Changes

The most controversial factor exposed in Iran/Contra is the inherrent contradiction in US policy of allegedy fighting to control the import of illegal narcotics into the United States, while at the same time elements within the US government secretly sought, and some claim continue, to profit or gain from controlling the supply of illegal narcotics brought into the United States. The public debate on drug legalization in the United States is now more than 35 years old. With the creation of the DEA and the War on Drugs in 1974 some thought interdiction and enforcement of distribution and possession violations was the solution. However, law enforcement at all levels, from federal to local, maintained 85% still got through to the end users. Some cited the failure of [[Prohibition]] in the 1920s as evidence of the fruitlessness of interdiction and enforcement.

The most controversial factor exposed in Iran/Contra is the inherrent contradiction in US policy of allegedy fighting to control the import of illegal narcotics into the United States, while at the same time elements within the US government secretly sought, and some claim continue, to profit or gain from controlling the supply of illegal narcotics brought into the United States. The public debate on drug legalization in the United States is now more than 35 years old. With the creation of the DEA and the War on Drugs in 1974 some thought interdiction and enforcement of distribution and possession violations was the solution. However, law enforcement at all levels, from federal to local, maintained 85% still got through to the end users. Some cited the failure of [[Prohibition]] in the 1920s as evidence of the fruitlessness of interdiction and enforcement.

Barring a national consensus, beginning with the National Conference of State Legislators up to the federal government, legalization is unlikely, and the War on Drugs will remain official policy, despite wide recognition of it as a failure. The flipside of keeping narcotics illegal however, the argument from experience goes, only makes gangsters and criminals rich. Similiar to lotteries, which at one time were run by organized crime and known as "racketeering", state governments now are involved in the "numbers rackets" and reap the profits.

Barring a national consensus, beginning with the National Conference of State Legislators up to the federal government, legalization is unlikely, and the War on Drugs will remain official policy, despite wide recognition of it as a failure. The flipside of keeping narcotics illegal however, the argument from experience goes, only makes gangsters and criminals rich. Similiar to lotteries, which at one time were run by organized crime known as "racketeering", state governments now are involved in the "numbers rackets" and reap the profits.

In the interests of [[national security]], a president would have the legal authority, by ''executive fiat'', to bypass laws on the books in an effort to fight organized crime and take the profit out of illegal narcotic smuggling and distribution. Later "seizure laws" were added under Pres. George H.W. Bush to take down domestic distribution kingpins ''after'' they made their sales and converted their drug wealth into cash or other property.

In the interests of [[national security]], a president would have the legal authority, by ''executive fiat'' (ordering prosecutors and customs officials to stand down), to bypass laws on the books in an effort to fight organized crime and take the profit out of illegal narcotic smuggling and distribution. Later "seizure laws" were added under Pres. George H.W. Bush to take down domestic distribution kingpins ''after'' they made their sales and converted their drug wealth into cash or other property.

The theory is twofold: (1) Having lost the war on drugs and failed at interdiction, the government itself sought to exercise control of importation, distribution, and profits; (2) a nations intelligence agency needs an off-the-books revenue source that enemies cannot calculate as easily as reading the budget of the United States Government which is readily available to anyone under our blue sky laws.

The theory is twofold: (1) Having lost the war on drugs and failed at interdiction, the government itself sought to exercise control of importation, distribution, and profits; (2) a nations intelligence agency needs an off-the-books revenue source that enemies cannot calculate as easily as reading the budget of the United States Government which is readily available to anyone under our blue sky laws.