THERE'S NO WAY TO ELIMINATE DRUGS

I'm writing about Stephen Heath's thoughtful letter, "Plan Colombia
has not worked" (July 10).

If Plan Colombia had exceeded all expectations and all of the cocaine
in Colombia had been eliminated, it would not affect the supply of
cocaine or any other drugs reaching the United States. As long as
people want recreational drugs and they are willing to pay a
substantial price for the drugs, somebody will produce the drugs and
somebody else will get the drugs to the willing buyers.

This is guaranteed.

We cannot keep illegal drugs out of our highest security jails and
prisons, so how can we reasonably expect to be able to keep illegal
drugs out of our country with thousands of miles of coastline and
thousands of miles of international borders?

The obvious answer is that we cannot.

- -- Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.