Thursday, April 2, 2009

Notable Quotables: A change in the “war on drugs”?

Our nation's demand for drugs often fuels drug production and trafficking, as well as violence and corruption, within other nations. Domestic drug use directly funds the terrible drug-related crime currently wracking Mexico and fuels illegal armed groups in Colombia. Our international drug control programs help strengthen law enforcement and judicial institutions, while providing alternative livelihoods for poor farmers.

While these international supply reduction programs play a vital role in improving security, supporting the rule of law, and denying terrorist and criminal safe havens around the world, the greatest contribution we can make toward stability would be to reduce our demand for illicit drugs. – [ed. emphasis added]
---"Drug Czar" nominee Gil Kerlikowske read from a prepared statement during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

As one article noted, the choice of the Seattle Police Chief to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy may signal “part of a broader shift away from long prison sentences for drug offenders and toward an emphasis on prevention and treatment.”

Image- AP
Online Sources- ABC News, U.S. Senate

2 comments:

Antinomian said...

Mr. Kerlikowske is clueless. He asserts the greatest contribution we can make toward stability would be to reduce our demand for illicit drugs. This is the same old thinking that got us in the mess. Stability will only come when psychoactive substances are legal and there is no profit motive to break the law.

Consider all the demand for alcoholic drinks. Does this big demand destabilize the border? No. Why not? Because alcoholic drinks are legal. Legalize drugs and the border will be plenty stable.

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