The Reds in the Blue Helmets

Jane Wilgress writes that the UN was "founded to uphold international law and prevent pre-emptive aggression" (Letters, Sept. 26-Oct. 2) The UN was founded to be a one-world, socialist government. Several of the key U.S. officials who planned the UN were later exposed as Communist agents to include Alger Hiss and Harry Dexter White.

The UN seems to pick and choose when it wants to "prevent pre-emptive aggression." In 1961 when Katanga succeeded from the Congo, which at the time was run by the Soviet puppet Patrice Lamumba, UN forces bombed schools, hospitals and private homes to bring Katanga back under the control of the Communist Congolese government. By comparison, in the ''50s during the unprovoked Soviet attack on Hungary, and when Red Chinese were murdering Tibetans during the ''60s, or when the Soviets were murdering civilians in Afghanistan during the ''70s and ''80s, the UN did nothing. While ignoring those obvious acts of "pre-emptive aggression," the UN accused Rhodesia of being "a threat to international peace."

It also should be remembered that Bush Sr. was following the mandates of the UN and advice from Colin Bowell, I mean Powell, when he refused to allow Saddam to be finished off for good. It''s unrealistic and foolish to rely on the UN to deal with the present Iraqi problem.

--Brian L. Burleson/Seaside

Declare Drug Peace

Having seen Mike Kanalakis in person on the campaign trail, I can say that he''s got a lot going for him in his run for sheriff. I have to wonder, however, why he wants to "beef up the narcotics team" ("Deputies Showdown," Sept. 26-Oct. 2).

The voters in California have consistently expressed the opinion that the drug war should end, or at the least, be toned down. For example, in November, 2000, California voters enacted a groundbreaking new drug-treatment law (Proposition 36), mandating probation and treatment instead of incarceration in many cases. As a result the overall state prison population has fallen, while thousands more serious and violent criminals have been locked up.

Four years earlier Californian voters passed the Compassionate Use Act, which legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Local citizens seem comfortable with these decisions, and when the federal government recently launched a military-style commando raid on a medical marijuana garden in Santa Cruz County, local media and politicians sided with the gardeners over the troops.

Contrary to myth, it is not big pushers and kingpins who suffer under "tough drug policies." These "big fish" often inform on "little fish" in trade for immunity. The little fish, unable to pass the buck further, are often convicted for prison terms for relatively minimal involvement. Like most wars, the drug war does not target the rich, powerful or wicked. It destroys ordinary people who have done little or nothing wrong.

According to the Weekly article, both Kanalakis and Heffington want higher morale in the department. Then get the deputies involved in protecting people from real threats to life and property. The gratitude expressed by the citizens will give them great joy! Let the addicts go to Narcotics Anonymous. It turns more people around than prison.

--Thomas F. Lee/Foundation to End Drug Unfairness Policies (FEDUP)/Seaside

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