1956

Everett "Ted" Briggs is president of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas. He is former U.S. ambassador to Portugal, Panama, and Honduras, and was kind enough to respond to my pleas for serious thought to publish in this column. His subject is drug abuse and blaming others for our problems.

"Congress should rescind its requirement that the administration annually certify whether certain countries are fully cooperating with the United States in curtailing illegal drug production and trafficking. This law is clearly destructive to dealing effectively with what has become a worldwide problem. The aftermath of Mexico's 'certification' has been a further example of Congress' penchant for selfdelusion. Having imposed this stupid requirement, Congress has wasted time belaboring the point that if only foreign governments would cut off the supply, the demand at home would dry up.

"This is simplistic and wrong. As shown in a new independent task-force report sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, our problems derive largely from a failure by the United States to deal effectively with the demand at home. Law enforcement, including control of U.S.- Mexican borders, cooperation among police forces across the country, and the judicial enforcement of criminal laws is lax. We have failed miserably in treatment, education, and prevention. Scarcely noted by the Mexico bashers in Congress is the fact that production of alcohol, LSD, methamphetamines, and domestically produced marijuana in the United States are on the rise.

"Who is there to 'decertify' the United States? More specifically, how is it that no one talks of sanctions against California for its marijuana production, or Arizona and California for legalizing marijuana for medical use? Or San Francisco for its rising consumption of synthetic drugs? The answer is that it is politically much easier for legislators to blame foreigners for what is happening in their home constituencies than to acknowledge their own responsibility. Diverting attention and blame to our foreign neighbors also lets U.S. local, state, and federal authorities off the hook. Clearly a better strategy is called for.

"First, we Americans have got to get serious about demand reduction and law enforcement at home. Until we do, suppliers, both foreign and domestic, will continue to have a field day, and our mafias will continue peddling the stuff across the land. Second, instead of trying to deal with the producer or transit countries unilaterally or bilaterally (with or without pressure tactics such as 'certification'), we must truly internationalize the campaign against what is a global problem. Today, cocaine and heroin are being consumed in all the major cities of the world. Every nation has a stake in curing itself of this evil.

"According to the independent task force's report, U.S. support for drag-controlled efforts by multilateral organizations has averaged around $5 million annually for the past ten years. This is ludicrous. The United States should organize a common front with our concerned neighborsall of whom also have a growing problem of consumption. We need a global campaign to deal with demand reduction as well as international law enforcement. It is time for Washington to get to work. Congress should start by rescinding the certification requirement."

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