Role of the U.S. Military in the Drug War: A Litmus Test for the ProperApplication of Resources

摘要

In September 1989, President Bush announced his National Drug Control Strategyand by directive charged the Department of Defense to become the lead agency in this country's War on Drugs. This war is of major significance to the national security of the United States. The use of drugs has contributed to a decrease in productivity, an increase in crime, loss of life, and a drain on our national economy. Given the shrinking size of the Department of Defense and its commensurate reduction in funds, questions abound as to the viability of the use of the services in the drug war, and what they can possibly accomplish. This paper will examine the current drug war, assess the military feasibility through the application of the Weinberger Doctrine, and recommend changes to better align the program with President Clinton's administration. The study concludes that the military undoubtedly does have a role in combating drugs, one that can be done better in the future era of resource scarcity and downsizing by switching efforts away from supply reduction to demand reduction.