Bringing home the fight against drugs

THE Pentagon never had a real interest in the drug war. In fact, before the Bush administration pressed the military into service, defense officials stood opposed, holding that the drug war would distract their troops from their real jobs.

Now, consumed with troubled places such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Pentagon is agreeing once more than the war on drugs can be better fought - and won - at home.

The military also will switch funds once earmarked for stopping drug traffickers by sea to helping countries such as Colombia and Peru fight drug cartels. This could go a long way to help countries whose economies have been crippled by the drug war.

Some inside the Pentagon say the changes aren't a retreat from the drug war, just a ``fine tuning.'' Either way, it makes sense.