The Week Online with DRCNet, issue #276 (Feb. 28, 2003)
Bong busts, government attacks in Peru, a variety of marijuana stories like Belgium's soon to happen decriminalization of pot, a corrupt cop story of the week, and the ever useful reformers' calendar.

U.S. Diplomat's Letter of Resignation (Feb. 28, 2003)
"But until this Administration it had been possible to believe that by upholding the policies of my president I was also upholding the interests of the American people and the world. I believe it no longer. The policies we are now asked to advance are incompatible not only with American values but also with American interests." So writes John Brady Kiesling, Political Counselor in the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece, in his resignation letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Billionaire Soros blasts Bush, calls on President to honor world opinion (Feb. 28, 2003)
Anti-prohibitionist philanthropist George Soros is not at all happy with the Bush administration.

War on Drugs - it's a state of mind (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Laws for 'consenting adults in private' mean that prostitution, homosexuality and even suicide are no longer criminalised. The sole exception to this rule is the taking of recreational drugs. It is a prohibition maintained by 'The War on Drugs' - a war that not only fails in its objectives, but which has also unleashed an avalanche of criminality on the world. Comment by Howard Marks."

Baghdad labels Bush ‘a maniac’ for plans to depose Saddam (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri slammed US President George W. Bush Thursday as “a maniac” a day after the US leader declared that deposing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would help build democracy and peace in the Middle East."

DRUG/ ANDEAN COUNTRIES: CAPPATO AND PERDUCA: "The EU Ought to Intervene Against Peasant Prepression and Fumigations (Feb. 28, 2003)
Hear, hear.

Calif. Highway Patrol Ends Profile Suit (Feb. 28, 2003)
"The California Highway Patrol has settled a major racial profiling lawsuit by agreeing to ban some car searches and requiring that officers articulate a reason for each traffic stop, instead of offering a hunch the driver may be running drugs."

THE CRIMES OF 9/11 (pt. 3): PATRIOT II - 'Get Out of Jail Free' Card for Federal Officers Responsible for "Intelligence Failure" (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Within days of the crime, the White House was hard at work obstructing an independent commission of inquiry, and drafting legislation which would indemnify federal agents for offenses that contributed to the loss of 3,000 innocent lives on September 11, 2001."

Senate approves closing marijuana law loophole (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Hundreds of pounds of marijuana worth millions of dollars have been found in South Dakota in the past few weeks, said Sen. Marguerite Kleven, R-Sturgis. But in each case, people could only be charged with possession of marijuana because they were not caught selling it, she said."

Vermont Lawmakers Favor Medicinal Marijuana (Feb. 28, 2003)
"But Governor James Douglas doesn't support the idea. He says using pot, even for medical reasons, would still be illegal under federal law."

Former Guards Allege Second Mass Beating At Cook County Jail (Feb. 28, 2003)
The US justice system in action. As a result, the Guv puts prison chief on hold, since the "allegations surfaced that Cook County Jail employees beat inmates and covered up their actions four years ago while [Prison Chief nominee] Ernesto Velasco was the jail's top administrator."

Terror Altert Lowered to Yellow (Feb. 28, 2003)
Was it getting all those bong dealers off the streets that raised our level of safety, or lowered our level of threat?

Pot Growers Get Probation—Two Men Used Hydroponics In Douglaston Home (Feb. 28, 2003)
Imagine how that poor kid in Alabama must feel watching these large scale growers getting probation as he gets years in prison for selling a measly 4 ounces of pot to an undercover drug warrior.

Finke sentenced for growing marijuana (Feb. 28, 2003)
Farmer gets probation in Minnesota while that teenager in Alabama recently got years in prison for selling 4 ounces. Not that the famer should have gotten more of a sentence, not at all, but still, where's the sense in any of this war stuff?

Editorial: DEA raids take war on drugs to higher level of absurdity (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Perhaps the worst part of this cartoonishly surreal turn of events is how completely impotent Ashcroft's action is. Getting rid of expensive art glass isn't going to stop anyone from doing drugs. (Focusing on harm reduction, education or rehabilitation might have an effect, but just try telling that to this administration.)"

Alabama Teenager Faces Horrendous Marijuana Prison Sentence (Feb. 27, 2003)
This story reported in early February, but due to its serious nature, and the outright travesty of this sentence, the editor of DrugWar.com felt it necessary traw attention to it. This is yet another reminder of who the real targets of the prohibitionists are- the petty users and sellers, not the bankers who launder the billions in cash, the cartel lords and corrupt governments and companies involved at the high ends of the trade.

United States is losing the war -- the war on drugs (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Of all the wars the United States has fought, the modern-day war at home could be chronicled as the nation's most frustrating and dismal failure."

Kilgore's drug policy actually endangers our kids (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Kilgore's drug policy actually endangers our kids."

Montana- Medicinal marijuana rejected (Feb. 27, 2003)
"House Bill 506, to allow patients to use medicinal marijuana for pain or illness relief, died in the House, 60-40. Opponents said the bill would send the wrong message -- that it's OK to use marijuana."

Are Daredevil Shareholders America's New Action Heroes? (Feb. 27, 2003)
"The little guys have reached the breaking point and are taking matters into their own hands -- stepping into the breach with the one-two punch of proxy resolutions and lawsuits. Corporate evildoers beware."

"Did I Say That?" (Feb. 27, 2003)
The Marijuana Policy Project has put together a brilliant commercial lampooning the ridiculous ONDCP anti-pot commercials equating terrorism with pot sales.

Mistrial? Rosenthal Jurors Say They Received Outside Legal Advice! (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Lawyers for convicted medical marijuana grower Ed Rosenthal say he is entitled to a new trial because two jurors in the case received outside legal advice that compromised their ability to make an impartial judgment."

Commentary: The Surrender Of MSNBC (Feb. 27, 2003)
"The study went on to claim that Donahue presented a 'difficult public face for NBC in a time of war......He seems to delight in presenting guests who are anti-war, anti-Bush and skeptical of the administration's motives.' The report went on to outline a possible nightmare scenario where the show becomes 'a home for the liberal antiwar agenda at the same time that our competitors are waving the flag at every opportunity.'"

Shot by Friendly Fire (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Defense Department Forcing Anthrax Vaccines Without Informed Consent, Covering Up Failed Shot Program."

Poster Company Removes Cigarette from Beatle's Hand (Feb. 27, 20030
"In one of the silliest examples of political correctness in years, a poster company has changed one of the greatest album covers in music history. The cover of the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road (above left) features Paul McCartney holding a cigarette. In a new poster edition of the cover (above right), it's been removed."

Rebel vote stuns Blair (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Tony Blair's Iraqi war strategy was shaken to the core last night when 121 Labour backbenchers defied a three-line whip to join a cross-party revolt and tell the prime minister that the the case for military action against Saddam Hussein is not yet made."

US troops take 'Monroe Doctrine' global (Feb. 26, 2003)
"United States troops appear suddenly to be deploying everywhere, and with very little notice."

Ventura County case highlights debate over state medical pot law (Feb. 26, 2003)
"A case set to go to trial in two weeks highlights what critics call a flaw in California's voter-approved law allowing medical use of marijuana: The statute doesn't set a statewide possession standard and instead leaves it up to local governments."

Retired Air Force general takes Bush to task on Iraq (Feb. 26, 2003)
"Tony McPeak, a four-star general who headed the U.S. Air Force during Desert Storm, believes that President Bush should publicly admit personal failure and restart diplomatic negotiations for a possible war against Iraq."

Drug Glossary (Feb. 26, 2003)
From this handy dandy new, scientifically compiled glossary of drug lingo- "Marijuana- What it is: Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant, Cannibis sativa. Is it addictive? Yes." Well, perhaps it's not so scientific after all.

Even More War: US Opens New Front in Decades Old Conflict (Feb. 26, 2003)
"It is simply unbelievable, in this day and age of the inevitable war in Iraq; terrorism warnings, duct tape and plastic sheeting, that this mis-direction of law enforcement should spend more than three years, with 9/11 nearly in the middle of this nefarious timeline, on destroying a niche cottage industry in America that is harming no one."

UN board questions Canada's marijuana policy (Feb. 26, 2003)
"An official with the UN drug watchdog questions whether Canada is too hasty in allowing the medical use of marijuana, but praised Ottawa for having legislation in place to control a variety of other narcotics."

Drug takers and testers use technology in their battle (Feb. 26, 2003)
"Type 'beat the drug test' into an Internet search engine, and you come up with more than 100 Web sites devoted to helping foil workplace drug screening."

Nearly 20% of drinking is underage age (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The previous estimate--now discredited--was 25 percent."

America's oldest man dies at 113 (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The oldest living American man has died at the age of 113 after smoking cigars, drinking beer and eating greasy food for much of his life, a news report said on Tuesday."

The high health cost of smoking a joint (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The very name given to the latest disorder associated with cannabis-smoking has a sinister ring to it. Cancer, schizophrenia and impotence have been joined in the litany of ill-effects by vanishing lung syndrome."

Pioneer 10 Spacecraft Sents Last Signal To Earth (Feb. 26, 2003)
An honest to goodness cosmic trip to the outer reaches of time and space.

Norman Mailer: Gaining an empire, losing democracy? (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The dire prospect that opens, therefore, is that America is going to become a mega-banana republic where the army will have more and more importance in Americans' lives...And before it is all over, democracy, noble and delicate as it is, may give way."

Finding Trouble in U.S. (Feb. 25, 2003)
Bernadette Devlin McAliskey was stopped, questioned, threatened, and not allowed to enter the US, the Land of the Free.

Feds weed out drug paraphernalia sites (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center said redirecting Web visitors to DEA.gov raises novel legal issues. 'It sounds like this is a concluded drug operation segueing into a new sting operation," he said. "In effect, the defunct Web sites become electronic flypaper for those looking for illegal drug paraphernalia, reporters covering the story, and people who have trouble spelling in Google.'"

OR glass artists netted in nationwide drug paraphernalia bust (Feb. 25, 2003)
Five properties were seized.

'It's medicinal' vies against 'It's illegal' (Feb. 25, 2003)
"The clash pits states rights to define and control criminal issues against the federal government's authority under the Constitution to control the shipment and trafficking of illegal substances."

Feds Smoke Out Chong? (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Chong, once one-half of the high-flying (literally) comedy team, Cheech & Chong, saw his Gardena, California, factory and Pacific Palisades home raided Monday by federal drug agents and other authorities, Los Angeles TV station NBC4 reported." See also This is Not a Pipe for more information on the most recent outrageous waste of taxmoney perpetrated by prohibitionist zealots.

Revealed: 17 British Firms Armed Saddam With His Weapons (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Seventeen British companies who supplied Iraq with nuclear, biological, chemical, rocket and conventional weapons technology are to be investigated and could face prosecution following a Sunday Herald investigation."

Blasts Hit Spanish, Colombian Missions in Venezuela (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Two suspected bombs blasted Spanish and Colombian diplomatic buildings in Caracas on Tuesday, injuring five people less than two days after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the two nations of meddling in his country's crisis."

How the news will be censored in this war (Feb. 25, 2003)
"A new CNN system of 'script approval' suggests the Pentagon will have nothing to worry about."

A Radio Chip in Every Consumer Product (Feb. 25, 2003-Free New York Times registration required)
Orwell, though dead now, must be pleased to have gotten things so right.

Terror and Torture in the Philippines (Feb. 25, 2003)
"In fact, a new report from Amnesty International documents the use of torture in the Philippines, suggesting that U.S. weapons and military aid could increase incidents of terror."

High Court to Review Limits on Searches (Feb. 25, 2003)
"The Supreme Court said Monday that it would consider a government appeal that asks if a SWAT team went too far by breaking down the door of a suspected drug dealer while he took a shower."

New Drugs Promise Treatment for Addicts, Profits for Firms (Feb. 25, 2003)
Another way the prohibitionists make money of their war- by prescribing pharmaceuticals to block the effects of outlawed natural drugs. "Whatever gets you through the night is alright," as John Lennon once sang.

U.S. Charges 55 With Peddling Drug Gear (Feb. 25, 2003)
People engaging in the time-honored US Capitalist way are being prosecuted by Captialist enforcers. What happened to a "free market" economy?

Gulf War Veterans Association Questions Who Started the Oil Well Fires in Kuwait (Feb. 25, 2003)
"One veteran has now stepped forward and given a detailed account of how he and others in special teams, moved forward of the front, (behind enemy lines ahead of US forces) and then set charges on the well heads."

Editor: Bush Cited Report That Doesn't Exist (Feb. 25, 2003)
"There was only one problem with President George W. Bush's claim Thursday that the nation's top economists forecast substantial economic growth if Congress passed the president's tax cut: The forecast with that conclusion doesn't exist."

72-year-old woman recovers from alligator attack (Feb. 25, 2003)
Ouch.

Colombia Slams U.S. on Hostage Decision (Feb. 24, 2003)
"Colombian politicians on Sunday accused Washington of meddling in their country's affairs for sending more U.S. troops to search for three Americans held hostage by rebels."

Fighting Intensifies in Colombia as Rebels Still Hold Americans Hostage (Feb. 24, 2003)
"A Defense Department spokesman said reports that 150 troops are being sent were incorrect. But some Colombian politicians have criticized the U.S. decision to send additional personnel to help with the search. Labor union leader Jairo Galvis called it virtually an invasion of his country."

Judge Tosses Lawsuit Protesting War (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by three U.S. servicemen, parents of serviceman and six U.S. congressmen who argued that the resolution Congress approved in October supporting military action against Iraq did not specifically declare war and unlawfully ceded the decision to the president."

War (Feb. 24, 2003)
By Bob Marley.

Sweden Providing Platform for U.S. Officials Cowed by Bush (Feb. 24, 2003)
"Several times a day he'll approach a complete stranger, offer a handshake and a smile, introduce himself as a former CIA analyst from America, and proceed to tell the bewildered Swede all the things he knows that directly contradict President George W. Bush's declarations about Saddam Hussein's intentions and capabilities."

A Death Penalty Duel (Feb. 24, 2003)
"United Nations Court Orders United States of America to Stay Executions."

Genuine US Flags of Hemp (Feb. 24, 2003)
"Welcome to our website, home of the Genuine Hemp US Flag. These classic American flags are handmade with pride in the U.S. using 100% hemp fabric."

2003 Students for Sensible Drug Policy Northeast Regional Conference (Feb. 24, 2003)
See and hear what the DARE generation has to say about the War waged in their names.

2nd Annual Drug War Vigil Film Festival (Feb. 24, 2003)
"We as a group collectively recognize that the militarization of this medical issue and the criminalization of the chronically sick, terminally ill and chemically dependent has resulted in the needless loss of human life, and that this is the true crime."

Interested Persons Memo: Section-by-Section Analysis of Justice Department draft “Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003,” also known as “PATRIOT Act II” (Feb. 24, 2003)
What exactly is in that document? Check it out here.

Prosecutors See Limits to Doubt in Capital Cases (Feb. 24, 2003- Free New York Times registration required)
"After a trial and appeal, many prosecutors say, new evidence of claimed innocence should generally not be considered by the courts." In other words, even if found to be really, honestly innocent, the wrongly convicted should still be executed. Blind justice lives.

These Weapons of Mass Destruction cannot be displayed (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The weapons you are looking for are currently unavailable. The country might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your weapons inspectors mandate."

Swiss move closer to decriminalisation of cannabis (Feb. 24, 2003)
"A parliamentary commission met on Wednesday to discuss the possible liberalisation of the drug in Switzerland. The Senate has already come out in favour of such a move."

State pols confront feds on pot (Feb. 24, 2003)
"California's state and federal leaders are taking steps to make sure that what happened to marijuana activist Ed Rosenthal never happens to anyone else."

Come Hear Uncle Sam’s Band (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The hippie capitalism of the Grateful Dead."

Beyond the cutting edge (Feb. 24, 2003)
Vo-Dinh met recently with Army officials who asked him to test the system's effectiveness in evaluating the presence of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs on the military's prohibited list.

US customs seizes 10 tonnes of marijuana on Mexican border (Feb. 24, 2003)
Wow, that's a lot of pot.

Panel OKs medical marijuana (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The nine plants that sent him to prison, he said, were the same kind of plants that helped him in his fight against the wheelchair — marijuana. Without it, in prison, he lost that battle."

Grammy stars free to sing out on war (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Despite a report that CBS executives had considered blocking politically outspoken rockers, the network said last night it would not pull the plug on anyone protesting a war against Iraq."

Feds Raid Defenseless Naked Women (Feb. 23, 2003)
"But Pentirelli said no one was hurt and the club became quiet and calm a few minutes later when agents and police starting checking everyone's ID and sheriff's cards. 'One by one they took us back to search our lockers to make sure we had nothing illegal.'"

Pot activists want DEA out of Oakland building (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The fight for access to medical marijuana continued Tuesday across the nation and in downtown Oakland, as demonstrators demanded the eviction of the Drug Enforcement Administration from the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building."

Bond denied to father of teen killed during DEA stakeout (Feb. 23, 2003)
As if it weren't already apparent, these federal prohibitionist enforcers are heartless and cruel, inhuman to be frank about it.

Fans support 'Bad Boy' DJ after arrest by the DEA (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The day after the self-proclaimed ''Bad Boy of Radio'' was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy, fans inundated his station's morning show with calls of support."

Do Not Ignore This Warning (Feb. 23, 2003)
"If you ignore what I'm saying and let your government drag us into another Vietnam, then we'll really see this society tear itself apart. And in the long run, maybe that wouldn't be so bad after all. Because this time, we'll go all the way. If enough American bodies come home in boxes, the Colombian War will be the straw that will break the Prohibition's back. It will break it in the streets. Or we could take another route and settle this peaceably. Either way, it's up to you."

Colombian Clashes Kill 29 Near U.S. Special Forces (Feb. 23, 2003)
"At least 29 Marxist rebels and far-right militia members have been killed in a clash in a lawless area of Colombia near where crack U.S. soldiers are training local troops, officials said on Tuesday."

Global Eye -- Chemical Brothers (Feb. 23, 2003)
Six million marched for peace last week, but the Bush Regime and the Blair Regency were unmoved by this outburst from the ignorant rabble. Instead, the righteous leaders of the 'Coalition of the Willing' (or COW) declared that no power on earth will halt their holy quest to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and his chemical weapons. Strange, then, to see one of COW's biggest bovines -- Pentagon warlord Donald 'Squinty' Rumsfeld -- informing the dazed and docile rubber stamps of Congress of his intention to assault Iraq with, er, chemical weapons."

64 ways to practice nonviolence (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Begin Living Your Life For Peace."

Jackson urges audience to keep King's ideas alive with education, involvement (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Greeted by a deafening roar of applause from a standing-room-only audience in the W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center, the fiery orator brought his audience to their feet several times. But that was not necessarily a good thing. He asked everyone to stand who knew someone in their age group who is dead because of drugs, or is in jail because of drugs, or has abused drugs or attempted suicide. Many stood. 'Let us pray,' Jackson said somberly."

Black clergy to America: War is not the answer, solve problems at home (Feb. 23, 2003)
The editor of DrugWar.com says, "Right On!"

What the People Are Saying (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Kind Reader: Surely you must be wondering, 'Who is in Mérida, getting to listen to all of these courageous and distinguished men and women speaking out, openly, for the first time in Mexico, against drug prohibition?'" All who were there to speak want PEACE!

Youth are targets of drug war (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Utah's drug culture has snatched the Latter-day Saint motto CTR and morphed it from 'Choose The Right' to 'Choose To Rave.' Many in Utah Attorney General's office have concluded that Latter-day Saint youth are becoming the target of a local drug war ranging from club drugs to over-the-counter medications."

U.S. Lawmakers Threaten Rebel Retaliation (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Leftist rebels accused by the United States of seizing three Americans have made a 'very grave error' and face strong retaliation, a U.S. Congressman said Thursday."

America's neglected war (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The capture and murder by narco-guerrillas of U.S. intelligence operatives in Colombia was a disaster waiting to happen."

Coming soon to a school near you (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The group also said treatment is often lacking due to financial constraints and when it's given it's often too late. Another troubling aspect is the high-rate of incarceration over treatment. 'These kids made one bad choice,' Holbrook stressed. 'They need help, not punishment or isolation. That's one reason why the drug problem gets worse.'"

Conscience makes a comeback (Feb. 23, 2003)
"'Political protest' has, for me, traditionally been limited to chronic defiance of this country's marijuana laws, attendance at a couple of pro-rave rallies and public meetings during Toronto's galling crackdown on dance parties a few years ago, and the foul-mouthed haranguing of the televised images of Mike Harris or Ralph Klein or Mel Lastman or Ari Fleischer or Donald Rumsfeld or any other public figures for whom I have zero time or tolerance when they show up on the news."

Targeted, unfairly convicted (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The recent reports on the federal persecution of Ed Rosenthal (" 'Guru of Ganja' convicted of violating marijuana cultivation, conspiracy laws," Feb. 1, and "Jurors, pot advocate say conviction was wrong," Feb. 5) provide us with clear proof of both government lies about cannabis and woefully misdirected law-enforcement priorities, i.e., the War on (some) Drugs."

Colombia Rebels Say Holding Three 'CIA Agents' (Feb. 23, 2003)
Another report about those drug warriors...CIA agents...errr, defense department employees...whoever they are, US citizens anyway working on a military type mission over the jungles of Colombia.

Colombian Vice President Tours U.S. Drug Rehabilitation Center (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Officials representing two countries at the forefront of the war on drugs (Colombia, which produces most of the world's cocaine, and the United States, which is a leading consumer) met face-to-face in a converted Brooklyn waterfront warehouse recently, in an effort to better understand the harrowing nature of drug abuse."

Déjà vu in Afghanistan (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The US-installed ruler of Kabul, veteran CIA ‘asset’ Hamid Karzai, must be protected from his own people by up to 200 US body­guards. Much of Afghanistan is in chaos, fought over by feuding warlords and drug barons."

Drug war doesn't hurt terrorists; it helps them (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Still, it is in the name of the war on drugs that the United States truly excels in showing how poorly equipped it is to act as director of international affairs."

WAR ON DRUGS: UN will examine killings (Feb. 23, 2003)
"United Nations Human Rights Com-missioners will shortly examine Thailand's war against drugs that has killed more then 800 people in the past three weeks, leading human-rights activist Senator Thongbai Thongpao said yesterday."

Former DEA agent pleads guilty to soliciting young boys for sex (Feb. 23, 2003)
"A former DEA agent could get more than 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty to soliciting sex from young Las Vegas boys. But the case against 43-year-old Steven Kinney is expected to be turned over to federal authorities, and could get him three years in federal prison."

Region 2 drug task force is concerned about funding (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Region 2 Narcotics Director Doug McKim said he hopes the federal money will come through because, while the organization should be able to continue its work through two other endowments, the grant amounts are fickle and not nearly enough to operate at full capacity."

Kemba Smith steps up advocacy for students and ex-offenders (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Kemba Smith, whose case became a primary symbol for the struggle against mandatory minimum prison sentences, is now working to associate her name with another cutting-edge issue: the repeal of a section of the Higher Education Act that blocks thousands of college students from receiving federal aid if they’ve ever been convicted of a drug-related offense."

Behind the Great Divide (Feb. 20, 2003)
"There has been much speculation why Europe and the U.S. are suddenly at such odds. Is it about culture? About history? But I haven't seen much discussion of an obvious point: We have different views partly because we see different news." Paul Krugman reports, you decide.

The Bottom Line On Iraq: It's The Bottom Line (Feb. 20, 2003)
"The dots leading from Wall Street to the West Wing situation room are the ones that need connecting. There's money to be made in post-war Iraq, and the sooner we get the pesky war over with, the sooner we (by which I mean George Bush's corporate cronies) can start making it."

US Plan For New Nuclear Arsenal Secret Talks May Lead to Breaking Treaties (Feb. 20, 2003)
"The Bush administration is planning a secret meeting in August to discuss the construction of a new generation of nuclear weapons, including 'mini-nukes', 'bunker-busters' and neutron bombs designed to destroy chemical or biological agents, according to a leaked Pentagon document."

Disturbing Questions (Feb. 20, 2003)
John Cory wants to know why, "when something wicked this way comes" that no one is asking the real disturbing questions he lays out here. Halliburton and Cheney proved a war is unnecessary to make money off Iraqi oil, so what's this war really about?

Oakland to Pay $10.9 Million in Rights Settlement over Riders Case (Feb. 20, 2003)
"City officials have agreed to pay nearly $11 million and implement police reforms to settle civil rights lawsuits brought by more than 100 people who claimed they were victimized by a group of rogue police officers known as The Riders."

Report: Helriggle had weapon (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Sheriff's officials reported Helriggle descended the stairs of the farmhouse with a gun in hand; Helriggle's family and friends continue to contend he held only a blue cup."

U.S. Agents Seize Pot from Fake Border Patrol Cars (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Federal agents on Wednesday seized nearly a ton of marijuana concealed inside two sport utility vehicles painted to resemble U.S. Border Patrol units and intercepted at the Mexican border, authorities said."

Ex-Toledo police officer found guilty in drug case (Feb. 20, 2003)
Imagine, pot smoking police. Too bad she got fired, it would be nice to think there were some stoner cops on the force relaxing with God-made pot instead of man-made beer.

Drug operation leads to 8 arrests in Lafayette (Feb. 20, 2003)
"'People need to know that even if you have a little 'roach' on you, we have zero tolerance and we will charge you,' [Sheriff Doyle] McCall said."

UC Santa Cruz and CNET investigation results in arrest of four students (Feb. 20, 2003)
Druggies still don't deserve an education it seems.

Nogales narcotics figure is killed (Feb. 20, 2003)
Prohibition lives.

Man posing as undercover narcotics agent arrested in Lafayette (Feb. 20, 2003)
"A Lafayette man who allegedly told people he was an undercover narcotics agent and confiscated a bag of marijuana was arrested after real law enforcement agents interrupted a bogus drug bust, said Lafayette Police Cpl. Mark Francis."

State lawmakers craft bill on pot defense (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Three California members of Congress are preparing a bipartisan bill to let medical marijuana users, growers and providers protect themselves from federal criminal conviction -- a bill sure to face an uphill battle."

Garnati to Handle Franklin Pot Case (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Williamson County State's Attorney Charles Garnati has been named special prosecutor in the disappearance of a large quantity of marijuana from a storage facility near the Franklin County Jail."

The Superior Bush (Feb. 20, 2003)
"While the DEA decries the proliferation of the coca crop in militarily-strategic Colombia, they consistently and quietly clear the bureaucratic way for the New Jersey-based Stepan Company’s importation of coca from Bolivia and Peru so that it can be processed into the secret ingredient in Coca Cola (shhh… it’s a secret), as well as pharmaceutical cocaine. Believe it; It’s the Real Thing. It’s not an urban legend; the proof is easily accessible online in the US Federal Register."

Bhutan Aims to be First Country to Ban Tobacco (Feb. 20, 2003)
"The sale of tobacco and tobacco products has already been banned from the beginning of this month in the duty-free outlets in this Himalayan kingdom of 900,000 people, as part of its continuing tobacco-free initiative programme."

A Marijuana Crusader Defends His Healing Mission (Feb. 20, 2003)
"There is no doubt among knowledgeable physicians and researchers that marijuana is a medicine."

Where Does Ebola Hide Between Epidemics? (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Knowing how people may initially have contracted the virus has given medical experts a jumpstart on the epidemic, which has so far killed at least 64 people. But the larger question remains."

Armed Men Capture Venezuela Strike Leader-Witnesses (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Armed men, apparently from the Venezuela state security police, on Thursday captured a business chief who led a strike against President Hugo Chavez after a judge ordered him and a union boss arrested for rebellion, opposition leaders said."

Watch Mexican Soap Operas and Become an Alcoholic (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Soap operas might lead to a very bad habit, which is called hard drinking. This was said by specialists of the center for alcoholism research in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico."

Colombia: Three CIA Agents Taken Hostage by Rebels (Feb. 19, 2003)
"A huge military operation has been launched by the Colombian and army and US officials to rescue three CIA agents presumably captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -FARC-."

Tapes Cast Doubt on Case (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Campaigners for three Irishmen accused in Colombia of training Marxist Farc rebels have more video tapes casting doubt on the case against them."

Stop digging in Colombia (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Last week, rebels allegedly killed an American working for the Defense Department after his plane crashed. The rebels, from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), reportedly also killed a Colombian soldier and kidnapped three other Americans. The plane most likely was mapping coca fields for aerial herbicide spraying."

Three Americans Held Hostage in Colombia (Feb. 19, 2003)
Missing after their planes crashed while on an "intelligence mission" over Colombia, these men are thought to held by FARC. Two of their companions were found shot to death at the crash site.

On the wings of a lie (Feb. 19, 2003)
"I am also very troubled by the way Bush officials have tried to justify this war on the grounds that Saddam is allied with Osama bin Laden or will be soon. There is simply no proof of that, and every time I hear them repeat it I think of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution."

USA: Counter Drugs Strategy Announced (Feb. 19, 2003)
"This year, the focus is on disrupting the drugs trade by greater action against money laundering but also making drugs more expensive (as a result of better policing) and the quality uncertain (expected to be the result of disrupting supply)."

FARC Should Respect Lives of Captives (Feb. 19, 2003)
Colombian guerrillas may have captured three US men whose plane crashed in rebel-controlled land. Two other men on the plane appeared to have been executed when the crash site was reached by rescuers.

Tennessee sheriff fined for lying about public records (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison was fined $300 and held in criminal contempt for lying about public records involving his office's horse stables, helicopters and drug accounts."

Death toll in drugs war nearly 600: ministry (Feb. 19, 2003)
"The figure -- which represents more than 33 deaths per day -- is nearly double the 319 deaths announced by police Monday."

Bolivia may end war on coca (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Bolivia's government may be preparing to abandon its unpopular effort to eradicate coca and allow farmers to grow the raw material from which cocaine is made."

Local drug use on rise (Feb. 19, 2003)
"'We see a lot of cases where people will mix in crack-cocaine with marijuana without telling the people they’re selling it to," [Neighborhood Enhancement Team officer] Adams said. 'They want their stuff to be the best and they want people to come back to them. So a person starts off smoking marijuana and next they’re hooked on crack-cocaine—without even intentionally trying it.'" This clueless fellow is being paid to wage a war on drugs?

Thai anti-drugs war toll jumps (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Nearly 320 people have died in a Thai anti-drugs crusade in its first 15 days, the police said yesterday, but human rights advocates fear over-zealous authorities are using the campaign to commit atrocities."

“The War on Drugs is a War on Press Freedom” (Feb. 19, 2003)
"As the third day of the 'Out from the Shadows' drug legalization conference drew to a close, a panel met to discuss one of the most important aspects of the war on drugs: the media."

War on drugs claims the lives of innocent (Feb. 19, 2003)
"The recent death of 14-year-old Ashley Villarreal in San Antonio at the hands of the DEA is indeed a tragedy. It marks a disturbing trend that is but one of the many unfortunate side effects of our government's failed War on Drugs."

Fishman: Speaker: War on drugs is a hoax (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Nora Callahan, whose brother is serving 27 years for conspiracy to sell drugs, is a crusader. She calls the federal government's war on drugs a hoax 'and a war on ordinary people.'" And there's another view of Callahan's speech as well, "Speaker supports alternatives to the war on drugs."

Don't Militarize the Borders (Feb. 19, 2003)
"The problem with this idea is that the same training that makes U.S. soldiers outstanding warriors makes them extremely dangerous as cops. Lawrence Korb, former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, put it succinctly: The military 'is trained to vaporize, not Mirandize.'"

Nazis Attempted to Make Robots of Their Soldiers (Feb. 19, 2003)
"New research shows that Nazis were going to turn their soldiers to robots with the help of a special chemical. Until recently, the chemical has been kept secret."

The Hard Life and Restless Mind of America's Education Billionaire (Feb. 19, 2003)
"And he enjoys nothing more than sticking it to the powers that be -- whether it's smug academic princes in the ivory tower or zealous antidrug warriors in the Bush administration."

Countering Chemical Detectors (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Wouldn't it be ironic if everyone targeted Drug and Terror Warriors for cannibis and nitrate tagging, just to incriminate them, and let them suffer from the unconstitutional indignities they've laid on us?"

Teen shot by DEA agents dies in hospital (Feb. 19, 2003)
"A teenage girl, shot and killed by federal drug agents, was a victim of excessive force from law officers who were investigating her father, relatives and friends say."

California Representatives Announce Medical Marijuana Defense Bill (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) will be honored in Sacramento by the families of medical marijuana growers convicted under federal law for his efforts in the struggle to decriminalize medical marijuana."

Thailand: Hundreds Killed In Crackdown On Drug Use In Thailand (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Human rights groups expressed concern yesterday about the unexplained death of more than 300 people during the first fortnight of a Thai government crackdown on drug use."

US needs a regime change too (Feb. 19, 2003)
"For many years I have been a prison reform activist. In the last decade, the US prison population has doubled. We have the highest rate of imprisonment in the world. We imprison two million people currently, more than Russia, more than China."

On The Matrix (Feb. 19, 2003)
Henry Linder takes a very interesting look at The Matrix, both the film and true-to-life one we all live in, together.

The Gospel According To Bush (Feb. 19, 2003)
"By contrast, it is hard to imagine President George W. Bush making a speech on the subject of Iraq - or for that matter, any subject - without mentioning the deity and the war between good and evil in which He or She is apparently enlisted on our side."

A Jolly Good Drug War (Feb. 18, 2003)
Matthew McDaniel gives us an update on Thailand's War on Some Drugs and local tribespeople.

Montesinos tests mettle of Peruvian legal system (Feb. 18, 2003)
"Former spy chief [and recipient of millions of dollars in US taxpayer money given him by the US CIA] Vladimir Montesinos allegedly toyed with Peru's legal system for years, first as a lawyer and then as one of the country's most powerful figures. Now his corruption trial is testing how independent the courts have become."

Judge shopping is claimed (Feb. 18, 2003)
"The 2001 drug charges against 10 law-enforcement officers and the 1998 racketeering indictment of 10 Mexican Mafia members at prosecutors' request also took the same route to U.S. District Judge Edward C. Prado."

Drug cartel loses leaders, but war, killings continue (Feb. 18, 2003)
"Another theory hinges on police involvement. Jesús Blancornelas, editor of the weekly newspaper Zeta, believes rogue police officials who were once controlled by the Arellanos are now fighting for a share of the drug profits."

Mexican Drug Agent Crossed the Line Once Too Often (Feb. 18, 2003- Free NYTimes registration required)
"They all swear that Mr. Calderoni had quite a career back in the 1980's. They say he took a million dollars from one drug lord, Amado Carillo Fuentes, to murder another one, Pablo Acosta." There's also this report from Alternet.org- Slain Mexican drug warrior had planned book.

Ex-judge seeks to quash wiretap evidence (Feb. 18, 2003)
"[Judge] Bodenheimer and Slidell mechanic Curley Chewning were arrested on the drug-conspiracy charges June 5 and were first indicted July 17. Chewning pleaded guilty the same day, agreeing to testify against the judge."

L.B. tangled in murky marijuana law (Feb. 18, 2003)
"Drugs: Officials' mixed approach to Prop 215 leaves many who use medicinal pot not knowing where they stand."

The Terrible Truth (Feb. 18, 2003)
"As you would expect of an early 50s film, misinformation is rampant (a pot high is described as "everything speeds up to 100 miles per hour," every kid who experiments with drugs even a little bit will always end up addicted, etc.)."

Agents Win Suit Vs. Pa. Attorney General (Feb. 17, 2003)
"A federal jury awarded $1.5 million to two narcotics agents who claimed the Pennsylvania attorney general retaliated against them because they uncovered a drug-trafficking ring they said diverted profits to a CIA-backed Dominican presidential candidate."

Drug raids make team proud (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Drug busts have come and gone in Niagara Falls and on Buffalo's Lower West Side, but Thursday's massive operation was no average drug roundup."

Hayward sees growth in pot dispensaries (Feb. 17, 2003)
"A sprouting hub of medical marijuana dispensaries has some people calling the downtown area 'Haysterdam,' a hybrid of Hayward and Amsterdam -- the Dutch city known for its drug tolerance."

Medical marijuana may soon be legal in CT (Feb. 17, 2003)
"The movement across the United States to legalize medicinal marijuana has finally reached Connecticut."

Medical pot growers find no refuge from feds (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Marijuana growers who believed they were protected by the movement in Sonoma County and across California to sanction medicinal marijuana have been targeted by federal agents in a stepped up battle against pot."

Gallegos says medical pot policy in effect (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said this week he's moving ahead with his new medical marijuana prosecution guidelines, even without full support from area law enforcement."

DEA case troubled by timing (Feb. 17, 2003)
"The stakeout that ended with a 14-year-old girl shot in the head was part of a federal narcotics investigation that had been marked in recent days by several instances of unfortunate timing."

CIA 'Sabotaged Inspections and Hid Weapons Details' (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Senior democrats have accused the CIA of sabotaging weapons inspections in Iraq by refusing to co-operate fully with the UN and withholding crucial information about Saddam Hussein's arsenal."

The opponents of war on Iraq are not the appeasers (Feb. 17, 2003)
"The split at the heart of Nato over George Bush's plans to invade Iraq has triggered an outpouring of charges of 1930s-style appeasement against those resisting the rush to war."

The Osburn Defense Fund (Feb. 17, 2003)
"We are in the fight for our lives and the lives of over 100,000 medical marijuana patients in California."

Medical Marijuana Week (Feb. 17, 2003)
Find out what is taking place in your area, and who to contact.

Walking Along Streets of Peace (Feb. 17, 2003)
Jimmy Breslin describes his view of the peaceful peace protest in NYC this past weekend.

Jeff and Tracy Interview Ed Rosenthal (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Throughout this insightful interview, Ed shares the details of his arrest, how this whole ordeal is affecting him and his family, his own thoughts about how the court case was handled, his response to the historic action taken by jury members, public support, and what you can do to help!"

Enron tax report like 'a conspiracy novel' (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Wall Street banks, acting on the advice of top legal and accounting firms, helped Enron devise shelters that let the company operate tax-free for years while exaggerating its profits by billions of dollars, the Senate Finance Committee was told Thursday."

Dance for Mary Jane at weekend events (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Bay Area activists are planning events throughout the next week to raise awareness and support for medicinal use of marijuana."

Artistic Sign Language: Symbols of the Coming Bush Fall (Feb. 14, 2003)
"To those inclined more to rigid-order mentality, art is a virus that needs to be stamped out, or, at the least, tightly controlled...It's all part of the so-called 'cultural civil war.' Those who control the signs and symbols control the polity. Thus, minions are trotted out to denounce artists and their tendency to look for complexity, ironies, hypocrisies, hidden humor."

Confronting the Empire (Feb. 14, 2003)
This "speech by Noam Chomsky was delivered to the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil on January 27, 2003." In it he says that, "The way to 'confront the empire' is to create a different world, one that is not based on violence and subjugation, hate and fear." He discusses US destruction in Colombia, describing how he "listened to hours of testimony by peasants who were driven from their lands by chemical warfare – called 'fumigation' under the pretext of a US-run 'drug war' that few take seriously and that would be obscene if that were the intent."

Peace rally clogs Melbourne city streets (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Tens of thousands of peace protesters packed Melbourne's city streets tonight in a show of strength against a US-led war in Iraq."

Speed Bombers (Feb. 14, 2003)
"This is Your Military on Drugs."

Delta squad's prosecutor sues Manatee sheriff, 2 employees (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Federal prosecutor Jeffrey Del Fuoco filed the lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court. Del Fuoco led a corruption investigation into the sheriff's Delta squad, an anti-drug unit. In the end, five members of the squad and another former deputy were sent to federal prison."

People of South America vs. Team USA and Bad Boys (Feb. 14, 2003)
"US addictions haunt and terrorize the world: OIL, WEAPONS, DRUGS. US BAD BOYS and their friends in Latin America have held power for decades. Now they are being run out of town by Hugo Chavez, the people of Bolivia and New Ideas. Guns and Money aren’t enough anymore – Hope lives – Struggle Consumes."

“A Path to Dialogue” (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Mexican Congressman Launches Pan-American Battle vs. 'the repressive policies of the U.S.'"

Peruvian Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced for Bribe (Feb. 14, 2003)
"A former congressman has been sentenced to six years in jail for accepting a bribe from ex-spy chief [and former CIA henchman and drugs and arms trafficker] Vladimiro Montesinos in a case that sparked the collapse of former President Alberto Fujimori's government."

Mistrial Request Denied In Cop Corruption Trial (Feb. 14, 2003)
"The officers ... are under indictment for various offenses, including throwing down weapons at police shootings to justify their actions."

States should rule on medical marijuana (Feb. 14, 2003)
"The bulldozer that has become the Bush administration when it comes to states' voter initiatives has rolled over a California man who was growing marijuana for Oakland's medical-marijuana program."

Adverts for cigarettes wheeze to a last gasp (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Yesterday was the last day of cigarette advertising in Britain after six years of lobbying and court action."

Glaxo sued over alleged price fixing (Feb. 14, 2003)
"UK drug giant GlaxoSmithKline and US drug company Pharmacia have been sued by the state of New York, alleging that they inflated drug prices." Also, Italian Police Charge 72 In Alleged Glaxo Drug Company Bribery.

Support the National Day of Action- Evict the DEA (Feb. 14, 2003)
Telling the federal government and its tax money-wasting DEA what some people think of their endless war.

Drug Kingpin May Be Released From Prison (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Convict Assisted Police In Drug Investigations."

Judges criticize Court of Criminal Appeals decision (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Leonard Rojas was executed two months ago, but this week he became the focus of an intensifying debate over the quality of lawyers who stand between condemned inmates and the death chamber."

We Stand Passively Mute (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Frankly many of the pronouncements made by this Administration are outrageous. There is no other word. Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent," said US Senator Robert Byrd in this scathing commentary on current affairs.

Bolivia burning (Feb. 14, 2003)
"The erradication of Coca, privatisation of gas, the FTAA and other US impositions, had already caused campesino roadblocks that were brutally attacked causing the death of at least 14 people."

Investigating The Investigation (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Any fool, e.g. Buzz, can lose keys, but it takes a truly gargantuan boob to mislay an entire criminal investigation. For that, you call on the Dallas Police Department. Those guys, namely Chief Terrell Bolton, can't quite seem to decide whether they ever even started an investigation into that pesky fake-drug scandal."

Judge Rejects D.C. Plan To Treat Drug Offenders (Feb. 14, 2003)
"An initiative passed by D.C. voters last fall that would require the city to offer treatment to scores of nonviolent drug offenders cannot take effect because it illegally dictates how the D.C. government must spend its money, a judge ruled yesterday."

Marijuana Mitzvah? Support Growing for 'Guru of Ganja' (Feb. 14, 2003)
"To the federal government, Ed Rosenthal is simply a drug pusher, an enemy combatant in the war on drugs. To folks like Jane Marcus, however, the Bronx-born Rosenthal is a hero — a Jewish hero, in fact, whose cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes qualifies as a life-saving 'mitzvah.'"

Bill O'Reilly Attacks 9/11 Family Member (Feb. 13, 2003)
"After cutting short the interview Bill O’Reilly threatened Mr. Glick, a professor at Rutgers University and teacher in the state prisons system, with physical violence."

Osama Rallies Muslims, Condemns Hussein (Feb. 13, 2003)
"In very clear words, Osama bin Laden told the people of Iraq to rise up against both American aggression and against 'socialist' Saddam Hussein. If the translations that were provided were reliable, there is no ambiguity in bin Laden's words on the matter. So much, it seems, for Powell's case that Hussein and bin Laden are working together."

UN: Study Stresses Alternative Crops To Dismantle Booming Opium Economy (Feb. 13, 2003)
"A new report by the United Nations drug-control agency calls on the international community to help Afghanistan attack its flourishing opium economy at its roots."

Official: Drug addicts to be rounded up nationwide (Feb. 13, 2003)
Brothers in arms, fighting the scourge of drug users, both Iran and the US have politicies whereby the addicted are rounded up by police.

U.S. to extend drug treatment, target traffickers (Feb. 13, 2003)
"Critics of U.S. drug policies denounced Walters' report, saying it masked problems with prison and law enforcement costs. 'The drug war has always been a money pit, but this is