OT: War on Drugs/Terrorism

[Guest guest]

Yo Kathleen,

 

> {This is just BEGGING for a slap down...but you've known me long enough,

> that unless I have a good reason, I don't avoid THOSE LOL)

>

> You think the " War on Terrorism " will last as long and be as effective

> as the " War on Drugs " ?

 

Not at all .. I think the War on Terrorism will have been won and be a

part of history while we're still fighting the War on Drugs.

 

Drug peddling is a profitable crime .. terrorism is not that profitable.

 

The folks in the West want drugs .. they don't want terrorism. Almost

without exception, international terrorist groups earn their money

through drug trafficking. The PKK that terrorized Turkey for 14 years

(they were put down two years ago) were the main smugglers of raw opium

to Europe. Drug smuggling into Europe through the Balkans dropped 80%

since then.

 

Of course, the Russian and Bulgarian Mafia has picked up a lot of that

mission - they'll have to be dealt with in time.

 

Interpol states that maybe half of the raw opium entering into the areas

of France (where clandestine and mobile laboratories are located) will

be curtailed as a result of US/British ongoing operations in Afghanistan

... and they say it will drive the prices sky high. The Talaban earned

most of their money smuggling drugs.

 

As long as you are fighting what some see as victimless crime (ask rich

folks if smack and coke is bad) and what others who have power don't

care about one way or the other (governments are generally involved or

turn their heads to such operations) ... coupled with a ready market ..

which we have in the West .. we will have drug crime. Folks will rat on

their neighbor if they think he's a terrorist but not if he's peddling

drugs.

 

The drugs of choice in the West are not just the products produced from

opiates and coca leaves ... they are also found in little bottles.

 

Uppers, downers, antibiotics, whatever, are purchased over the counter

in pharmacies here in Turkey. Same pharmaceutical companies y'all are

using to get your stuff from in America and Europe. Cheap too .. real

cheap .. which shows me that that the markup on such things is in the

thousands of percentage. Turks can't afford to pay what folks in the

West can pay so they sell for what they buyer can pay. Why no

control? Because we have no drug problems here. The prescription drug

problem in America is often caused and supported by legal drug peddlers

... medical doctors.

 

Got a problem? Take this pill when you get uptight .. this one when you

are out of energy and this one when you wanna sleep. Might surprise

y'all to know how many folks in America are on the legal see-saw.

 

We don't have incapacitating drug problems here in Turkey for the same

reason we don't have many incapacitating emotional problems - it's a

luxory folks can't afford. Western folks find this hard to understand.

Some have been convinced that depression is a universal human condition

rather than a culturally driven condition. There is no way to feed your

family or yourself if you are under the influence of either here - there

are no agencies to turn to. The closest thing to a drug problem here in

Turkey is controlled alcoholism .. feller or gal goes to work each day,

does his or her thing, then comes home and gets snockered.

 

> Deep Breath Butch, Deep Breath! As Dennis Archer says " Just stirring the

> Pot. "

 

No reason for deep breathing. When one has worked with this stuff it's

easy to discuss. I had many years of experience in drug interdiction

and counter-terrorism .... I'm real comfortable with both subjects and

have some strong ideas and beliefs in that regard. It's hard to

separate the two ... and if/when international terrorist organizations

find it hard to find a home .. the underworld will have a corner on the

market.

 

IF a person can afford their habit - be it cocaine or heroin or

whatever, it's possible that they can do no harm to anyone but

themselves. I know a retired neurosurgeon who used coke for years .. a

multi-millionaire. One exception this is but you can bet your booty

that lots of professionals are weekend snorters and chippers and you'll

never learn who they are cause you can't get into their circle.

Psychologists, psychiatrists and attorneys, medical doctors, and the

little old lady down the block - we may never know .. they may be good

friends .. and we may depend on them for services - which they may

provide in a most professional manner.

 

Part-time terrorists are a different thing .. they harm others.

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch http://www.AV-AT.com

 

> Cheers!

> Kathleen Petrides

> SmeLLeNNiuM: 101 Aromatic Stories

> http://www.101aromas.com