NATIONAL GUARD DRUG WAR HITS SNAG

ANNVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- With high-tech bomb-detection gear,
Pennsylvania National Guard experts can help police narcotics units
tell in seconds whether a car door or even a dollar bill contains
traces of illegal drugs.
The equipment costs more than $100,000 and requires specialized
training that many police departments cannot afford. Increasingly,
they have been turning to the National Guard for that and other
gear, including night-vision equipment and helicopters.
But counterdrug programs run by the National Guard in
Pennsylvania and other states are reaching a crossroads. The
outcome of a budget struggle in Washington could shape governors'
future role in the drug war through troops under their command.
President Clinton asked Congress to fund National Guard
counterdrug programs at $148 million in the fiscal year starting
Oct. 1, down $13 million from this year. That would represent an 18
percent cut since 1997, when the programs got $180 million.
States already have had to pull back Guard personnel assigned to
counterdrug missions, and officials say they cannot absorb
additional cuts without permanently losing skilled soldiers.
``It takes awhile and a lot of investment to train soldiers to
do missions that call for significant skills,'' said Col. John
Mosbey, director of counterdrug programs with the federal National
Guard Bureau. ``If we lose those people, ... we can't get them back
even if the budget later increases.''
Once publicity-shy Guard officers, used to playing a support
role in the drug war while leaving the headlines to other agencies,
have stepped up their lobbying.
Officers from several states brought their anti-drug gear to the
Capitol in March, and some have invited lawmakers and their staffs
to tour the facilities at home.
There are signs the campaign is working.
Before beginning its August recess, the Senate passed a defense
budget that adds $20 million to the president's request. The House
added about $10 million in related National Guard support.
Lawmakers are to work out final numbers soon.
``From a political standpoint, if you don't ask for money and
show what you are doing, you're not going to get it,'' said Capt.
Marc T. Arellano, a counterdrug operations officer with the New
Mexico National Guard.
The questions over the National Guard's funding come as the
overall federal drug-control budget is climbing. Clinton proposed
$17.1 billion in 1999, a $1.1 billion increase.
``They are hard questions, to decide tradeoffs in funding,''
said White House drug policy director Barry McCaffrey. ``The major
increases in investments are in prevention and treatment.''
McCaffrey said the Guard has a role, through a demand-reduction
component that reaches 8,000 communities, but most prevention and
treatment programs are run through other federal agencies.
Nationwide, up to 4,000 Guard personnel support thousands of
drug-control missions each year, helping to train law enforcement
personnel, translate conversations from other languages, lend
night-vision photographic equipment and trail suspects by
helicopter.
``Most police can't afford to purchase helicopters and pay for
fuel, pilots and upkeep,'' said Lt. Leigh Ramos, an officer with
Oklahoma's program. ``It's something the National Guard already
has.''
Guard members, in turn, get training they could apply to wartime
and other emergency situations in which they may be called later to
assist.
The program got its start in the mid-1970s when Hawaii's
National Guard was assigned to marijuana-eradication duty. Other
states followed suit, and Congress made the program official in
1989 and authorized federal funding for counterdrug missions.
Some guardsmen are assigned to specific police departments for
months at a time, while others assist the Customs Service and the
Postal Service with cargo and mail inspection.
Even at current funding levels, the Guard has had to turn down
hundreds of requests for assistance. Law enforcement officials say
they do value whatever assistance is provided.
Lt. John Goshert of the Harrisburg, Pa., Police Bureau's
narcotics unit said the Guard provides a major boost.
``The one hour you are actually arresting somebody is supported
by eight to 10 hours of investigation and surveillance and getting
things ready for court,'' he said. ``They have the specialized
equipment and personnel.''

Checked-by: Patrick Henry