DON'T BLAME COLOMBIA FOR OUR DRUG PROBLEM

This is in response to reader Terry Friedlander's letter on the Clinton
administration's two-year, $ 1.3-billion aid package to Colombia ("Colombia
aid deal smacks war on drugs," Jan. 13).

Yes, the war on drugs has failed. However, the letter writer's suggestion
that the United States send troops to Colombia is wrong. We do not want
another Vietnam. The United States needs to stay out of the affairs of
other countries.

In his letter, Friedlander also said that hundreds of children die each
year from the cocaine smuggled illegally from Colombia. False. There is a
new, more potent drug out there called "crank," or methamphetamine. It's
cheaper, more readily available and more dangerous than cocaine.

Instead of blaming Colombia, the letter writer should blame the society we
live in for our serious drug problem.

But whatever we do, we should not blame Colombia for our problems.

Brandon Harris, Boonville, Ind.