DRUGS: A MATTER OF BIOTERRORISM

In February 2001 the Talaban had all but eradicated opium production in Afghanistan. Then 911 happened and we went to Afghanistan to wipe out the Talaban and oust Osama bin Laden. But we never ousted Osama bin Laden and today he is known as the narco-terrorist, reportedly reaping billions of dollars in drug money.

In the article "Osama bin Laden a Narco-Terrorist, published January 22, 2004 in the Washington Times, it is stated that "It is no longer sufficient to go after only charities and bank accounts. Washington must fuse counterterrorism and counter narcotics into an inseparable mission." (http://opioids.com/afghanista n/osama.html.

Today, the production and trafficking of opium in Afghanistan is at its highest level ever; whereas in 2001 before 911, the production of opium in Afghanistan was almost zero. (chart - UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey, 2007 at www.parl.gc.ca/information/lib rary/PRBpubs/prb0718-e.htm)

According to information at the above website Afghanistan is one of the world's poorest countries, yet it is the largest exporter of illicit drugs.

Drugs are an economic issue - with increased demand there is more supply. To cut down on supply we need to cut down on demand.

The demand for drugs - opium, cocaine, and heroin is coming mainly from North America and Europe. Poor farmers in poor countries can make a lot more money by producing drug plants than by producing plants for agriculture, so the poor farmer gets caught up in the production of the poppy plant in Afghanistan and the coca plant in Bolivia and other South American countries for purely economic reasons.

The United States needs to get a handle on stopping the production of drugs in other countries but also in stopping their production, use, and demand in the United States.

Everywhere in the United States are the terrorist sympathizers pawning drugs off to innocent children and adults thus increasing the demand.

I recently spoke to a woman who told me of the plight of one family trying to raise a good family. The mother didn't realize that when her six-year old son was playing in the playground he was also being introduced to drugs. Everyday when the little boy went to the playground there was a man there giving out candy. Some of the children weren't interested but this little boy liked candy and accepted. So every day he would go there for his gift of candy but one day the drug dealer told him he would have

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