MEXICO'S WAR ON DRUG LORDS

I agree with Col. Austin Bay in his Aug. 3 online article, "Mexico
wages war on drug lords, corruption of federal police," that President
Calderon is to be commended for his fight for judicial and police
reforms, rooting out corruption and modernizing Mexico.

I respectfully disagree, however, with his assessment that President
Calderon can successfully smash the drug lords. Although Colonel Bay
is correct that Mexico cannot eradicate drug smuggling because of the
demand for drugs in the U.S., he fails to see that it is the demand
for drugs that will ensure a never ending supply. Mexico can eliminate
one drug lord after another and new cartels will always step up and
fill the void.

The problems created by the demand for drugs here in the U.S., as well
as throughout Europe and the rest of the world, will never be solved
by trying to eradicate that demand. People have been chewing coca
leaves, smoking hashish, drinking alcohol and searching for other mind
altering substances for thousands of years. The economic principle of
supply and demand is powerful. Supply will always seek a way to
fulfill demand.

How we choose to deal with that demand is what causes the problems
here and in Mexico. If the U.S. were to take the lead in the world
with a policy of a government regulated supply of drugs, as we do with
alcohol and tobacco, then the cartels and black market for drugs would
evaporate overnight -- which is exactly what happened when alcohol
prohibition was lifted.

By applying a legalize, regulate and control strategy, we treat drug
problems as an education and health issue, not a criminal issue. In
the last 40 years, without arresting anyone, tobacco use has been
reduced from 42 percent to just over 20 percent. By taking control of
the drug supply from the cartels, we can apply the same principles
used with tobacco and reduce the incidence of death, disease, crime
and drug use. Deaths are caused by impure drugs of unknown strength;
diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis are spread by non-sterile drug
paraphernalia; crime is intensified by black marketers and drug use is
increased by multi-level marketing pushers.

Regulating the distribution and sale of drugs will not solve all of
our drug problems, just as lifting prohibition did not solve all of
our alcohol problems. But it certainly will put the cartels out of
business and solve most of the problems created by prohibition, both
here and in Mexico.

Imagine what President Calderon could accomplish with all the time,
energy and money currently going into his war on the drug lords. Their
country's efforts instead could go towards economic development. This
would create jobs, raise the standard of living and reduce the
incentive to cross borders in search of a better life.

Under the current policy, many lives will continue to be lost and
billions of unproductive dollars spent. President Calderon's effort
against the cartels, like our war on drugs, is nothing more than
shoveling sand against the tide.