FIGHT DRUGS, TOO

Amid the other aims of the current war, I pray that the "war on drugs" is
not forgotten. That "war" - the quotation marks have hitherto always been
needed really - ought to take aim at all the drug cartels, which have
destroyed many more American lives than the recent attacks on New York and
Washington. While we are invading or bombing one distant country or
another, there is a closer enemy, one equally sinister, armed and violent.

I lived in Mexico for many years. It ought to be enough for us to support
President Fox in this effort, but I would like that support to be active
and full. Also, although there is always a need for secrecy in military and
police operations, it would probably help if some part of that effort were
publicized. I suspect that my fellow Americans do not realize - or easily
forget - that Mexico, too, has been suffering grievously from terrorism.

Some of the assassinations and a small fraction of the kidnappings are
reported by the news media but are quickly forgotten on this side of the
border. The drug lords have proven themselves enemies of constitutional
government, the only real hope for Mexico and our only hope for having a
civilized southern neighbor.

WYNNE JOHNSON

Yuma