U.S. NEEDS TO REASSESS ITS 'WAR ON DRUGS'

In wake of the downing of a missionary plane in Peru, more than Peru's
''shoot-down'' policy needs to be evaluated (''A puff of smoke, and then
chaos at 4,000 feet,'' Cover Story, News, Monday).

The whole counterproductive, rights-infringing, corruption-producing,
violence-mongering, lie-fueled war on drugs ought to be put on trial.

Seven-month-old Charity Bowers is not the first innocent child killed in
the drug war, and she won't be the last as long as we continue to accept
the myth that force and violence are the best ways to address drug problems.

Stephen Young

Roselle, Ill.