The Drug War Meets the Terror War

Little Green Footballs has a report that Hizbollah was using night vision goggles that it got from Iran in its fight with Israel. And how did Iran get the British, special export license required, night vision goggles? From the UN drug prohibition enforcement program. But that is not the end of it. Who is the biggest champion of the Single Convention drug control treaty which is at the core of the UN drug control regime? A championing that began in the 20s. The USA. It is time to rethink some policies. There are some out there that may be doing more harm than good. Say, I wonder if any one out there still remembers alcohol prohibition? Any one at all?

This is not the first time I have written about the intersection of the drug war with the terror war. I wrote a piece in 2002 about how we have more FBI agents chasing drugs than terrorists.

Update: 20 Aug '06 1322z

Commenter aaphat at Left Independent has written on the intersection of the drug war and the terror war.

Fentanyl/heroin today - alQaeda heroin tomorrow

and

Stateless Terrorist Armies; Accepted Collateral Damage of the Drug War

Scroll down.

You might also be interested in why I consider the whole drug war a waste. Drugs are not the problem. Just as chronic insulin use is not a diabetic's real problem.

Is Addiction Real?

also see:

Ill Gotten Gains
Murder Up, Stupidity the Same

Update 20 Aug '06 2011z

Captains Quarters also discusses the goggles.