RE: "New Vietnam in the making," Eric Margolis (Jan. 30), referring to the
growing crisis in Colombia. Although there is some kind of juvenile
satisfaction in the idea of sending the cavalry in from across the
continent to solve Colombia's problems, the reality of military
intervention is far more complex, and typically leaves both the donors and
the recipients worse off than before.

The obvious reasonable alternative that has not been attempted in this case
is a simple one: North American drug legalization and regulation. Dry up
the source of cash for the rebels and for the drug producers and they are
likely to be much easier to deal with. Of course, because of the drug-war
rhetoric, such a proposition is rarely considered seriously.

Ken Sailor

(The Colombian rebels are financing themselves through kidnappings and
extortion.)