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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: jmc813
If this were the case, I would have no problem whatsoever with my state (NJ) banning cocaine, LSD, heroin, etc.

Would you have a problem with your state legalizing cocaine, LSD, heroin, ecstasy, etc?

221 posted on 03/06/2003 1:06:16 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: jmc813
I think the Federal War on Drugs is largely unconstitutional, and I believe each state should dictate their own policies.

Thus you have no problem with pot dealers that are prosecuted under state laws?

222 posted on 03/06/2003 1:08:12 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: jmc813
I think each state should decide whether or not to allow abortion, the same way it was before Roe v. Wade.

Give that situation, you have no problem with the 14 year old that goes across the state line to get a legal abortion that would be banned in your state?

223 posted on 03/06/2003 1:11:12 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: unspun

To: unspun
"Don't call me a socialist or disrespectful of our Constitution, ---
-- And you may tempt me to exercise some extreme liberty in your direction.
83 -unspun-


Your socialistic views on the unconstitutional drug war are on your home page:

"Don't let anyone tell you that it's unconstitutional to ban intoxicants. The 10th Amendment reiterates our right to legislate this in the states (and Article I, Section 8 does grant Congress limited power to curtail narcotics traffic)."
__________________________________

States can 'reasonably regulate' the use of intoxicants, -- not prohibit them for 'social reasons'.
And the in the commerce clause, to read 'regulate commerce' as a grant of prohibitive power is sheer socialistic jingoism.

Case closed.
87 posted on 03/05/2003 10:53 PM PST by tpaine
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224 posted on 03/06/2003 1:12:10 PM PST by tpaine
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To: unspun
Elasticity as a trait, shows that demand almost always increases with greater availability.

Not quite; elasticity measures by how much demand increases. JmyBryan points out that elasticity is most likely low for drugs.

GIFFEN GOOD: A rare type of good seldom seen in the real world, in which a change in price causes quantity demanded to change in the same direction (in violation of the law of demand). In other words, an increase in the price of a Giffen good results in an increase in the quantity demanded. The existence of a Giffen good requires the existence of special circumstances. First, the good must be an inferior good. Second, the income effect triggered by a change in price must overwhelm the substitution effect. A Giffen good is most likely to result when the good is a significant share of the consumer's budget. c/o www.amosweb.com

Does not apply.

That doesn't follow. "Seldom" is not "never," and "is most likely to" is not "only."

225 posted on 03/06/2003 1:17:20 PM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: jmc813
No offence to MrLeroy, but I would suspect a majority of anti-WOD FReepers would side closer with my opinion on this than his.

None taken. I wouldn't be surprised if you're right.

226 posted on 03/06/2003 1:19:13 PM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: cinFLA
You chose to pick up against me.

Well, my intent was certainly not be come off as hostile. I always try my best to respect other posters no matter how much I disagree with them (though sometimes everyone slips up).

I jumped into the fray here originally to criticize the "guilt by association" arguments you were using earlier and to provide converse examples of why this is a poor debating tactic.
227 posted on 03/06/2003 1:19:27 PM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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To: tpaine
Witless blather.

As they say, write to the level of your reader.

228 posted on 03/06/2003 1:19:31 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
Total bull, from a raving madman.
- But keep it up, as it makes you look like a utter fool.
229 posted on 03/06/2003 1:19:54 PM PST by tpaine
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To: tpaine
When are you going to take down the fake Lincoln quote?
230 posted on 03/06/2003 1:20:59 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
Your 'level' is witless blather.
231 posted on 03/06/2003 1:24:44 PM PST by tpaine
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To: cinFLA
Never. As I said before, it's 'bait', for witless fools.
232 posted on 03/06/2003 1:26:06 PM PST by tpaine
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To: jmc813
I jumped into the fray here originally to criticize the "guilt by association" arguments you were using earlier and to provide converse examples of why this is a poor debating tactic.

MrLeroy and Tpaine do not respond to debate. They have one message and that is to legalize drugs. I have never seen an open forum that did not have paid spammers. George Soros, etal. are paying millions to set up websites and use the internet in all possible manners to get "society" normalized to drug use. My intent of these posts is to show the readers these associations and they can do their own research and make up their minds as they feel. Just like the "peace activists" are really communists, there is a hidden "drug movement" sponsored by Soros, etal.

233 posted on 03/06/2003 1:27:49 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: tpaine
When will you remove that fake quote?
234 posted on 03/06/2003 1:29:16 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
Would you have a problem with your state legalizing cocaine, LSD, heroin, ecstasy, etc?

Yes, I would, and I would vote against any referendums for such. And if their illegality at the state level would be an example of how to strive for a drug-free community while still respecting the constitution.
235 posted on 03/06/2003 1:29:28 PM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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To: jmc813
Let's take MrLeroy for example. Nice guy, I enjoy reading his opinions and communicating with him,

He and his kind are hurting your ability to discuss the issue as his antics keep the thread relegated to the smokey backroom.

236 posted on 03/06/2003 1:31:39 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
Thus you have no problem with pot dealers that are prosecuted under state laws?

I wouldn't say I "don't have a problem with it", since I think pot laws are stupid. However if one were to be prosecuted strictly on the state level, I would not call it unconstitutional. Stupid, misguided, emotion-driven, but not unconstitutional.
237 posted on 03/06/2003 1:35:46 PM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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To: jmc813
I thought it was a states' rights issue. What is your problem if your state legalizes hard drugs?
238 posted on 03/06/2003 1:36:31 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
He and his kind are hurting your ability to discuss the issue as his antics keep the thread relegated to the smokey backroom.

The only "antics" I can see is him having a somewhat radical opinion on the issue. As far as flaming, namecalling, etc., I find him to be no more guilty than anybody else.
239 posted on 03/06/2003 1:37:59 PM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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To: cinFLA
They have one message and that is to legalize drugs. I have never seen an open forum that did not have paid spammers. George Soros, etal. are paying millions to set up websites and use the internet in all possible manners to get "society" normalized to drug use.

Now, here's where we really part company. No offence intended, but this seems a bit "tin foilish" to me. MrLeroy has articipated on several abortion threads in the past and given very strong, eloquent (and libertarian) opinions against abortion. Now do you really think a George Soros plant would do this?
240 posted on 03/06/2003 1:41:06 PM PST by jmc813 (Trampled by lambs and pecked by the doves)
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