Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 Source: USA Today (US) Copyright: 2000 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22229 Fax: (703) 247-3108 Website: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nfront.htm Author: Brandon Harris DON'T BLAME COLOMBIA FOR OUR DRUG PROBLEM This is in response to reader Terry Friedlander's letter on the Clinton administration's two-year, $ 1.3-billion aid package to Colombia ("Colombia aid deal smacks war on drugs," Jan. 13). Yes, the war on drugs has failed. However, the letter writer's suggestion that the United States send troops to Colombia is wrong. We do not want another Vietnam. The United States needs to stay out of the affairs of other countries. In his letter, Friedlander also said that hundreds of children die each year from the cocaine smuggled illegally from Colombia. False. There is a new, more potent drug out there called "crank," or methamphetamine. It's cheaper, more readily available and more dangerous than cocaine. Instead of blaming Colombia, the letter writer should blame the society we live in for our serious drug problem. But whatever we do, we should not blame Colombia for our problems. Brandon Harris, Boonville, Ind. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D