EDITORIAL: IT'S VIETNAM ALL OVER AGAIN

It would appear that the US is in the midst of losing another war.
But this time, not even bombing the hell out of Cambodia is going to
do anything to stop the inevitable.

The battle being waged is the US government's 'War on Drugs,' and the
all-out, no-holds-barred, black-and-white attack on narcotics is not
going quite as planned. Drugs are still pouring in, people are still
getting fucked up, the jails are bursting, and there's not a whole
heck of a lot the government can do to rectify the situation.

The US' approach to the drug problem is something akin to an
alcoholic blaming the bartender for his or her affliction. Never mind
that the reason narcotics became such a lucrative market for
'producing' countries-as the US' Drug Enforcement Agency dubbed
them-is because demand is so high. Even so, the government proceeds
to lock up every pusher in sight, only to have another dozen pop up
to take his place.

When American President George W. Bush went to Mexico as his first
foreign visit, it appeared that Mexican President Vicente Fox was
shaping up to be the new Republican leader's lapdog. Not so.

Last week, Fox showed a surprising amount of independence-and
guts-when, agreeing with Mexican police officials, he advocated the
legalisation of drugs as the only effective way to combat narcotics
trafficking.

The philosophy of legalisation is becoming more and more accepted
everywhere. Here in Vancouver, Mayor Phillip Owen announced a new
drug policy last November that includes safe injection sites and the
medicinal administration of heroin to recovering users. The policy
changes come as part of a new 'harm-reduction' approach to the drug
problem in the Downtown Eastside.

As well, there have been challenges in the Supreme Court of Canada
recently over the legitimacy of laws criminalising marijuana.

Prompting changes in public sentiment are the obviously futile
efforts of governments spending huge sums of money trying to crack
down on the international drug trade. The money would be much more
effectively used supporting social awareness and education programs
designed to tackle drug dependency at a community level.

The Free Trade Agreement of the Americas' conference is happening in
Quebec City next month. Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle said in an
interview last week that he will attempt to open the question of
legalisation to debate at the conference.

The benefits of decriminalising drugs may not be enough to compel
leaders auch as Fox or Batlle to actually pursue legalisation-fear of
economic reprisals from the US could effectively quash these
sentiments, no matter how entrenched in reason they might be.

Still, while no one should expect a global legalisation any time
soon, it's encouraging to see the grasp of America's moral crusade
against drugs loosening. The 'War on Drugs' has been, and continues
to be, a horrible and misguided endeavour. It is time for the US and
its partners to admit that they lost the war, and for them to find a
new approach.

As President Batlle said recently, "Have you watched Traffic? Go tomorrow."