Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 Source: Palm Beach Post (FL) Copyright: 2001 The Palm Beach Post Contact: P.O. Box 24700, West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4700 Fax: (561) 820-4728 Feedback: http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/info/mail.html Website: http://www.gopbi.com/ Forum: http://www.gopbi.com/community/forums/ Author: Steve Ellman DEFENSE OF DRUG POLICY SITS ON SHAKY GROUND In the Jan. 14 Opinion article "Hello, My name is 'Traffic,' " Paul Reid attacks the new Steven Soderbergh film Traffic and its critical assessment of U.S. drug policy by saying that the film is flawed because it violates the "rules of engagement in the commentary business." If those "rules" include the introduction of supporting evidence, Mr. Reid's own commentary falls short. All he can marshal in support of the drug war is the (unsupported) assertion of one former Drug Enforcement Administration agent (hardly an unbiased source) that "any interception" of imported drugs qualifies as success. Could we set the bar any lower? He asserts that "international chaos" will follow "if we let criminals and narco-terrorists take over the governments of our Latin American neighbors." It is the war on drugs that props up such regimes. Criminalizing drugs and attempting to choke off supply only drives prices up, luring more suppliers into the business. Decriminalization would allow us to focus on a rational response, like harm reduction. STEVE ELLMAN West Palm Beach - --- MAP posted-by: Beth