Pubdate: Sun, 18 Mar 2001
Source: Miami Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2001 The Miami Herald
Contact:  One Herald Plaza, Miami FL 33132-1693
Fax: (305) 376-8950
Website: http://www.herald.com/
Forum: http://krwebx.infi.net/webxmulti/cgi-bin/WebX?mherald
Author: Frank Davies
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/traffic.htm (Traffic)

HOLLYWOOD MOVIE `TRAFFIC' JOLTS DEBATE ON DRUG POLICY

WASHINGTON -- Traffic, a gritty, R-rated Hollywood movie that suggests the 
Washington-led war on drugs is a lost cause, is having more impact on the 
debate about drug policy these days than any public official, including the 
president.

One reason is that Bush says little about the issue and has not named a 
drug czar.

But a more important reason may be the movie's popularity. It has earned 
$99 million in 11 weeks and jolted the often predictable discussion in the 
nation's capital over what to do about drugs.

Traffic, a nominee for Best Picture at next Sunday's Oscar ceremonies, 
tells the story of a top U.S. anti-drug official, played by Michael 
Douglas, who is devastated by his daughter's cocaine addiction and becomes 
disillusioned by empty rhetoric in Washington. It's an ambitious look at 
how drugs can cripple many lives: a courageous Mexican cop trying to 
survive rampant corruption in his effort to stop drug traffickers; U.S. 
drug agents struggling to stem a flood of smuggling.

In recent weeks, Washington has seen this impact:

President Andres Pastrana of Colombia arranged for a screening of Traffic 
attended by members of Congress, diplomats and policymakers.

"That was a smart thing for Pastrana to do and somewhat bold, and it had 
everybody talking," said Bernard Aronson, a former assistant secretary of 
state for inter-American affairs. "The movie has captured the mood of 
Washington and some of the ambivalence about what to do."

Colombia is the recent beneficiary of $1.3 billion in supplemental U.S. aid 
to help eradicate drugs.

At a Senate committee hearing last week on a bill to spend $900 million 
more for drug prevention and treatment, senators cited the movie as a 
common reference point. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the bill's sponsor, used 
a scene from Traffic to make the case for greater efforts to reduce demand 
for drugs.

"I was struck when the drug czar, played by Michael Douglas, questions the 
lack of emphasis placed on drug treatment," Leahy said. "The comment that 
stood out most for me was, how can we fight a `war on drugs' when the 
enemies are drug users who are members of ordinary American families?"

One by one, officials are taking in the movie, often with a younger family 
member. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saw it with his 16-year-old daughter. He 
later told commentator Arianna Huffington, "It had a very powerful effect 
- -- it's caused me to rethink our policies and priorities."

President Bush was asked by Barbara Walters on ABC's 20/20 about the movie 
and "its premise that the war on drugs is a failure, and many Americans 
feel that way. Can a president do anything about that?"

Bush, who once overcame a drinking problem, responded: "I think we need to 
examine all policies in terms of treatment. I think we ought to focus on 
treatment programs that work."

PUBLIC REACTION

The film continues to generate debate elsewhere, too.

"The film has moved the debate over drugs from the op-ed pages into the 
popular culture," said Kevin Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug 
Policy, which opposes many current drug laws, such as bans on the use of 
marijuana for medical purposes. "Stephen Soderbergh [the director] has 
tapped into the public's unease about what government is doing."

Critics of the drug war say the movie exposes the futility of law 
enforcement's expensive efforts to stop smuggling. Some activists, 
including supporters of interdiction, praise the film for its graphic 
depiction of a teenager in the throes of addiction and prostitution.

"Right now, a movie is bringing drug issues into the forefront of the 
public debate -- not the president," said Manon McKinnon, a conservative 
drug policy analyst who supports Bush.

In fact, this week, starting Monday night, ABC's Nightline will broadcast a 
five-part series on Traffic and a variety of drug issues -- the first time 
the show has given such attention to a movie.

Anchor Ted Koppel said the film gave "a sense of just how pervasive the 
drug problem is."

DIVISION OF FUNDS

The war on drugs costs about $18 billion a year just in federal dollars, 
and Zeese complains that despite "all the talk about a balanced approach," 
law enforcement continues to consume about two-thirds of that, leaving 
about one-third for treatment and education.

Acclaimed by most reviewers, the film also has its critics. Sen. Joseph 
Biden, D-Del., and Barry McCaffrey, the former drug czar, say the film sets 
out a false choice between law enforcement and efforts to reduce demand 
through treatment. Both are needed, they argue.

"The message was the futility of it all, the madness of those involved, 
that it's all failing. You wouldn't know that drug abuse is substantially 
down from 15 years ago," said McCaffrey, a former general now teaching part 
time at West Point.

"When Douglas [McCaffrey's movie counterpart] says, `Why aren't we talking 
about treatment?' -- well, we are, and we're doing a lot," McCaffrey said.

The film includes a scene that's an unusual mix of Hollywood and 
Washington. Douglas, as the new drug czar, attends a cocktail party where 
real senators, including Orrin Hatch, Barbara Boxer and Charles Grassley, 
chat with Douglas and give him advice.

Hatch later criticized the film for its profanity and violence, but last 
week said it helped persuade him to co-sponsor the bill with Leahy to fund 
more drug treatment.

Traffic's impact on the drug debate has even become a marketing tool. USA 
Films has run newspaper ads that tout a New York Times editorial saying the 
film "has touched a nerve in a time of flux in the nation's decadeslong 
campaign against illicit drugs."

Jack Valenti, longtime chairman of the Motion Picture Association, said 
"Traffic has created a fabulous buzz" in Washington, and noted a certain 
irony: Senators used to criticizing Hollywood fare are now responding to a 
film that includes some of them and poses hard questions to political leaders.

"I think it's one of the great anti-drug films ever made," Valenti said.

"It also shows that unless you do something about demand, you can hang all 
the drug dealers 'til the skies grow dark, and it won't stop it."

On Capitol Hill, senators are even critiquing each other's cameo appearances.

With a smile, Leahy turned to Hatch at last week's hearing and praised his 
performance.

"I wasn't acting," Hatch deadpanned.
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