Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2001
Source: New York Times (NY)
Section: Section A; Page 18; Column 5; Editorial Desk
Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Michael St. Hippolyte, Brooklyn

A MOTHER, A CHILD AND A DRUG WAR

To the Editor:

Re "Peru's Reckless Shooting" (Editorial, April 24):

You are right to call for an un biased review of the joint United 
States-Peru aerial interdiction program that led to the tragic death of a 
missionary and her infant daughter.  But your standard for resuming the 
program, minimizing the risk to innocent fliers, is much too low.

The question arises, How many casualties are prevented by the interdiction 
program? No one has offered any evidence that even a single life has been 
saved. Cocaine is as plentiful and cheap as ever, and the enormous profits 
generated by the drug trade guarantee that for every smuggler who is 
foiled, another will take his place.

It's time that we applied the same cost-benefit analysis to drug policy 
that the Bush administration applies to all other government regulations. 
The costs are known: billions in tax dollars and the loss of innocent 
life.  Where are the benefits?

Michael St. Hippolyte
Brooklyn
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MAP posted-by: Beth