Sane drug policy in U.S. elusive

Thursday, Aug. 19, 1999 | 10:06 a.m.

This is the same government which until this year the United States condemned for inhumane treatment of its own people. Though the Colombian Constitution has a bill of rights, it is routinely ignored. In fact, should the U.S. drug czar have his way, due process will be meaningless and equal treatment destroyed forever.

Nothing about Colombia's oppressive attitude has changed. So why is our drug czar -- retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey -- calling for a tripling of foreign aid to $1 billion per year? He says it's to enable the Colombians to fight "narco-terrorists."

This group is the remnants of the 35-year-old "communist insurgency" -- now mightily revamped with drug profits.

Americans, no matter how right-wing or Christian, will not brave the jungles of Colombia to wipe out another population of poor farmers! Result? Hopeless pain, tragedy, and decades of setback in the dialogue toward a sane drug policy in the United States.

JOHN POWERS

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