The War -- On Drugs ???

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It looks like it's not just CIA kidnapper-agents and suspected London bombing fugitives that the extremely efficient Italian authorities are sniffing out and snaffling up.

Take peek at this piece from the August 1st edition of Newsday.com

Steroids Headed for Troops in Iraq Seized

By VICTOR L. SIMPSON Associated Press Writer

August 1, 2005, 4:09 PM EDT

ROME -- Italian police seized 215,000 doses of prohibited substances as they smashed a ring that supplied steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to customers around the world, including American soldiers in Iraq, a police official said Monday.

Surprised? Shocked? Well, you shouldn't be. It was reported early on during this illegal Iraq invasion that the USAF officially dished out drugs -- to pilots flying too many hours and/or missions. All legal-like and out in the open too. Do a Google and check it out on the net for yourself; the USAF medical men didn't deny it -- they actually confirmed it.

Over the years, This Old Brit has known a number of galoots with their brains in their biceps, but they were mostly amongst those fond of frequenting football fields, gyms, athletics stadiums and the like. Not forgetting those who worked the doors of clip joints and other such dubious dives, of course.

But, on steroids while wearing the uniform? While flying the flag? While doing their duty? During wartime? While fighting on the front line? Jeepers creepers, most of us thought that sort of shit stopped after Viet Nam. These guys in Iraq must be going crazy.

Apparently some of the mercenaries -- oops, sorry -- contractors, are at it as well.

Private security contractors told AP that steroid use also is a problem among their employees because the drugs are readily available in Iraq -- as easy as buying a soda from the local stores, according to one contractor.

Good Gawdinheffin -- me old mind's bogglin'. Especially when learning of one particularly simple way this stuff can so easily be obtained.

Troops and some contractors receive mail at inexpensive domestic U.S. postal rates, allowing soldiers to order almost anything online.

Can you believe that? I mean, think of the amazing risks involved here. How long will it be, one wonders, before some devious devils get some brand new ideas? Ideas like maybe starting to send some unsolicited mail-order type deliveries -- not of things that bring a bit of a buzz or a boost - but of things that go bang in the night?

Talk about second rate security. Talk about about sheer stupidity. I ask you, can you credit it?

Victor L. Simpson of Associated Press, who penned the piece I'm quoting, said this.

U.S. military in Iraq had no immediate comment, but the popularity of steroid abuse has long been discussed as American troops and contractors in Iraq work out in gyms set up in bases and even in the mirrored halls of one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces.

And somebody else said this.

Joe Donahue, program director for the Vietnam Vets of America Foundation, who spent 16 months in Iraq -- often lifting weights in the Green Zone gyms -- said steroids were on offer for those who wanted them. "I had them offered to me by an Iraqi guy who sure as hell looked like he was using them," Donahue said. "There were guys I'm pretty sure were juicing, but not a lot of them."

Then there's this from an' official'.

Bo, the Trieste police official, said authorities were ready to cooperate in any international investigation, but that they had not been approached by U.S. authorities.

You can read the full anadiabolical article via the link below. But you'll have to read it alone.

'Cos right now, This Old Brit thinks he needs a long lie down [preferably in a darkened room] after taking a tablet or two of his own.

Tut, tut, tut. Boggle, boggle, boggle.

http://www.newsalerts.com/news/article/go:world8:247998

See also, X Ref with: http://culturelifehealth.blogspot.com/2005/08/suicide-drugs-and-war.html