The Drug War Debacle

Despite hundreds of billions of dollars invested in the drug war, cocaine is cheaper and more available than ever. The war is now led by a general, Barry McCaffrey, who presides over a $16 billion budget, a lot more money than the U.S. spends for its poor and needy. Drug war critics cite ever-escalating costs, potential for corruption and erosion of civil liberties. The government now has broad powers to circumvent the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures.