felony narcotics
prosecutions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But the county's cocaine problem continued to grow, and along with it
came an increase in violent crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
--------- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (8-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Washington Post described a DC program which could well become the
model for a brave new zero-tolerance world enforced by near-universal
urine testing just advocated by Jams Q. Wilson. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In other national items, the CSM editorial reflected the satisfaction
expressed by all (except law enforcement) over promised restrictions
on forfeiture while the Supremes awarded the cause personal liberty a
token victory. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) MAKING SYSTEM PROOF-POSITIVE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Court Agency Gets a Handle on Drug Testing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toxicologist Jocelyn Harris carefully picks up a tube of urine and
holds it up to the light, noting its pale, golden color. Not only was
this sample bar-coded, but from the moment it was "made," a computer
program has been keeping track of its path, recording each person who
handled it, and each machine that has tested it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Who would have thought one little vial of urine could demand so much
attention? The procedure, known as "chain of custody," is used by the
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of
Columbia (CSOSA). The agency was created under the federal D.C.
Revitalization Act in 1997 in an effort to restore confidence in the
District's criminal justice system. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carver said CSOSA is moving toward a neighborhood-based model of supervision. Probation and parole officers have become community supervision officers, working closely with neighborhood activists and D.C. police. When information is pooled at neighborhood meetings, each group learns where the problem streets and the problem people are. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(9) EDITORIAL: RECLAIMING JUSTICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Few prosecutorial tools have been more open to abuse than federal civil-forfeiture laws. The horror stories of innocent people deprived of their property on the mere suspicion of wrongdoing have piled up over the years. Congress, to its credit, has finally acted. The bill that cleared the House April 11 goes a long way toward rebalancing the scales of justice. It establishes a much higher threshold before prosecutors can seize property that may be involved in crime. Until now, a bare showing of probable cause was adequate. Under the new law - which President Clinton has agreed to sign - the government must show a substantial connection between seized belongings and a crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(10) HANDS OFF LUGGAGE, COURT SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ruling Supports Passengers' Rights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that police officers
cannot squeeze the carry-on luggage of public transit passengers in
searching for contraband without a warrant or reasonable suspicion of
criminal activity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In their 7-2 decision, the justices overturned a Texas drug conviction, saying that a passenger has a constitutionally protected expectation that police, and other travelers, will respect the privacy of luggage and not grope it in an effort to determine its contents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-12 ) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On the West Coast, a gloomy assessment of prospects of undoing
California's Draconian Three-Strikes law any time soon- even as the
weekly update of LAPD Rampart horrors brought the number of tainted
cases to 180. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(11) EDITORIAL: 3-STRIKES REFORM FACES TOUGH FOES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The state assembly has begun to take steps toward modifying
California's uniquely onerous three-strikes law with the passage of AB
2447 by the Assembly Public Safety Committee last week. If the issue
could be divorced from partisan politics and political campaigns-which
unfortunately is not very likely-reform would probably be a cinch. But
it is a political issue and- at least in public, certain positions have
become set in stone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(12) 71 MORE CASES MAY BE VOIDED DUE TO RAMPART (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn said Monday that at least 71 more
criminal convictions may have to be overturned because of credibility
problems with LAPD officers implicated in the department's ongoing
corruption scandal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The misdemeanor cases--many of them involving drug and gun arrests--are in addition to the 99 felony convictions that authorities previously identified as being tainted by alleged police misconduct. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GENERAL COMMENT: In an effort to cope with an increased number of (Top)international items and generally static number of cannabis items posted each week, I plan to combine overseas and domestic cannabis items for a few weeks. Reader response encouraged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In a move as surprising as it was gratifying, the judge who sentenced
Marvin Chavez to a harsh six year prison term after denying him a 215
defense ordered him released on bail pending appeal- perhaps because
the conviction of David Herrick, Chavez' erstwhile Orange County
associate, was reversed after a similar ruling. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The story of how an unusual accident led Santa Cruz resident Valerie
Corral to become a major icon for medical cannabis in Northern
California should be read by everyone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(13) ACTIVIST FREED IN MEDICAL POT CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Judge Reverses Marvin Chavez's Conviction And Orders Him Released
On Bail Pending Appeal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There was a moment of shock. Then the courtroom erupted in whoops and
cheers as the judge - who last year sentenced medical marijuana
activist Marvin Chavez to six years in state prison - unexpectedly
freed him Friday, pending appeal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borris also issued a plea from the bench - echoed by Nick - imploring
the state Court of Appeal to finally rule on the highly controversial
Proposition 215. The medical marijuana law passed in 1996, but its
application and interpretation have been uneven. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(14) INSIDE THE REMOTE FARM THAT SUPPLIES THE WO/MEN'S ALLIANCE FOR (Top)MEDICAL MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hiding out It's hard to sneak up on Valerie and Mike Corral's house.
First you have to drive a mile up a dirt road so steep your car engine
rumbles like it has bronchitis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Then there is a gate and a pair of tail-wagging dogs who set up a
symphony of barks at the first sign of a stranger. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Because when you grow marijuana - even if it's for sick people and even
if there is a state law that allows you to do it - there are a lot of
people you've got to worry about. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Their crusade began when Mike read an article in a medical journal that
said marijuana could relieve epileptic seizures like the ones Valerie
got after the car crash. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15-16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Canada, a disturbing report that police are encouraging a
vigilante mentality towards growers trying to take advantage of the
thriving BC pot market, while an interesting essay from
prohibition-plagued Britain about how Swiss growers are marketing
"hemp" sounded just a bit jealous. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(15) CN BC: SPECIAL REPORT: BUSTING THE GROW OPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fighting back: Pot growers targeted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A new brand of citizens' crime-fighting meetings is sweeping the Lower
Mainland as residents look for ways to end the boom in home-based
marijuana grow operations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From blue-collar North Delta to blueblood West Vancouver, neighbours
are turning out by the dozens to learn more about B.C.'s lucrative
underground industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It is one thing for Block Watch programs to report things that threaten
safety and security in neighbourhoods, Westwood says. "It's another
thing for police to organize a program for people to snitch on their
neighbours. I have no sense this is a community-based initiative. This
is a police initiative." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(16) SWITZERLAND: CANNABIS NETS SWISS TRADERS UKP200 MILLION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concern is growing in Switzerland that a legal loophole allows cannabis
to be cultivated openly on farms and sold over the counter or via the
Internet as "hemp". Unlike most European countries, Switzerland allows
cannabis to be grown legally while prohibiting its use as a drug.
Cannabis, used for rope making and as a herbal tonic since ancient
times, has enjoyed a revival among growers in recent years and is
cultivated to produce textiles and cosmetics, to flavour food products
and even to brew hemp beer. Dozens of hemp farms have sprung up in
Switzerland in the past five years along with 150 hemp shops, where
hemp products are sold together with marijuana. To cover themselves
legally, the shops pack the dried weed in cellophane, and then barcode,
price and label it as "hemp tea", "dried flowers", "organic buds" and
"scent sachets". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Only the Right-wing nationalist Swiss People's Party was opposed to the
legalising of cannabis. The cannabis debate may yet surprise
Switzerland's neighbours, who regard the law-and-order conscious Alpine
state as a bastion of conservatism. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (17-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A report from Australia described a relatively new phenomenon; the
drug criminals the expertise of ex-law enforcement types- another
example of how the police are overmatched. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Canada, a worried feature about the growing popularity of MDMA was part objective reporting and part generic "drug scare." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An unusually articulate and emotional indictment of Prohibition came
from a New Zealand academic concerned with the medical profession's
compliance with prohibition based drug policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) AUSTRALIA: DRUG WAR: THE ENEMY JUST GETS SMARTER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International criminal gangs are mounting counter-intelligence operations against police as their attempts to smuggle massive drug shipments into Australia become increasingly sophisticated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug entrepreneurs have responded to increased Australian police
activity by using their vast wealth to buy equipment to encode their
telephone conversations, to keep police stations under surveillance
when shipments are due, and to study police techniques so that they can
change their own tactics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The source said counter-intelligence had become a huge industry in the
criminal world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"It employs great legal skills. Around the world former police and
intelligence officers have the capacity to defeat your electronics -
listening devices, phone taps and tracking systems and everything else
we use." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(18) CANADA: RAVE FEVER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Raves Are All The Rage, But Drugs Are Casting A Pall Over Their Sunny
Peace-And-Love Ethos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's 2:30 a.m. on a Saturday night, and Amanda Mondoux is just hitting
her party stride. All smiles and a swirl of flapping clothes and damp
ponytail, the 17-year-old is swaying like someone in a voodoo trance,
brandishing glow sticks to carve arcs of light through the shooting
lasers. Amanda, a Grade 12 student, is among some 7,500 young people --
a motley crowd dressed in brightly coloured "fun" fur, pants that hang
like sacks and baseball caps -- gathered to dance till morning in a
cavernous Toronto exhibition hall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trafficking in ecstasy and other rave drugs, meanwhile, has become a
virtual epidemic. By no means are all those pills, vials and capsules being
consumed at raves, but their association with the all-night parties -- and
the deaths -- have made raves a hot-button issue in municipal politics
across the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(19) SILENCE ON THE REAL DANGER OF DRUGS IS A SHAMEFUL ACT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WE WOULD all like to believe that our laws are based on reason. In the
case of the laws prohibiting some drugs while allowing others, we'd
like to think that the laws are based on the danger-level of different
drugs; that the legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are not as dangerous
as the illegal drugs like marijuana or the opiates. But there is
actually no logic, nothing but historical accident, behind our drug
laws. The legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are among the most
dangerous. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But there is a lot of momentum behind this | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They know quite well the whole idea is silly, and often say so - in
private, among friends. In public, they keep silent and let the cops
and the courts put more people each day through the meatgrinder of the
drug laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (20-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unexpectedly strong bipartisan opposition to Colombian "aid" in the
House, combined with Majority Leader Lott's tactical opposition,
provided some hope it could be stalled in the Senate. Reaction was
predictably mixed; but Senator Coverdell was the only one citing
Venezuelan oil as a reason for military assistance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(20) EDITORIAL: COLOMBIA AID BILL DRAWS SKEPTICISM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The most interesting aspect of a $13 billion supplemental appropriation
passed by the House, including emergency spending for the failed Kosovo
operation and a hefty $1.6 billion for aid to Colombia, was the
emergence of a growing bipartisan skepticism about overseas adventures.
The coalition of skeptics - or should that be realists? - didn't carry
the day. But it showed surprising muscle. And the bill could run into
more trouble in the Senate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(21) OPED: WE MUST RESPOND TO COLOMBIA CRISIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The current oil crisis has revived America's appreciation for our
strategic relationships in the Middle East and why the United States
came to their defense in the Persian Gulf War -- half a world away. To
me, there is an indisputable parallel to the current situation in our
own backyard: the crisis in Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CJPF's Eric Sterling in National Review | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The National Review's website has published the recent testimony of
Eric E. Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation,
regarding this year's National Drug Control Strategy. This concise
statement is perhaps one of the most insightful analyses published on
the subject. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Please take the time to read the testimony, which only takes a few
minutes, and forward it to other concerned persons. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Colombia Report Web Page | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A good page overviewing the militarization of the War on Drugs in
Colombia can be found at: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Alert: PURPLE CRAZE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PURPLE CRAZE is a fictional story. Drugs are legalized | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PURPLE CRAZE should have a general appeal to a mass audience -- thus
bringing The cause of reform further into the mainstream. It is
available as an E-book at http://www.chasbooks.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense Site Map | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The DrugSense web team have been working on a Drugsense/MAP site map to
help you find your way around. It still needs some work but it
is worth bookmarking now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Improvements at Letterstoleaders.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Just to let you know we upped the character limit for letters to 4000
from 2000 and fixed a problem with bulk mail for Quebec MNAs, which
was malfunctioning. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
So now you can give them twice as much hell at: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We will be doing the same with the American and Australian systems
this weekend. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If anyone uses the Quebec system let me know how it goes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chuck Beyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Narco News Bulletin Premiers on Internet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offers Investigative Reports and Translations from Latin America | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Challenges White House Drug Office to Disprove Allegations of US
Wrongdoing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY, APRIL 18, 2000: The Narco News Bulletin made its "shot
heard around the world" today with the publication of an internet web
site that reports on US drug policy in Latin America. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The site is available at: http://www.narconews.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Why are streets always one-way around government buildings? Is this
some kind of existential statement?" -- Fran Van Cleave | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, Newshawks and letter
writing activists. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NOW YOU CAN DONATE TO DRUGSENSE ONLINE AND IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We incur many costs in creating our many and varied services. If you
are able to help by contributing to the DrugSense effort visit our
convenient donation web site at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |
 | current issue | this issue |