(I guess Afghanistan is 1, Iraq is 2, what about Libya???)
Here are their top stories right now:
- March 30, 2011
Mexican Drug Cartels Recruiting U.S. Teens
America's Third War: Students warned about dangers of smuggling
- March 3, 2011
Farmers on the Border Under Attack
America's Third War: Armed men forcing ranchers off their land
- March 1, 2011
Operation 'Southern Tempest'
America's Third War: ICE cracks down on violent gang members
- February 22, 2011
Exclusive: Family of Murdered Border Agent Speaks Out
America's Third War: News details on Brian Terry's death
- February 11, 2011
Stopping Illegals at the Border
America's Third War: Agents depend on footrace despite tech advances
I guess they did not get the word that we no longer call it a "drug war."
I feel like FOX's coverage on America's third war, is very misleading to the general public. It's good that FOX is covering the drug cartel problems that Mexico is facing, because it is an important issue that does effect the American population. However, we are not at war with drugs anymore. The American government has far too many things to worry about at the current moment that are more important than this so called "war on drugs." I think that FOX is going to start a moral panic, where the public is going to start thinking that the drug cartels in Mexico are going to cross the border and create major terror in the US. It also might create a moral panic in regards to "America's third war." This is not false information however, it does misconstrue the information which leads to the general public thinking that the drug war is a new, prevalent, dangerous issue.
ReplyDeleteThe entire idea of a "war on drugs" makes absolutely no sense. I certainly agree that this creates a moral panic. Drugs are here. They have always been here. And guess what U.S Government--they haven't gone anywhere. In fact there has been virtually no decrease in the amount of drugs/drug use. And what bothers me the most--a war on DRUGS--drugs are a thing, a possession. You can't declare a war on a thing. drugs don't fight back, and yet we spend BILLIONS of dollars on ‘fighting’ them. I also definitely agree that calling it a "third war" is very misleading. Like farieskm said, this leads the public to think this is a new and prevalent issue that we need to worry about, as if being in Iraq and Afghanistan isn't taking up enough of our time and resources. And then when you look at prison data—ridiculous. Roughly 34% of convicted felons are in state prison because of drugs, no wonder we have spent roughly 90 billion on this “war”. There are three things a person can be executed for: 1. First degree murder/felony murder. 2. Treason and 3. DRUG KINGPINS. We can’t execute rapists (coker v. Georgia outlawed the death penalty for rape) , but we execute drug kingpins. FOX news should look at that issue.
ReplyDeleteThe Operation Southern Tempest video was pretty shocking. According to the reporter, ICE agents cooperating with local police, cracked down for a short period and in a few days arrested "hundreds" of people for dealing narcotics and a majority of them were illegal immigrants. I just feel it would have been more appropriate to devise a better plan to get these people out of the nation faster and more fluidly once detained because now they have a massive population to incarcerate immediately. The expense of this will probably be a scary figure. The reporters seem very enthusiastic about this and confident in what was happening. unfortunately I don't think it is that black and white. The reporters are relying on official government sources for information. They were showing clip after clip of drug dealers being handcuffed. I'm not completely convinced Hatian coke dealers should be on our high priority list as a threat to our nation.
ReplyDeleteWar on drugs have made it harsher punishments for first time non violent offenders. This war is taking first time offenders and sticking them in the most violent place they have ever know Dr. Dan Murphy characterized it as "The University of Crime". They are taking drugs like crack and making it harsher punishment than the powder cocaine. This is in result to racist law makers because mainly blacks use crack cocaine (Cheap cocaine)and the rich whites use the white power. I do think we should take the efforts of trying to stop terrorists and re-direct them to the southern and northern borders to help contain drugs but its difficult to watch 12,034 km of coast land.....
ReplyDeleteWell it's clear to me that ICE agents don't have the best interests of those they are busting in mind. I feel like drug policy in the United States has been written in completely the wrong way. Throwing drug offenders in prison has been shown only to further contribute to their criminal behavior and force them to learn the norms and values of prison life, which often includes violence. Rather than rounding up immigrants with a drug problem so that we can deport them back to their problems, a better system of drug treatment and therapy needs to be devised so that people in trouble can get the help that they need.
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