Pubdate: Thu, 14 Feb 2002
Source: Erie Times-News (PA)
Copyright: 2002 Erie Times-News
Contact:  http://www.goerie.com/timesnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1347

GOALS UNREALISTIC

Bush has just announced the goals: A 25 percent cut in the use of illegal 
drugs in five years, and a 10 percent reduction within two years. White 
House drug czar John Walters says, "We have to undermine the cynicism that 
people are always going to use drugs at roughly the same amount that 
they're using now. That's not true."

If Walters can do this, we will be happy to eat our cynical words. However, 
we expect that this administration will have as much success as previous 
ones have had: In effect, none.

The administration's plan calls for more law enforcement. That will work 
until drug criminals maneuver around it.

Experience is a hard master, and experience says the Drug War is a flop. 
(Police and attorney generals like to display the huge caches of drugs and 
money they seize. If they were winning the Drug War, they would seize fewer 
caches and less money.)

Bush also said, "This strategy represents the first step in the return of 
the fight against drugs to the center of our national agenda."

Nonsense. The war on terrorism is at the center of the national agenda. The 
Bush administration has had a good beginning with that. With the Drug War, 
we will be content with cynicism until we see the promises fulfilled.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens