The Chronicle's Aug. 24 article "Smugglers' blues" documents U.S.
military involvement on and within U.S. borders in the name of
the "war on drugs." Mounting evidence confirms the
ineffectiveness of these tactics.

Although drug czar Barry McCaffrey acknowledges outright that
there is law enforcement corruption on both sides of the border,
he proposes even more military action. Perhaps he should
familiarize himself with the 21st Amendment, which not only
repealed the prohibition of alcohol, but also ended the enormous
corruption that had arisen from that failed attempt to enforce
morality.

If we are serious about solving substance abuse problems, we need
to look toward medical and social scientists -- not cops,
soldiers or generals.

Margaret Carter-McLemore
Beaumont