LOSING THE WAR

It's Time Washington Revisited Failed Efforts To Contain Drugs

Attitudes toward the so-called War on Drugs are changing. From Molly Ivins
to Arianna Huffington, a wide range of critics is taking note that the war
is an expensive failure.

A popular movie, "Traffic," has focused on the corrupting influences of the
ways in which we try to police drugs.

And a U.S. president has stated the obvious: The source of the problem is
his own country's multi-billion-dollar appetite for cocaine, heroin and
marijuana. After meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox, President Bush
said he favors abandoning the insulting process in which the American
government deigns to judge whether other countries are doing enough to
combat drug trafficking -- without assessing American behavior.

The corrupting influences of drug money from the U.S. has condemned one
country, Colombia, to a nightmare cycle of violence among drug lords,
left-wing guerrillas and right-wing death squads.

Former President Clinton persuaded Congress to spend $1.3 billion on an aid
package that emphasizes military support for Colombia. But, to his credit,
President Bush shows signs of being skeptical about the program's
effectiveness -- and concerned about the risks of further entanglements. In
his first meeting with Colombian President Andres Pastrana last week, Bush
said American representatives would not attempt to broker peace talks that
are fated to fail.

Washington should continue to pursue drug traffickers, here and in source
countries, but it needs to get over the illusion that police and military
efforts alone will solve that problem.

Some of that $1.3 billion would be better spent on education and
rehabilitation in this country, than on turning other countries into war zones.

Americans have a difficult time being honest with themselves about their
legal and illegal drug habits. The War on Drugs is only one aspect of those
lingering self-delusions.

The Los Angeles Times reported the other day that the U.S. government has
spent about $30 billion on drug interdiction in the last 20 years. Does
anyone really believe that drugs are less available today?