No-knock raids should be questioned in drug cases, too. Christopher
Matthews' column "Photo also showed arrogance of power" (Opinion Page,
April 30) speaks volumes about the terrible damage already done to the
rule of law by our flawed national policy of drug prohibition.

Shows of force identical to the one he and platoons of other
commentators are now spilling rivers of ink over are actually routine
all over the United States, and have been for nearly three decades.

Each year thousands of children are psychologically scarred and more
than a few people are shot in the execution of "no-knock" drug raids
undertaken by squads of heavily armed agents. These tactics are
justified not only by safety concerns - as in the case of Elian
Gonzalez - but with the ludicrous excuse of "preserving evidence" - in
other words to prevent drugs from being flushed down toilets.

Matthews' criticisms of both the hazards and significance of such
raids are completely valid. What is truly amazing is the hypocrisy he
and his colleagues exhibit by decrying them as a national disgrace
when used to remove a little Cuban boy from exploitative distant
relatives, yet presumably regarding them as quite reasonable when used
to enforce unworkable laws against our own citizens.

Tom O'Connell,
San Mateo