DRUG WAR MAJOR FLOP

To The Packet:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Colombia, South America, this
week to support continued U.S.-Colombian cooperation in the war on drugs.
However, there's a major catch: the drug war in Colombia is a certified flop.

Last year a record number of acres of coca, the raw material for cocaine,
were sprayed with herbicide. Despite the millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars
that went into supporting this policy, Colombia ended the year with
slightly more coca than it had in 2003 -- and almost the exact amount that
it had in 2000, when the policy began. U.S. policy also has failed to reach
human rights goals; the U.N. found that in 2004, as in 2003, human rights
violations (rape, torture and death) by the Colombian military are on the rise.

Congress wants $800 million more for Colombia for 2006, bringing Plan
Colombia's grand total to $4 billion.

Perhaps Secretary Rice should reflect on the failure of the current policy,
rather than proposing more of the same. Individuals around the country are
calling Congress to demand a new policy. Secretary Rice would do well to
listen to their concerns.

F. Taylor

Hilton Head Island