Pubdate: Mon, 21 Aug 2006
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060821/OPINION01/608210308/1008/OPINION
Copyright: 2006 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact:  http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805

DRUG WAR: FEDERAL GOV'T RAISING THE WHITE FLAG?

Has the federal government given up on the Drug War? Is it raising 
the white flag and admitting defeat in attempting to curb crimes 
involving illegal drugs?

Or is it simply saying to local communities and states: You pay the cost.

Those are logical questions since Mississippi's 14 local drug task 
forces have been asked to trim grant requests by 25 percent because 
of federal funding cuts.

Federal assistance to local law enforcement in Mississippi during the 
Bush administration has dipped from almost $5.3 million in 2003 to 
just more than $2 million this year. Federal officials say the funds 
are being shifted to fight terrorism.

So, is that the decision? Fight drugs or fight terrorists? Give up on 
small communities' drug-fueled crime?

According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 
availability of drugs is now essentially the same in big cities, 
small towns and rural areas. Yet, in contrast with the Clinton 
administration which funneled funds to local agencies, the Bush 
administration has proposed reducing by $1.2 billion federal block 
grant funding for law enforcement. These cuts include elimination of 
the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program - the largest and most 
flexible source of federal funding for local law enforcement - and an 
80 percent reduction in Community Oriented Police Services (COPS).

So much for this "conservative" administration supporting "law and order!"