NEW LEADERSHIP, POLICY NEEDED TO FIGHT DRUGS

As the problems that drug trafficking and consumption bring to the
nation, and this region in particular, become ever clearer, the United
States needs to do some soul-searching on its drug policies.

Yet more than two months into the Bush administration, the president has
not appointed a drug czar.

The former czar, Barry McCaffrey, told the Associated Press that the
Office of National Drug Policy Control badly needs a director appointed
by this president so he will have political clout.

"Without the leadership of an influential director, the office has been
left without a voice as the agencies prepare the budgets," he said.
"It's bad. There's nothing happening. They're out of the game."

That sends a mixed signal from the Bush administration. Bush, in his
first trip abroad, talked with Mexican President Vicente Fox about drug
problems and proposes continuing support for Colombian President Andres
Pastrana in that nation's attempt to fight drug lords.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the crime subcommittee of
the Judiciary Committee, has vowed to take on the issue, declaring, "My
commitment is to reduce the scourge of drugs that wreck jobs, families
and lives."

As a representative from this region, Smith should be aware of the
influence of drugs in Texas.

Obviously, the approaches tried so far in the drug war have not been
effective. A study released last week suggested one problem is a lack of
research on what does work.

The nation needs a new drug czar, a review of drug policies and research
on the effectiveness of anti-drug programs.