FLUNK THE 'REPORT CARD' ON DRUGS

Every year on March 1, the White House issues a report card on the
drug-fighting performance of other countries. The purpose of the
report is to induce other nations to cooperate in the U.S. war
against narcotics. What it actually does is anger the countries
involved and convinced them of Washington's arrogance.

Consider the words of Mexican President Vicente Fox: "Certification
is more than an affront to Mexico and to other countries. It is a
sham that should be denounced and canceled." And that's from the
politically conservative leader of a friendly neighboring nation.

Last year nearly 15 million Americans spent more than $60 billion to
buy illegal drugs. And since 1981 the United States has spent more
than $30 billion on foreign interdiction and anti-narcotics programs
in source countries. Today, foreign drugs are cheaper and more
readily available than 20 years ago. Certification seems to have done
nothing to reduce cultivation, processing, transportation or use.

Facing these realities, U.S. Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.),
John McCain (R-Ariz.) Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) and Charles Hagel
(R-Neb.) have introduced a bill that urges President Bush to better
balance U.S. efforts on supply and demand in the drug trade. Among
the bill's provisions is a call for a two-year suspension of the
annual certification process.

Bush himself has said he would like to set aside the certification
process, and there is certainly time to do it before the next report
is due.