Pubdate: Fri, 08 May 1998
Date: 08/05/1998
Source: Bulletin (OR)
Author: Gerald M. Sutliff
Website: http://www.bendbulletin.com/

Regarding "Harm reduction strategy won't work" by General (Ret.) Barry
R. McCaffrey Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy, the
good general  seems to believe that the War on Drugs causes no damage
by itself. How silly.

Wars always cause collateral damage. Who keeps track of it? Or does
anyone?

The damages are multifaceted, deep and reach into the future. Harm
reduction is about accessing the damage of drugs use, abuse and
trafficking against the collateral damage caused by the effort to
stamp it out.

General McCaffrey's tactic of impugning the motives of the harm
reductionists and legalizers, thus far, has allowed him to avoid
addressing these important issues.

How many more villages will the general's drug warriors burn before he
starts counting?

Gerald M. Sutliff
Emeryville, Calif.