On the morning of June 17, 1971, President Richard Nixon, speaking from the Briefing Room of the White House, declared: “America’s public enemy No. 1 in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive. I have asked the Congress to provide the legislative authority and the funds to fuel this kind of an offensive. This will be a worldwide offensive dealing with the problems of sources of supply, as well as Americans who may be stationed abroad, wherever they are in the world.”

From the New York Times.

This “war” has produced more casualties than any other.  This “war” has failed to achieve its goal.  This “war” has been far more expensive than any other in history.  There is no man, woman or child in America who has not suffered for this “war.”

Forty years later, it is still being fought.  And Americans continue to elect politicians and support policies to continue the “war.”  There are  law enforcement officers who feel strongly enough about the error of this notion to take a public stand against it.  There are  organizations dedicated to making Americans understand how the dots connect and price paid for the continuation of this “war.”

And yet, Americans believe that if we just continue to fight the same battle one more time, the outcome will be different.  Isn’t 40 years of failure enough to learn that President Nixon and his successors are wrong?