Reshaping the Military Role in the Drug War

摘要

The United States has been waging a war on the spread of illegal drugs based on anational strategy that seeks to interrupt the production base in foreign countries, to interdict the transportation of drugs between the source countries and the United States, and to eliminate the availability of these drugs in American communities. Congressional legislation mandatedan increased level of participation for the military in all three phases of the strategy, and the Defense Department has complied. Not withstanding the additional application of the vast resources and enhanced capabilities of the military over the past four years, the availability and costs of illegal drugs on American streets remain relatively unchanged. Thsi study examines the application of military resources to the three phases of the national strategy, highlights the problems associated wit each phase, and suggests that the mere application of military power to stop the flow of illegal drugs has limited potential for success. It further concludes that the national strategy must be reevaluated, placing a higher priority of emphasis on the demand reduction side of the issue, and that the military role supporting the new strategy must be reshaped as well.