DO THE WORLD A FAVOR - LEGALIZE ILLICIT DRUGS

Barnett R. Rubin's depressing analysis of the situation in Afghanistan
implies that our only hope of success there is to outspend the
Taliban/opium growers ("Afghan Dispatch," editorial page, Feb. 10). In
other words, the more our drug-dependent population spends on its
habit, the more our taxpayers should spend on rehabilitating
Afghanistan. What a loony scenario.

Of course, no one dares to espouse the only solution that has a
chance -- total drug legalization in the U.S. Immediately, the price
of illicit drugs would drop to near zero, neutralizing not only the
Taliban but also drug dealers and growers around the world. The
savings to society would be incalculable, from ending the failed
multibillion-dollar effort at drug interdiction to emptying our
prisons of drug offenders.

Arthur G. Krohn, M.D.

White Plains, N.Y.