CHEERS & JEERS -- WANTED: A SANE DRUG POLICY

Cheer: Gen. Barry McCaffrey's decision to resign as the White House drug
policy chief, rather than try to stay on under a new administration, is
welcome. It creates an opportunity for the new president to reassess this
country's failing strategy against illicit drugs, at home and abroad.
McCaffrey's uncompromising approach -- particularly in pressing for $1.3
billion in aid to help Colombia fight drug-trafficking militias, may have
won over Congress and President Clinton, but has won only limited support
from European governments and has drawn sharp criticism from leaders in
South America. Some of them accuse Washington of offering aid as a
substitute for tackling its own drug problem seriously. Others stop just
short of calling it a new form of U.S. imperialism, while still others fear
it could lead to a Vietnam-style war against leftist guerrillas that could
spill over into neighboring countries. One must hope McCaffrey's successor
will bring to the job a more open mind not only about fighting the drug war
abroad, but also about dealing with the problem at home not only as a
criminal matter, but as the serious social crisis it is.