Saturday, March 7, 2009

How to Stop the Drug Wars


On February 9, the world celebrated the first centenary of the first-ever international effort against drug control when, meeting in Shanghai, they agreed to set up the International Opium Commission. In 1998 the UN General Assembly committed member countries to achieving a "drug-free world" and to "eliminating or significantly reducing" the production of opium, cocaine and cannabis by 2008. Even as ministers from around the world are gathering in Vienna this week to set international drug policy for the next decade, the prestigious magazine Economist has written an op-ed highlighting the futility of this exercise (http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13237193&source=hptextfeature ).

The article heavily criticizes the promise politicians often make of 'eliminating' drugs, saying it is a hugely irresponsible promise, because it cannot be fulfilled. Criticizing policy makers, the article says, like first-world-war generals, many will claim that all that is needed is more of the same. In fact the war on drugs has been a disaster, creating failed states in the developing world even as addiction has flourished in the rich world. By any sensible measure, this 100-year struggle has been illiberal, murderous and pointless. That is why The Economist continues to believe that the least bad policy is to legalize drugs.

But as a 100% Islamic nation Maldives will never accept legalization. So, we shall fight drugs. "We shall go on to the end … we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets … we shall never surrender."*

Read the original article at:

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13237193&source=hptextfeature

[*The quotation is from the famous speech of Winston Churchill at the House of Commons on 4th June 1940]

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

The members of the UN General Assembly, the politicians of its member countries, and all of the self-important people meeting up in vienna I am sure are drinkers of alcohol.

Alcohol is a drug, no?

First should come a "Rid the World of Hyporcrisy Campaign", then only should they open their mouths and talk!

Anonymous said...

"Rid the World of Hyporcrisy Campaign"...

LOL... you know that when people use the training opportunity to service the country as doctors end up in politics...

welcome to blogging..

Anonymous said...

Even if the whole world fails, we shall succeed in stopping drugs. We are Muslims.

Anonymous said...

Alcohol is not a drug.

Anonymous said...

If you read Aayathul Kurusi before going to bed eveynight, you will be saved from evils like drugs.

Anonymous said...

legalize weed

Anonymous said...

When you control alcohol the reslut is brown sugar.

Anonymous said...

the heading is very misleading

Anonymous said...

@ Anonymous March 8, 2009 11:58 AM

Alcohol is a drug. Just like cannabis, heroine, CAFFEINE etc :)

You're welcome.

Unknown said...

I could relate this article to my personal experience with fighting the disease of addiction. I must say there is no proper artillery at nation level to continue the fight. I guess with new administration and their manifesto promises going to be executed soon. Its really sad that few is done and more is talked or promised. I had to surrender to win. today I won just for today . Alcohol is a drug because it alters ones state of mind.. end are always same jail institution or death very frequent today in the 100 Muslim country!xoba

Anonymous said...

Dr. Abdulla Waheed is part of this drug menance in the country. He was one who was giving advice to Gayoom how to spread this around the country. Look who is talking now?

Anonymous said...

Dr . waheed you’re one person whose accountable for these in our nation, you have been in the previous regime saying this rehabilitation will work!! Please enlighten me any therapy which worked even 20%, the reply will be NO.. therefore why are you recommending our leader to do so .. conveyance of these hardcore fanatics to Malaysia and India is useless. And what is there to the youth who are not using these hardcore heroin and stuffs like that? Psychological rehabilitation is a failure the entire world knows about it and you know this too
Don’t you believe they will also be fond of going Malaysia to do even a seminar like thing to develop them?
My belief is like this in a liberal democracy it’s impossible to fight against drug ( we all know the 30 years of reign of terror did to this country, I wished anni had the same power like maumoon to change this country , only a good dictator can discipline this country ). But president nasheed can be impressive , reason why ? he’s got the best people to do the job in related fields so my advice is please don’t talk about this crap we need action .. We have seen task force and police, DRP campaigns against drug when ever it comes to vote.. so please don’t politicize “ the drug war”. Do a little, you know all these violence in male’ is related to drugs it’s just simple as that . thank you
For rehabilitation : send these hardcore addicts to girifushi training , keep a doctor there, physical rehabilitation will only work for these guys. Cause once they finish the training , they woudn’t like to go back there . It’s for sure. And they can be recruited to MNDF , they have their ranks to wtach over them.
So that way you guys will have no excuse in blaming public they ( addicts) are not given jobs. This way government can provide job in gaumee hidhumai.. ( and stop that campaign against parents and start a campaign to pressure government to fast track all of these issue’s) this is jus simple as that
Written by: A person whose much experienced than doctor waheed in this similar field but not that academic .. no PHDs and stuffs like that .. ( Mohamed ….. )

Abdullah Waheed's Blog said...

To anonymous 9:51 and 12.52, and anonymous ,
I take responsibility for the (just over) one year I was in charge of the rehabilitation program, when I believed that with all round support from government drugs could be controlled (not eliminated) to a reasonable level. I sent the letter of resignation from NNCB to President Gayoom in February 2007, when I realized that such over all support is not there. Everything I proposed (in the form of a Master Plan) remained unapproved till I left. It still remains unimplemented. And now after 3 years it is out of date.

Unknown said...

Youve been fooled by x admins. like drug fooled us. ameen and zubaida has to be removed. I wonder y d x narcotics board is still working it has to be replaced with people who understand this not legal in charge without any legal background or director just could write poems.M.

Anonymous said...

According to President Nasheed we must allow soft drugs!!! What the hell; are we heading their? Wow the obvious is now been surfacing slowly, and it must be a naked truth in few days, maybe.. We are really unfortunate to have a replacement of a dictator with a ringmaster. -Riaz-

Anonymous said...

maumoon's maldives drugs won the drug war .. and let's see anneh dhivehi raaje .. there are very capable people in this administration but NNCB should be overhauled ( thanks)

Anonymous said...

THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO LEGALIZE IT, MR PRESIDENT JUST LEGALISE DRUGS