To the editor:

I was alarmed by Donald Phipps’ letter to the editor in the June 2 Journal-World. Phipps argued that money spent on illegal drugs is not funneled to terrorists. Instead, money used by Middle Eastern terrorists comes from oil.

Though oil is a major source of finances to the Middle East, it is incorrect to say that that is their only source of income. One of the biggest exports of Afghanistan is opium. Money spent on opium could easily fall into the hands of the Taliban regime.

But drug money plays a much bigger role in world terror than poppy plants in Afghanistan. Colombia, as well as many other South American countries, is controlled by drug lords who make a business out of smuggling marijuana and cocaine into the United States. Drug money is used directly on the military arms necessary to stay in power. It is almost impossible to establish a stable democracy in Central and South America for this reason.

In regards to Middle East terrorists, I find it ironic that Phipps accuses Bush of supporting terrorism because he is an “oil-man.” Though a long-term solution to the energy crisis is needed, the car industry is still run by oil, like it or not. Anyone who is against drilling for oil in Alaska is left with the only practical alternative of buying it overseas. It seems that they would prefer buying oil from Saddam Hussein instead of drilling in Alaska.

Nathan Markham,

Lawrence