"These
legalizers put American children at risk.
The Dutch government should be renouncing them, not siding with them."
What? Oh, Never mind!
(Ed. note: This really
happened. I keep saying that we could not possibly make this up, but this is truly
amazing. The media are beginning to have difficulty covering up for the Bizarro. The
Greeks had a saying, "Whom the gods would destroy, first they make mad." Of
course, the ancient Greeks did not have a prohibitionist press to cover-up for them.)July 15, 1998
From the Boston Globe
letters@globe.com
http://www.boston.com/globe/
By Melissa Eddy, Associated Press
US CHIEF OF DRUG EFFORT TRIES TO EASE DUTCH ANGER
VIENNA - The US antidrug coordinator, Barry R. McCaffrey, tried
yesterday to ease Dutch anger at his criticism of the Netherlands’ drug laws, saying
he has "high respect" for the country despite differences over narcotics policy.
McCaffrey, a retired general, visited the headquarters of the UN
Drug Control Program in Vienna as part of an eight-day tour to examine European drug
treatment and prevention programs. The visit has been overshadowed by McCaffrey’s
strong criticism of the Dutch policy of allowing citizens to use marijuana and other drugs
for therapeutic and recreational purposes.
Last week, McCaffrey told CNN the Dutch policy was an
"unmitigated disaster" that had contributed to crime in the Netherlands -
comments that prompted a sharp response from the Netherlands’ ambassador to the
United States, Joris M. Vos.
See
Associated
Press Reports On Dutch Ambassador’s Protests
On Drug Bizarro’s Remarks Prior To His Trip To Holland
"I find the timing of your remarks, six days before your planned visit to the
Netherlands with a view to gaining firsthand knowledge" of Dutch drug policies
"rather astonishing," Vos wrote McCaffrey.
McCaffrey’s spokesman, Robert Housman, yesterday issued a statement that expressed
concern the Dutch government was being "pulled into an internal political
debate" in the United States by those who support decriminalizing drugs.
"These legalizers put American children at
risk," the statement said. "The Dutch government should be renouncing them, not
siding with them. ...
Every nation is free to set their own policies domestically.
However, other nations must respect the sovereignty of others and be keenly aware of the
impacts of their policies on the global community."
Hours later, Housman phoned news agencies to say the
statement "no longer stands" because it did not reflect McCaffrey’s views.
He gave no further explanation.
Supported