The Drug War: A Military Cure?
Abstract
The drug problem in the United States has reached almost epidemic proportions. Americans have become frustrated at the lack of progress that the government and civilian law enforcement agencies have made in combatting the drug problem. This lack of progress has caused many to believe that the military may provide the solution. Counter-narcotics efforts, to include production and trafficking, are a high priority mission of the Department of Defense. However, the ability of the DoD to fight in a drug war is severely limited by the Posse Comitatus Act. Although this Act has been amended to allow the military to take a more active role in counter-narcotics missions, the military is still severely constrained from using all of its resources. Civilian and military planners must answer three basic questions before they fully commit the armed forces of the United States to fight the war on drugs: (1) Should the military be involved in the drug war?, (2) What are the possibilities and limitations of military involvement?, and (3) What is the military objective? In examining these very pertinent questions, it is also necessary to consider the role of the military as policemen , and the impact that such a mission would have on the ability of our nation's warriors to conduct standard warfighting missions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA263586
Entities
People
- Gary R. Steimer
Organizations
- United States Army War College