Thank you for your editorial "Wasted?: Colombian aid seems unlikely to
win the drug war" (Sept. 7). It is high time the newspapers in the
United States begin questioning not only our aid to Colombia but our
handling of all the issues involved with the war on (some) drugs.

Neither Al Gore nor George W. Bush touched the subject of Colombia or
America's drug war.

Where, indeed, is the debate? Our drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, won't
debate and indeed rarely will handle spontaneous questioning.

Prohibition today is a greater travesty exponentially than was alcohol
prohibition early in the 20th century. Our policies have only enriched
criminal drug lords with unbelievable wealth and entrenched the
bureaucracy that feeds at the overinflated antidrug trough.

Please, make the war on (some) drugs and our involvement in Colombia
the priority issue for our presidential candidates that it should be.

Alan Erickson,
Eugene, Ore.