QUESTIONS

What Happened In Peru?

The tragic mistake made in Peru that left an American missionary and her
infant dead has raised more questions than answers. And it again brings
the United States' drug-war policy under scrutiny.

It might be awhile before we know what went so terribly wrong. The
conflicting stories coming from the United States and Peru will have to
be sorted out.

And the questions: Why was the private plane shot from the sky when
standard procedure is to force drug planes to land? Did the pilot of the
private plane file a flight plan? Were the international rules of
engagement followed by the Peruvian fighter planes? Did Central
Intelligence Agency agents on the tracker plane try to call off the
fighters?

The private plane was in an area frequented by drug traffickers. But
were the Peruvian pilots too eager to put a notch in their guns? Did
they ignore precautions that could have avoided this tragedy?

This incident, which also wounded the pilot of the private plane, brings
into question again the United States' role in drug wars in South
America. The joint drug interdiction program approved by Congress in
1994 has been controversial. Billions of dollars have been spent in
trying to discourage or eradicate coca- growing operations in Peru,
Colombia and Bolivia.

Anti-drug armies have been funded and crop eradication efforts have been
financed. Some critics believe that much of the money for the military
has gone to combat rebel forces rather than drugs. Poisoning crops from
above has also taken its toll on legitimate farmers, many of whom are
too poor to start over. Realizing that it is easier and more profitable
to grow coca than corn, those farmers have turned to growing the plant
used in making cocaine.

The fact is, America's drug problem will never be solved until Americans
quit using cocaine and other illegal drugs. Spending billions of dollars
abroad is not going to solve the problem. Spending even half the $25
billion spent in the last decade in South America would go a long way
toward helping get America unhooked.

These are questions and problems that surely will arise again. We can
only hope that it won't follow the death of another innocent bystander.