| October 13, 2000 #170 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PBS Frontline Series Follow Up | ||||||||||||||||||||
Below are just a few of the many letters, opinions, and factoids in the wake of this weeks 2 part PBS Frontline series "Drug Wars." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Frontline: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Your series is a mild improvement over the overt and tacit support
journalists have historically provided to America's intellectually bankrupt
and highly destructive drug policy in that it points out some of that
policy's failures. However it stops well short of examining the reasons for
those failures and does not even approach stating the obvious historical
fact that every attempt at substance prohibition has proven to be both
futile and destructive. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Journalism in the United States has a reprehensible history: it has been
the willing handmaiden of racism and repression. This series did less than
it could have to atone for that sorry record. All that would have been
needed was accurate research and the simple truth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This series was ultimately a disappointment because it stopped well short
of both truth and accuracy- probably to avoid unduly offending the
political supporters of our quasi-religious national policy. Those
supporters were undoubtedly discomfited, but not nearly as much as they
would have been by an accurate appraisal of their work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tom O'Connell, MD | ||||||||||||||||||||
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I expect because we are all heavily involved in the nuances of drug
policy that the Frontline effort to cover the issue did not tell us
much new. Although even for us the backtracking of former DEA
Administrator Jack Lawn was a pleasure to behold as was the review of
Bill Bennett's misdirected drug policy. However, for the public -- that
does not monitor drug issues closely, if at all -- the history of
failure may have been eye opening or re-enforcing of the sense that the
drug war cannot work. From that perspective the Frontline documentary
was a big plus. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Of course, the failure to deal with how to best control the market is a
major oversight. The reality is that even the most successful
treatment-based demand reduction programs will never eliminate demand.
Indeed, there will always be significant demand of many of the
currently illegal drugs. Since there will be demand there will always
be a market to satisfy the demand. Therefore, we (as a society) need to
come up with a strategy to control the market as effectively as
possible. As a result there will have to be debate between prohibition
vs. regulation. It might have been too much for Frontline to bite off
with this show, but there will have to be some discussion of this issue
in the future otherwise drug policy will be stuck in the ping-pong
between treatment and incarceration -- with neither ever working and us
bouncing back to whichever is in vogue at the time. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our job is to find a way to break this ping pong match between
treatment and incarceration and force review of how to control the drug
market. It seems the two first steps are (1) breaking marijuana away
from the other drugs and encouraging regulation of the marijuana
market; and (2) allowing prescription access to heroin as the Swiss
have done. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kevin Zeese | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Dear Frontline: | ||||||||||||||||||||
I enjoyed watching your "Drug Wars" presentation. The information you
presented was valuable and timely. Unfortunately, there are a couple of
concerns which cause me to question the depth of your analysis and
reporting. | ||||||||||||||||||||
First, your report neglected to discuss the heroin warlords of
Southeast Asia. The Golden Triangle region has for years been a major
supplier of heroin to the US, and a significant source of corruption
throughout SE Asia. Yet, instead your report focused on the stories
that grabbed headlines for the DEA during the 1980s and 1990s,
specifically Mexico and Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Second, rather than use an objective medical or scientific source to discuss the harms of crack and cocaine, you used former DEA agent Bob Stuttman and a former crack dealer. In so doing, you perpetuated the hype and hysteria around crack which you rather otherwise skewered during the program. The reality is crack is cocaine, thus cocaine is just as dangerous as crack -- the difference is that one is smoked and powder is usually snorted (or injected). Indeed, the main differences between the freebase cocaine of the 1970s and the crack cocaine of the 1980s and 1990s are the method of production and the fact that crack is broken up and sold in cheap, single-dose units. What makes smoking crack more dangerous than snorting powder is the fact that smoking a drug is a quicker, more intense high. The notion that crack was some sort of super-drug is a false notion that could lead to the perception that powder cocaine is benign by comparison. The fact that declining numbers of young people view cocaine as dangerous, as reported in the newest Household Survey, tends to support my contention. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I hope that sometime in the future Frontline will devote its resources
to a fuller analysis of US drug policy. Though "Drug Wars" was
interesting, it was ultimately the story of the DEA and a few of their
foes. Interesting video, but not as substantive as I'd hoped,
especially coming from Frontline. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Doug McVay | ||||||||||||||||||||
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There is a lot on FRONTLINE's website, including the opportunity to
comment on the program: | ||||||||||||||||||||
The website on the symposium that I participated in last week should be
up later today: | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/symposium/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eric Sterling | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The CSM took a sobering look at the significance of the Supreme
Court's current docket; other papers editorialized on the issue of
drug testing expectant mothers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Around the nation, school districts are wrestling with whether to drug
test their students; for many the only questions seem to be who? And
how young? | ||||||||||||||||||||
More drug hysteria: a hand-wringing meth scare series ran in the
Fresno Bee; its conclusions were predictably simple minded: we need to
continue "interdiction" while spending even more on "demand
reduction;" never realizing that their series qualifies as demand
enhancement, aka as advertising. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(1) CITIES MAY CALL OUT DOGS TO FIND DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
High Court To Hear Arguments On Whether Random Narcotics Roadblocks Are
Legal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
You are in a car heading across town to an important meeting - late, as usual. On the highway ahead, you notice a flashing sign and a police officer waving all the cars off to the side of the road. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An officer asks to see your license and registration and says you have been stopped at a narcotics checkpoint. While the officer verifies your paperwork, another officer leads a drug-sniffing dog around the car. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) EDITORIAL: BABIES AND DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pregnant Addicts Pose Serious Risks | ||||||||||||||||||||
Before wading into the privacy-rights thicket that is before the
Supreme Court over the constitutionality of a South Carolina hospital's
policy of calling the cops on pregnant drug abusers, let's stipulate a
few things: | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
If the Supreme Court finds the South Carolina hospital did not violate
pregnant women's constitutional rights, then other hospitals should
follow suit by drug testing pregnant women and, if necessary, using the
information to leverage them into treatment. Combatting our nation's
No. 1 health problem requires nothing less. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) EDITORIAL: ARRESTING MOMS ON COKE IS NOT THE BEST SOLUTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Supreme Court will wrestle with the issue of whether the Constitution permits a public hospital to report pregnant women who test positive for cocaine to the police. Meanwhile, citizens ought to examine another question: Is this an effective way to protect children? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
But we, as a society, need to consider the ramifications of turning the
results of drug tests over to police without the explicit permission of
the patient. And a Supreme Court decision upholding the Charleston
policy would be a green light to initiate similar policies in other
areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) WYLIE SCHOOL'S DRUG-TESTING POLICY ALTERED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Board Votes To Include Band, Choir Students | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wylie school trustees decided Tuesday night to extend the district's
new random drug and alcohol testing policy to include students in band
and choir. Those two groups were not included two weeks ago, when
trustees gave final approval to the plan to randomly test junior high
school and high school students who participate in extracurricular
activities. The revised plan requires all students in grades seven
through 12 involved in extracurricular activities to undergo random
testing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) A MADNESS CALLED METH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
We Are Losing The Drug War In Our Own Back Yard. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Speed, crank, crystal, ice: Whatever its street name these days,
methamphetamine represents a threat -- not only to the people who use
it, but to their children, their neighbors, the environment and the
wider community. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
An adequate police response to attack the supply side of the meth threat is essential. But it's also true that the money will be largely wasted if government doesn't act simultaneously to reduce demand. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Resources to attack the demand side -- money for treatment and
education -- are almost nonexistent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Beyond more treatment, there is an urgent need for education about the
special dangers of this awful drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (6-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Bay Guardian noted that the most outspoken opposition to present
drug policy is expressed by Republicans. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Iowa, Bush resurrected Bob Dole's old campaign rhetoric and added a
few billion for treatment, but lest one think Bush opposes
incarceration, a paragraph deep within the Washington Post article
cites his Texas record. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gore's response (predictably) cited Clinton's arrests and
expenditures, while the head of the DEA gave us the straight skinny:
it's a "balance." Duh. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Will our lazy and complicit press even ask a drug policy question in
the second "debate?" Don't count on it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) WHO'S BOYCOTTING THE DRUG WAR? (HINT: IT'S NOT THE DEMOCRATS) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
When it comes to the war on drugs, the foremost conscientious objectors
in the halls of government tend to have one thing in common: they're
Republicans. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico, perhaps the nation's foremost advocate
for legalizing weed, is a Republican. So is Mike Chase, running for
Congress from California's North Coast: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Then there's Tom Campbell, the San Jose Republican who's challenging
Dianne Feinstein for a Senate seat. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) BUSH ASSAILS ADMINISTRATION'S ANTI-DRUG RECORD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MARION, Ill., Oct. 6 - George W. Bush harshly rebuked the Clinton
administration today for its handling of drug policy and offered his
own plan to pour $2.7 billion over five years into drug prevention and
treatment programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The crux of the Texas governor's speech was that the White House has placed a low priority on drug control, erasing the gains made during the 12 years of the Reagan and Bush administrations ending in 1993. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
As Texas governor, Bush - along with stressing treatment - has
emphasized making drug laws tougher, something that was not a focus of
today's proposal. He has promoted the repeal of a law that provides
automatic probation for first-time offenders convicted of selling or
possessing small quantities of drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gore spokesman Doug Hattaway said in a statement, noting that Gore has proposed $5.3 billion in spending over 10 years to fight drugs. "Al Gore and the administration proposed the largest anti-drug budget ever, and under this administration drug arrests are up and drug use is down." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DONNIE MARSHALL: DRUG WAR REQUIRES DUAL ATTACK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans once again are embroiled in a debate over how to solve the
drug epidemic that plagues our communities. Some favor a heavy emphasis
on arresting drug traffickers, while others argue for reducing drug
demand. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
We are far from claiming victory. There is much work to be done by all of us, parents, educators, businesses, law enforcement, the medical community, civic leaders, clergy and concerned citizens. But I know that we can reduce drug abuse and drug-related crime to much lower levels. To do so, we must renew our resolve as a nation, and we must attack both the supply and demand sides of the problem with equal vigor. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
On the policy front, perhaps the gradual conversion of some of
Johnson's critics has implications for reform: even a good idea needs
some exposure and repetition to win converts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Just under deadline; Arianna's incisive evaluation of Tulia (also see
Law Enforcement) confirms that she's now our most informed and
consistent journalist writing about drug policy . | ||||||||||||||||||||
She's also absolutely right: Tulia is to the drug war what Salem was to witchcraft- and the story might yet become a symbol. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) POLL SHOWS NEW MEXICANS ARE WARMING UP TO HIS POSITIONS ON DRUG (Top) LAWS, SCHOOL VOUCHERS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Gary Johnson's standing with New Mexico voters is on the mend
after slumping last year when he began crusading for an overhaul of the
nation's laws against drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A new poll also shows that the governor's position on drug-law reform
and school vouchers - another of Johnson's signature issues - appear to
be catching on with voters. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) COLUMN: IS THIS A DRUG WAR OR A WITCH-HUNT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As Salem was to witch-hunt hysteria, so is the little town of Tulia,
Texas, to our modern version of the witch hunt, the drug war. In his
classic play "The Crucible," Arthur Miller captured for all time how a
mixture of fear, paranoia and bad laws led to a horrific miscarriage of
justice in 17th-century America. To explore the 21st-century equivalent
of this madness, someone -- David Mamet? Anna Deavere Smith? -- should
dramatize what is going on in this rural community of 5,000, best known
until now for its livestock auctions. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A forceful Op-Ed in the conservative Washington Times outlined the
dangers inherent in allowing greatly enhanced police discretion to
fight the drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||
One vivid example is Tulia, Texas; on its way to becoming a nationally recognized symbol of drug war racism and oppression. Also from Texas, more data confirming that profiling has become an accepted practice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Not only have similar themes characterized LA's disastrous Rampart
scandal; other more subtle injustices have come to light- and the
villains are not just police, but prosecutors. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Oh yes, this past week yet another grandfather was killed in yet
another botched drug raid- this time in Tennessee. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) COLUMN: RISKS LURKING IN THE WAR ON CRIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The war against crime is getting out of hand and needs to be reassessed
before the Constitution is torn to shreds. Both lawmakers and law
enforcers have forgotten that the ends don't justify the means. In the
determination to pursue crime-especially drug-related crime - ever more
discretionary and unaccountable power is being concentrated in law
enforcement personnel. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Well-intentioned law-and-order Republicans have done far more damage to
justice than they have to crime. The United States now has so many
criminal offenses that do not require criminal intent that every one of
us is at risk. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Now that crime no longer requires intent, it is foolish to expect law
enforcement to differentiate between innocent infractions and criminal
intent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) RACISM SAID TO HAVE FUELED DRUG CASES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Residents Questioning Arrests, Long Sentences In Small Texas Town | ||||||||||||||||||||
TULIA, Texas -- The officers and deputies came in the morning. They
arrested pig farmers and warehouse workers, single mothers and lithe
young men who once were heroes and the town's pride and joy -- its high
school football team. Forty-three people in all. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sentiment here began to turn after a series of reports about the white
undercover agent who had set up the 1999 sting, a journeyman deputy
with a tainted past whose word was the only evidence against most of
the defendants. That information led the ACLU last week to file a
federal civil rights lawsuit against the county, charging the arrests
were racially motivated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) STUDIES FIND RACE DISPARITIES IN TEXAS TRAFFIC STOPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
HOUSTON, Oct. 6 - Black and Hispanic motorists across Texas are more
than twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be searched during
traffic stops while black drivers in certain rural areas of the state
are also far more likely to be ticketed, according to two studies
examining possible racial profiling. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) POLICE CREDIBILITY DEBATE COULD ALTER LEGAL SYSTEM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The sensational revelations emerging from the LAPD's Rampart corruption
scandal have sparked a bitter legal debate that promises to alter the
landscape of the criminal justice system in Los Angeles County for
years to come. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Times has uncovered numerous instances in which police and
prosecutors failed to provide defense attorneys with relevant
information about officers, including a previously undisclosed case
involving Rafael Perez, the convicted drug thief and ex-LAPD officer at
the center of the scandal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) DOA - TAKE A BITE OUT OF LIFE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Remember that crime prevention slogan, "Take a bite out of crime"?
Well, in Lebanon, Tenn., the police just took a bite out of an innocent
man instead. At 10 p.m., Wednesday evening, about the only thing
64-year-old John Adams was interested in doing was relaxing in his easy
chair and catching a bit of TV; little did he know that a handful of
Lebanon police officers were standing outside his door getting ready to
cancel his show. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Kubby trial will have resumed by the time this is published; for a detailed review, see the Cannabis Culture article (URL appended) | ||||||||||||||||||||
America's implacable commitment to cannabis prohibition is marked by
our persistent efforts to extradite Renee Boje; recent legalization
sentiment in Canada won't make Minister Anne McClellan's decision any
easier. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Further legalization pressures will be felt by the US as other Western
nations (now including Portugal and Switzerland) plod- ever so slowly-
towards sanity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The WP explanation of Cannabis politics in Britain displays a candor
and intelligence not found in their articles discussing the same issue
in a US context. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) KUBBY DEFENSE LAWYERS MOVE TO DISQUALIFY DA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Harsh words filed this week in Placer County Superior Court by defense
attorneys accuse District Attorney Bradford Fenocchio of prosecuting
medical marijuana activists Steve and Michele Kubby for "improper
political and blatantly bias(ed) purposes." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) AMERICAN FACES 10 YEARS IN JAIL FOR TENDING PLANTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The case of a U.S. woman who fled to B.C. after being charged for watering plants at the home of a medicinal marijuana advocate highlights the gap between Canadian values and America's war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Flower child or felon? Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan will make
a key decision about that question sometime after Oct. 15, the deadline
for submissions in what is fast becoming a politically charged
extradition case. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS SOFTEN LINE ON CANNABIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Many European governments are shifting from
harsh soft-drug penalties towards a more tolerant approach to drugs
such as cannabis. The most dramatic change in policy is likely to come
from Portugal, where hard and soft drugs alike are expected to be
decriminalised within weeks. Earlier this month, the Swiss government
came out in favour of legalising cannabis and is expected to put its
recommendations to parliament next year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) CAMPAIGN TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA USE IN BRITAIN PICKS UP STEAM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LONDON - The campaign to legalize marijuana in Britain gained a burst
of new momentum this weekend as politicians, pundits and even some
police officers called for repeal of the prohibition on use of the
drug. And it all came about as a backlash against a tough new proposal
calling for "zero tolerance" of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The idea of legalizing marijuana for general use has been a non-starter
in the United States for years, but in most of Western Europe it is
increasingly popular. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (20-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
During a week in which Colombia remained relatively quiet, events in
neighboring countries gave NY Times correspondent Clifford Krauss an
excuse to write about the murky connections that have always existed
between drug traffickers, local officials and US brass in the Northern
part of South America. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) OUR AND THEIR MAN IN PERU (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LIMA, Peru -- In recent years President Clinton has apologized for the
C.I.A.'s training of death squad leaders in Guatemala and has made
public once-secret files on the killing of leftists in El Salvador,
Chile and Argentina. The aim was to show that democracy and human
rights have a new importance in American policy in Latin America now
that the cold war is over. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
... By the time the bribery scandal broke, he (Montesinos) had lost the | ||||||||||||||||||||
The situation recalled the fall of Panama's General Noriega, who would
do favors for the White House one day and for Fidel Castro the next.
Mr. Montesinos, like General Noriega, also shamelessly flaunted his
closeness to Americans …. In 1998, when another scandal threatened, he
practically ambushed retired Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, President
Clinton's drug czar, in order to appear on Peruvian television shaking
his hand during an official visit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) BOLIVIA MAKES KEY CONCESSIONS TO INDIANS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LA PAZ, Bolivia, Oct. 6 - The Bolivian government today agreed to a
broad range of demands by Indian peasant leaders, buckling under the
pressure of three weeks of road blockades that paralyzed the economy,
caused food shortages and threatened to force the resignation of
President Hugo Banzer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Chapare coca growers, who continue to block roads between the
cities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz with stones and logs, agreed today
to resume separate talks with the government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
From Ireland came a follow up which traced a mysterious outbreak of
fatal clostridial infections among addicts in the UK and Ireland
earlier this year to an Afghan source. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) FATAL HEROIN DOSE TRACED TO CONTAMINATED AFGHAN SOIL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Scientists who have been tracing the source of contamination of heroin
which has killed 59 drug addicts in Ireland, Britain and Scotland
believe the original source of the infection was likely to have been
an infected animal in Afghanistan. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This infection was then passed into the soil and entered the crop.
British scientists have identified a common soil bacterium, clostridium
nouyi, as the likely source of the mystery killer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (23-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two sets of seizure data from the Far East suggest that the US is not
the only country where illegal amphetamines are finding great
acceptance. Remember this was mostly a prescription (legal) market
through the Fifties. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(23) POLICE INQUIRY LIKELY DESPITE BIG DRUG HAULS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE Australian Federal Police will face a parliamentary inquiry despite seizing record amounts of illicit drugs in the past year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The AFP collected more than a ton (1161kg) of illegal drugs in 1999-00,
but concern over staffing levels, morale and funding prompted the
inquiry. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The AFP annual report, which was tabled last week, shows amphetamines
had become Australia's favourite drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
More than 234kg of amphetamines or "speed" was seized in the past year
and the AFP has predicted an explosion of the drug into Australia from
Asia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(24) THAILAND: CALL FOR MARTIAL LAW ON MYANMAR BORDER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BANGKOK -- The Thai Senate plans to ask the government to declare
martial law along parts of the Thai-Myanmar border to fight amphetamine
smugglers, a senator has said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maha Sarakham Senator Witthaya Masena, the Senate foreign affairs
committee spokesman, said his committee and the Senate committees on
local administration and military affairs had agreed that the
government should declare martial law in border areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PBS Frontline Series "Drug Wars" Available Online | ||||||||||||||||||||
To watch Part one of Drug Wars, go here: | ||||||||||||||||||||
To see part 2, go here: | ||||||||||||||||||||
To see the earlier PBS Frontline documentaries on the drug war,
"Snitch" and/or "Busted: America's War on Marijuana", and many other
documentaries, go to the HempTV documentary index: | ||||||||||||||||||||
HempTV also has other video indexes for news clips, miscellaneous shows
and our own TV series, Cannabis Common Sense. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by D. Paul Stanford | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
TRAC Offers Excellent Stats on Drug Warrior Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
TRAC has fantastic data on the actions of federal agencies, including
arrests, enforcement efforts, the number of cases brought by various
agencies, under what law and the outcome. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For example: | ||||||||||||||||||||
At http://trac.syr.edu/whatsnew/cri_trends/drugs.html they examine
Bush's charge that Clinton has not been very diligent in the
enforcement of our nation's drug laws. They find that "the data show
that in the first two years of the Clinton Administration drug
prosecution per capita dropped somewhat. From 1995 to 1998, however,
they increased to 11,051 per 100 million population in 1998. This
compared with 10,636 per 100 million at the end of the Bush years and
7,419 at the close of the Reagan administration." | ||||||||||||||||||||
At http://trac.syr.edu/tracdea/findings/aboutDEA/newFindings.html they
report that: | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Data from the Department's Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys show
that the average federal drug sentences went from 86 months in fiscal
year 1992 to 67 months in 1998, a drop of 22 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* During the same period that sentences were moving lower, the number
of federal drug prosecutions by all federal agencies dipped and then
rose, ending 1998 at a new high -- the largest volume of federal drug
convictions in the nation's history. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Marijuana was involved in more 1998 federal convictions than any other single drug (34% of all federal drug convictions), with powder cocaine and crack cocaine coming in second (28%) and third. (17%) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Bill Piper | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Libertarian Party Anti Drug War Election Ad | ||||||||||||||||||||
View in RealVideo at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
It will knock you socks off. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Chuck Beyer | ||||||||||||||||||||
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Three Hot Articles From Salon.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following articles from Salon.com came in too late for this weeks
Weekly News in Review but make very interesting reading | ||||||||||||||||||||
HEALTH -- The drug war's Tweedledee- Does National Institute on Drug
Abuse chief Alan Leshner push propaganda over science in his close
coordination with drug czar Barry McCaffrey? | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.salon.com/health/feature/2000/10/10/nida/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=110 | ||||||||||||||||||||
COVER -- Drug war politics - The presidential candidates have not
widely touted their plans to deal with drug abuse. Is it because of
their own suspect histories? | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.salon.com/health/feature/2000/10/12/drug_wars/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=110 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reefer Madness: America's surreal hypocrisy about recreational drugs
has reached the full-blown Dali stage. | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2000/10/12/drugs/index.html?CP=SAL&DN=110 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"What are called rational grounds for our beliefs are often extremely irrational attempts to justify our instincts." - T.H. Huxley | ||||||||||||||||||||
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