FEDS NEED TO REASSESS RESOURCES IN DRUG WAR

The excellent work of the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force is
reflected in the fact that it is the most successful drug unit in the
state in catching dealers.

A safer community is the result. Compare the local crime rate, if you
will, to the one in neighboring Jefferson County, where drugs are
said to figure in an unprecedented increase in murders this year.

But consider also how much safer Tuscaloosa County -- and counties
across the nation -- could be if there was a more sensible allocation
of federal funding.

Tuscaloosa Police Chief Ken Swindle hit the nail on the head when he
was quoted in Friday's edition of The Tuscaloosa News: "I can't
understand why money is being pulled for homeland security when it's
a war on the streets every day with the drugs we're facing."

On Tuesday, the local drug task force got a $150,000 grant from the
Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs. It was less
than half the money allocated in years past.

A spokesman for Gov. Bob Riley blamed reductions in crime-fighting
funds to states from the U.S. Department of Justice.

And further reductions may be ahead. Bush's proposed budget calls for
$792.8 million in cuts to law enforcement agencies, including drug
task forces. Officials said much of the savings is being redirected
to homeland security.

Much of the work done by the Department of Homeland Security is
vital. Yet auditors this year identified $34 billion it wasted
through mismanagement and overcharges. This was the agency that
identified Old MacDonald's Petting Zoo near Huntsville as a possible
terrorist target.

As Swindle noted, the war on the streets against illegal drugs is
real. So is law enforcement's need for federal assistance to
effectively wage that war. The government needs to strike a better
balance in allocating aid.