DRUG WAR BLINDNESS

Christopher Caldwell's review (Bookshelf, March 14) of yet another in the
torrent of books criticizing the drug war, "Forces of Habit," deftly
outlines the case but then informs us that the book's author, historian
David Courtwright, rejects legalization, the obvious solution.

This illustrates how we in America, after decades of drug prohibition, are
so confused about drug policy that we accept the drug war -- a modern
Inquisition. Political heroes are what's needed.

Once the drug war begins to collapse, as the Volsted Act before it, there
will be plenty of political followers.

Dave Michon
Eau Claire, Wis.