Pubdate: Tue, 26 Aug 2008
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Page: A20
Copyright: 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n000/a076.html
Author: Daniel Ernesto Robelo

U.S. DRUG DEMAND THREATENS MEXICO'S DEMOCRACY

Mexico's violence and institutional corruption reveal how misguided
and futile the recently approved $1.4 billion U.S. military aid
package -- known as the Merida Initiative -- is. Pouring more money
and guns into Mexico will only exacerbate the violence and corruption
that are fueled by drug profits and further deepen a conflict that
increasingly has civilian casualties.

Instead, the U.S. should focus on reducing its own demand for drugs.
Treatment has repeatedly been shown to be far more successful and
cost-effective than supply-side approaches like military aid,
eradication and incarceration. More fundamentally, the U.S. must
finally consider alternatives to its failed war on drugs.

Daniel Ernesto Robelo

Drug Policy Alliance

Berkeley, Calif.