HAITI JOINS DRUG WAR

Welcome Change In Policy From President-Elect Aristide.

After a dangerous flirtation with cocaine smugglers, Haiti finally is
sending positive signals about fighting drugs.

The Haitian government has agreed to cooperate with American anti-narcotics
efforts along its coastline. And its new president-elect, Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, has pledged to enact tough new laws against traffickers and money
launderers who have quickly turned Haiti into a haven for Colombian drug lords.

The measures are necessary and a welcome change from recent policies that
have resulted in Haiti's rapid ascendancy as a major drop-off point for
illegal drugs. Both the outgoing administration of Bill Clinton and the
incoming one of George W. Bush should be pleased and supportive of Haiti's
change in direction.

For three years, Haiti's parliament failed to ratify a pact with the United
States that would have allowed U.S. ships and planes to patrol Haitian
waters and airspace. But last month, the parliament endorsed the agreement.
Now President-elect Aristide vows to support two new measures that would
make it tougher for drug dealers to operate in Haiti. One bill would
require depositors of large amounts of cash to fill out a form and would
force banks to open their books on trafficking suspects. The second bill
sets stiffer penalties for convicted dealers and makes it easier to
extradite suspects to the United States for trial.

It's a pity that the new get-tough measures weren't put into effect
earlier. But the Haitian government has struggled of late with creating
basic infrastructure, such as roads and sewers, and with establishing
rudimentary systems of justice, education and economic development.

Meanwhile, Colombian drug traffickers seized on Haiti's close proximity,
its lax law enforcement and its eager bribe-takers to virtually transform
the country into a transshipment fixture of drug-smuggling operations.
Evidence of the illegal activities is plainly visible in mushrooming sales
of luxury homes and cars, and burgeoning banking enterprises in a country
where per-capita income is the lowest in the hemisphere.

The Clinton administration has quickly welcomed the change, while the new
Bush team has been less forthcoming about its position. But the scourge of
drugs is nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory. No matter who occupies the
White House, the United States should applaud Mr. Aristide's initiative and
join Haiti in this fight.