FLACCID DRUG WAR

Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the White House drug policy adviser since 1996, was
careful not to talk about significant victories in the war on drugs when he
announced his surprise resignation. That's because there weren't any.

The general's post was created to develop a comprehensive anti-drug policy
at the highest level. What we got was a confusing and fragmented effort
that produced little. Drug trafficking increased dramatically under
McCaffrey's watch, even though more Americans are jailed under tougher
anti-drug measures.

McCaffrey's marching orders come from a Clinton administration that could
offer only tough talk and taxpayer dollars in the war against drugs. Gen.
McCaffrey walks away from the front lines and into the private sector
without having even established a beachhead in the war.