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Bad news in the drug war America is waging a phony war on narcotics (O'REILLY FACTOR TRANSCRIPT)
THE O'REILLY FACTOR / VIA EMAIL | 2/21/2003 | THE O'REILLY FACTOR

Posted on 03/05/2003 11:24:49 AM PST by TLBSHOW

THE O'REILLY FACTOR February 21, 2003 FACTOR Follow-Up

O'REILLY: Thanks for staying with us. I'm Bill O'Reilly.

And, in THE FACTOR "Follow-Up" Segment tonight, bad news in the drug war.

The U.S. inexplicably did not destroy the poppy fields in Afghanistan, and the Bush administration has not moved the military to the borders to back up the Border Patrol as the patrol has requested.

Result: It is business as usual for drug dealers around the country, and some believe America is waging a phony war on narcotics.

Joining us now from Washington is Heidi Bonnett from the National Defense Council Foundation and, from Houston, Ron Housman, the assistant director of White House Drug Policy under President Clinton.

Ms. Bonnett, I read your letter in "USA Today," very impressed with it, that you were angry about the U.S. not getting -- eradicating the poppy fields in Afghanistan. Tell us about your opinion and why you formed it.

HEIDI BONNETT, NATIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL FOUNDATION: Well, I formed this because, in the last year, the opium production in Afghanistan has reached almost record highs again. It's re-established itself as the number one opium producer in the world.

And, while we have pledged money to this, we aren't doing enough. We haven't been helping to eradicate the poppy crops, and that's mainly -- if we go in and we bomb, then they're going to come, and they're going to sprout somewhere else.

We need to start enforcing more a multifaceted program and step in and really assist the Karzai government because the Karzai government has been attempting do this, but they basically don't have the money or the...

O'REILLY: All right. Now why do you think -- since we control Afghanistan -- the U.S. controls Afghanistan militarily right now...

BONNETT: Yes.

O'REILLY: ... and it would not take more than a week to -- for us to bomb those fields, to destroy those fields, why do you think it hasn't happened?

BONNETT: I don't think we've had the will to do it. There...

O'REILLY: Why? Why? It's nar -- it's heroin we're talking about here.

BONNETT: Yes, it is.

O'REILLY: It's an enormously destructive substance that finds its way not only to the United States but to Europe and everywhere else.

BONNETT: Yes, it's gone all over the world. I think that, even if we bomb it, there are -- we -- it's just going to -- probably we think that it's just going to spring back up again in another location if we're not giving the farmers another option because if a farmer can receive about $6,000 for an acre of opium, what incentive do they have to go back to...

O'REILLY: All right. Now I don't mind buying them off either, and we haven't done that.

Mr. Housman, you know, you -- look, you know how the White House works. Why hasn't? Mr. Bush done this? Do you have any idea?

ROB HOUSMAN, FORMER DRUG CZAR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Well, I can only speculate to a degree, Bill, but I think one of the things that Ms. Bonnett just said is very important.

If we don't provide some way of following up on this and getting farmers some replacement crops, some other economic development for this country -- I think the Bush administration is really worried -- and I think this is a huge mistake -- that we'll take away their largest cash crop, and I -- as I said, that's a huge mistake of...

O'REILLY: We can't be doing that. I mean, this is insane. Do you know how much crime -- you -- Mr. Housman, you know above all else must -- 70 percent of all of the street crime in the United States is caused by drug-addicted people, and...

HOUSMAN: Bill, I...

O'REILLY: ... and, I mean, we're over there, and you're telling me we can't destroy those fields and pay off those farmers? Come on!

HOUSMAN: No, we should. No, absolutely. I totally agree with you, Bill. I think we need to show some will here, and I think we need to do just that. We need to eradicate these crops, and we need to provide crop replacement and buy the farmers off, get them on our side, because we're never going to stabilize this country.

We'll never make it a democracy unless we do just that because, you know, as I've said for many times -- and you and I have discussed this -- there is an insidious triangle trade now that exists between terrorism, drugs, weapons, and money...

O'REILLY: Sure. And we -- and the Bush administration...

HOUSMAN: ... and we should break that triangle.

O'REILLY: The Bush administration has probably spent more money advertising that triangle than they have eradicating anything. This is why I'm stunned. And I can't get a straight answer out of Walters, the drug czar, anybody else, all right, to tell me why.

But I think I know, and that's because they don't want these warlords in Afghanistan who control the narcotics trade to turn on the Karzai government. So they're saying -- they're saying you do what you want, you sell all of the dope you want, leave Karzai alone, and we'll let you do it.

Mr. Housman, I...

HOUSMAN: And...

O'REILLY: ... think that's what's going down there.

BONNETT: But that's not...

HOUSMAN: Absolutely. And it's a false choice.

BONNETT: That's not really helping the Karzai...

HOUSMAN: Exactly. It's a false choice, Bill, because they're never going to get stability, they'll never get democracy, and, as Ms. Bonnett was saying, you will not have a strong Karzai government if you keep up letting the warlords run drugs.

O'REILLY: Yes, but they...

HOUSMAN: It just doesn't work.

O'REILLY: Ms. Bonnett, I think that's what's going down here, is it not?

BONNETT: Yes, the warlords have a vested interest in keeping the government weak because, as long as the government is weak, they can't enforce their own policies. So long as the government...

O'REILLY: Right. So the deal has been cut.

BONNETT: Yes.

O'REILLY: You don't bother our troops -- U.S. troops, and you don't bother Karzai, and we'll let you sell all the opium and heroin you want. That's the deal. I think that's what's going on here. Nobody disagrees, right?

BONNETT: No.

O'REILLY: OK. Now let's go to Mexico. Tons and tons of narcotics coming across from Mexico every single day. The Bush administration won't put the troops on the border even though they now have a reason: national security after 9/11.

Ms. Bonnett, any idea?

BONNETT: I think we just really need the focus on building up the Border Patrol, giving the Customs...

O'REILLY: Not going to happen. Not going to do it. You can...

BONNETT: No, they're not going to.

O'REILLY: No. The Border Patrol itself admits it can't do it, needs the military.

BONNETT: Yes.

O'REILLY: Mr. Housman, any idea why we don't have the military down there?

HOUSMAN: Well, I think one reason is, right now, we have a law called the Posse Comitatus law that prevents the military...

O'REILLY: No, doesn't apply.

HOUSMAN: ... from being used...

O'REILLY: Mr. Housman, it doesn't apply. It does...

HOUSMAN: Well, Bill...

O'REILLY: The Posse Comitatus law only says the military can't make arrests. It does not say...

HOUSMAN: Exactly.

O'REILLY: ... they cannot back up the Border Patrol and inhibit. Now you worked under Clinton.

HOUSMAN: And I agree with you on that, Bill.

O'REILLY: Clinton would not do...

HOUSMAN: I agree with you on that.

O'REILLY: Clinton would not do it either. Why wouldn't President Clinton put troops on the border?

HOUSMAN: Well, I think there's a natural hesitancy to deploy the U.S. military at home, but I also think that we're seeing a shift.

I mean, our borders right now are our front lines in the war against terrorism, in the fight against drugs, and these are interrelated problems, and we need to look at more National Guard support for deploying those units in intelligence.

O'REILLY: But we're not.

HOUSMAN: Bill, I agree with you.

O'REILLY: What is it going to take?

HOUSMAN: We ought to be looking at that. Well, I -- sadly, I think one of the things it may take is another disaster, and I hope it doesn't...

O'REILLY: Yes.

HOUSMAN: ... come to that...

BONNETT: I...

HOUSMAN: ... but we need a strong border...

O'REILLY: You know what, both of you? We're living out six-million disasters every day because there are six-million Americans addicted to hard drugs, and every day those people go through many disasters in their own life.

Some of them hurt us. Some of them are just pathetic. Some of them sell their bodies. Some of them have AIDS. Every day, six-million disasters. Yet the United States government with all its power will not do anything to help get this drug thing under control.

It's disgraceful.

BONNETT: Right.

O'REILLY: Thanks very much, Ms. Bonnett, Mr. Housman. We appreciate it. Nice to see you both.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; decriminalize; legalize; poppy; thewodisevil; us; wodlist
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To: cinFLA
Meanwhile you are echoing UN propaganda about how subjects' lives must be controlled by the all-powerful state. You're going to be in the company of leftists no matter which side you're on, deal with it.
141 posted on 03/06/2003 10:56:49 AM PST by ThinkDifferent
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To: Protagoras
I said "tempt" to "extreme liberty," not "I will harm you physically." Being humble about my human frailties, don't you see?
142 posted on 03/06/2003 10:57:02 AM PST by unspun ("Inalienable right to own hash, PCP, ricin, C4, smallpox & plutonium." - TOTALIBERTARIAN)
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To: ThinkDifferent
Meanwhile you are echoing UN propaganda about how subjects' lives must be controlled by the all-powerful state. You're going to be in the company of leftists no matter which side you're on, deal with it.

It is YOUR side that is proposing a national police force, drug legalization, a new world order and total gun control.

143 posted on 03/06/2003 10:58:58 AM PST by cinFLA
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To: Protagoras
Better check back with your church leaders to see if that is ecouraged.

Able to go directly to the highest leader, He says "No."

144 posted on 03/06/2003 10:59:06 AM PST by unspun ("Inalienable right to own hash, PCP, ricin, C4, smallpox & plutonium." - TOTALIBERTARIAN)
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To: cinFLA
The issue is that tpaine, MrLeRoy, etal. are just spouting the drug legalization

And how do you address that "issue" by replying to a RLC platform with 41 non-drug-related planks by saying, "Basically just anti-WoD's"?

145 posted on 03/06/2003 10:59:55 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: MrLeRoy
Are Tpaine and MrLeRoy one and the same?
146 posted on 03/06/2003 11:00:31 AM PST by cinFLA
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To: MrLeRoy
And how do you address that "issue" by replying to a RLC platform with 41 non-drug-related planks by saying, "Basically just anti-WoD's"?

Because we are discussing drugs and Tpaines claim about drugs. Stick to the subject.

147 posted on 03/06/2003 11:01:48 AM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA; tpaine
Are Tpaine and MrLeRoy one and the same?

Nope. Ask the AM if you don't believe me.

Now did you plan to ever address the issue of the War On Some Drugs?

148 posted on 03/06/2003 11:03:16 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: cinFLA
And how do you address that "issue" by replying to a RLC platform with 41 non-drug-related planks by saying, "Basically just anti-WoD's"?

Because we are discussing drugs and Tpaines claim about drugs.

Witless blather.

149 posted on 03/06/2003 11:04:35 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: cinFLA
George Soros, John Sperling, Peter Lewis and George Zimmer.

Hi Cin. I'd much rather be associated with the above mentioned than with Kofi Annan and his ilk at the UN.
150 posted on 03/06/2003 11:05:20 AM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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To: MrLeRoy
Now did you plan to ever address the issue of the War On Some Drugs

I will stick to the subject that MrLeroy, TPaine cannot seem provide any solutions to the drug problems except to make it legal and it will go away.

151 posted on 03/06/2003 11:06:39 AM PST by cinFLA
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To: unspun
Able to go directly to the highest leader, He says "No."

Great, now you can return to whatever other unchristian activities you are about and we don't have to worry about being threatened by you anymore.

Which of course still doesn't explain what that cryptic reference was all about. But what the heck, I'll let it go now that you have decided not to harm anyone. :^}

152 posted on 03/06/2003 11:07:34 AM PST by Protagoras
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To: jmc813
And you are associated with the communists, socialists and anarchists as I have documented time and time again.
153 posted on 03/06/2003 11:09:08 AM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
It is YOUR side that is proposing a national police force, drug legalization, a new world order and total gun control.

I assume you're referring to the Libertarian Party. Other than the drug legalization, could you point me to where they espouse the others?
154 posted on 03/06/2003 11:09:16 AM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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To: jmc813
I assume you're referring to the Libertarian Party. Other than the drug legalization, could you point me to where they espouse the others?

I am referring to Soros, etal, the left-libertarians, the libertarian-socialists, the libertarian-communists, the anarchists.

155 posted on 03/06/2003 11:11:23 AM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
It is YOUR side that is proposing a national police force, drug legalization, a new world order and total gun control.

Um, replace the 2nd item with its opposite and you have an accurate description of the UN agenda. Let me try this one more time:

There are liberals who oppose the WOD.
There are liberals who support the WOD.
There are conservatives who oppose the WOD.
There are conservatives who support the WOD.

This guilt by association game you're trying to play is useless and serves only to distract from the substantive issues.

156 posted on 03/06/2003 11:11:35 AM PST by ThinkDifferent
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To: cinFLA
MrLeroy, TPaine cannot seem provide any solutions to the drug problems except to make it legal and it will go away.

I never claimed that. Relegalizing drugs will end the problems caused or aggravated by the War On Some Drugs; other drug-related problems cannot be solved by government.

157 posted on 03/06/2003 11:12:03 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: cinFLA
And you are associated with the communists, socialists and anarchists as I have documented time and time again.

So you're claiming the United Nations endorses capitalism, constitutional republics, and American ideals????

The point I was trying to make is that it's possible to agree with your polar oppisite on some issues. For instance, I will assume you support Second Amendment rights. There is an organization known as the Pink Pistols which is comprised of pro-2A homosexuals. Going by your logic, you support the gay movement, or are possibly gay yourself.
158 posted on 03/06/2003 11:13:27 AM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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To: ThinkDifferent
This guilt by association game you're trying to play is useless and serves only to distract from the substantive issues.

You enjoyed playing till the pain became too great.

159 posted on 03/06/2003 11:15:12 AM PST by cinFLA
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To: jmc813
The point I make is that George Soros, etal., have formualated a strategy, are paying millions to get the message out by developing organizations and paying spammers to put out the drug legalization mantra. All the "libs" on this board have to offer is "legalize drugs and the problem will go away".

My point is that the libs on this board have no problem with the legal sale of ecstasy in the local pizza hut.
160 posted on 03/06/2003 11:19:27 AM PST by cinFLA
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