The purpose of the report is to induce other nations to cooperate in the U.S. war against narcotics. What it actually does is anger the countries involved and convince them of Washington s arrogance. It is a sham that should be denounced and canceled. And that s from the politically conservative leader of a friendly neighboring nation. Today, foreign drugs are cheaper and more readily available than 20 years ago.
Certification seems to have done nothing to reduce cultivation, processing, transportation or use.
Facing these realities, U.S. Sens. Among the bill s provisions is a call for a two-year suspension of the annual certification process. Bush himself has said he would like to set aside the certification process, and there is certainly time to do it before the next report is due. We invite readers to respond to this or other editorial opinions via e-vent. Please include a daytime phone number and address for verification.