Have we forgotten the war on drugs? The real source of funding for terrorist organizations?

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 19:51:51 -0500

http://m.fbi.gov/#http://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/international-drug-trafficking-and-terrorism

"Historically, Afghanistan has been a major source of heroin throughout the world. Recently, al-Qa'ida and Sunni extremists have been associated through a number of investigations with drug trafficking. We have observed elements of the Taliban shipping and selling illegal drugs into the US. A recent joint FBI and DEA investigation resulted in the arrests of 16 Afghan and Pakistani subjects for involvement in a drug ring that was possibly linked to Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban. The investigation determined that heroin, grown and processed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, was being shipped to the U.S. Profits from the sale of the heroin were laundered through Afghan and Pakistani owned businesses and then sent back to associates of terrorist organizations."-

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Feb 24 at 2015 8:07 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 20:07:12 -0500

I'm not 100% sure where you are coming down on this, so I will presume that it is on the "Pro-Drug War, Aggressive response, police and otherwise" side.

Based on that, I will offer a contrarian view. I propose the the most efficient way to eliminate drug-related funding for terrorist organizations would be to: END the war on drugs.

Our experience with (alcohol) prohibition showed us several things, including:
1. If people want something, making it illegal will create a black market.
2. That black market demand will infuse a LOT of money into that activity.
3. The money will attract the criminal element predominantly (and by definition....)
4. That criminal element will act in a de jure criminal manner by trading in the illicit substance. It will act in a de facto criminal manner by habit and inclination. This latter set of actions (murder, bribery, assault, etc.) will be by far the worse.
5. As law enforcement gears up to fight the criminal element, there will be an "arms race" between the criminals and law enforcement, making it more dangerous, and thus more expensive.
6. Ending prohibition deescalates the preceding ills greatly, without significantly increasing use of the the "dread" substances.

I propose that, in the alternative, we decriminalize most recreational drug substances and allow Frito Lay and Dole have it out in the marketing wars.

I note that it has been two years (I think) since WA and CO legalized pot, and the states haven't gone up in a puff of smoke (I crack me up). Aggressive "assault" policing has gone down. Reported drug violence has gone down, and I believe pot use has as well (though those assessments are based on my perceptions. I could well be wrong. But I'm not....)

I separately note that:
1. Fine for thee, not for me. Thanks.
2. The military would still be held to current standards, as is appropriate.

And now, I shall make some popcorn and enjoy the show. :-D