Traffic, a sobering epic on the vexing complexities of the drug war, triumphed at the Oscars this past weekend, winning awards for best director, supporting actor, adapted screenplay and film editing. Traffic director Steven Soderbergh says he made this movie because he wanted to find out what was going on in drug law enforcement.

Fast forward from movie fantasy to the reality of the new Bush administration. The White House appears to have shelved this issue. President Bush has yet to appoint a permanent replacement for former drug czar Barry McCaffrey, who left in early January.

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