Living-Today: Issues of modern living

THE WAR ON DRUGS

President Bush on Tuesday formally unveiled his $19.2 billion National Drug Control Strategy to reduce illegal drug use among Americans. He said the goal is to cut illicit drug use by 10 percent over the next two years and by 25 percent by 2008.

Reduction and elimination of drug use, he said, is being put "at the center of our national agenda" and that the emphasis will be on squelching demand for drugs and treating and rehabilitating its victims as well as stopping drug flow.

"We've got a problem in this country -- too many people use drugs," Bush told assembled diplomats, anti-drug workers and congressional leaders during an address in the chandeliered East Room of the White House. "... This is an individual tragedy, and as a result, it's a social crisis. There is no question that drug use wreaks havoc on the very fabric that provides stability for our society."

The White House, quoting the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, said 2.8 million Americans are estimated to be "dependent" on illegal drugs. Another 1.5 million fall into the lesser category of "abusers." The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Survey, also quoted by the White House, says one out of every two teenagers has tried drugs at least once by the time they reach 12th grade. Some 26 percent of eighth graders reported trying illicit substances.

Bush, echoing earlier statements, also linked the drug trade and terrorism, saying terrorist groups use profits from contraband to fund their organizations and terrorist acts. "Drugs help supply the deadly work of terrorists. That's so important for people in our country to understand," said the president. "You know, I'm asked all the time, 'How can I help fight against terror? And what can I do, what can I as a citizen do to defend America?' Well, one thing you can do is not purchase illegal drugs. Make no mistake about it: If you're buying illegal drugs in America, it is likely that money is going to end up in the hands of terrorist organizations."

The president's plan is not without critics. Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of Drug Policy Alliance, called the strategy "more of the same."

"Basically, it's giving lip service and throwing a few bucks in drug treatment while the essential strategy remains the same, which is concentrating the vast majority of resources on enforcement and interdiction, notwithstanding the overwhelming evidence that these are ineffective strategies," he said.

Keith Stroup, head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), called the "piggy-backing" of fight against drugs with the war against terrorism mean-spirited. "The suggestion that those people (marijuana smokers) are less patriotic or that they somehow support terrorism is absurd and an insult," he said.

NORML favors the legalizing of marijuana, while the Drug Policy Alliance favors policies that treat drugs and addiction as a health issues.

(Thanks to UPI White House Correspondent Richard Tomkins)

CYBERCRIME

The computer industry and Justice Department lined up at a House hearing Tuesday to applaud legislation for increasing penalties for cybercrime and giving Internet Service Providers wider latitude in sharing information with law enforcement.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime discussed H.R. 3482, the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2001, sponsored by subcommittee chairman Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas.

The recently passed Patriot Act addressed many technological aspects of fighting crime and terrorism, Smith said, but more needs to be done to protect the country's computer infrastructure. "Bolstering our homeland defenses while neglecting cybersecurity is like locking the front door of your house but leaving the windows wide open," he said. "As a matter of national and economic security, we cannot afford to let technology be our weakest link."

H.R. 3482 calls for increased penalties for hacking crimes that cause damage of any sort. The bill also affords ISPs liability protection by lowering the "emergency" standard they must meet to voluntarily share information about possible imminent crimes with police agencies.

The Justice Department strongly supports the bill's goals, said John Malcolm, deputy assistant attorney general in the department's Criminal Division, but he recommends broadening increased penalties to cover unintentional but reckless actions. "Suppose a hacker shuts down a town's phone service (and) no 911 calls can go through," Malcolm said. "Although the hacker might not have known that his conduct would cause death or serious injury, such reckless conduct would seem to merit punishment greater than the 10 years permitted by the current statute."

Software giant Microsoft also is solidly behind the bill, said Susan Kelley Koeppen, an attorney with the company. Lawmakers should consider adding an equipment forfeiture penalty to H.R. 3482's hacker crimes, she said. "The deterrent effect of expanded forfeiture for computer crime will be significant, particularly in the case of felons who attack cyber systems not for personal gain, but malicious effect," Koeppen said.

Other high-tech organizations, including the U.S. ISP Association, the Information Technology Association of America and the Association for Competitive Technology added their support for the bill's provisions.

Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said the bill does well in avoiding some of the Patriot Act's heavy-handed law enforcement powers. The lowered info-sharing standard, however, is worrisome in that it could violate an individual's right to privacy, he said.

That view is shared by groups such as the Center for Democracy and Technology and the American Civil Liberties Union. Alan Davidson, the CDT's associate director, said most of the bill is fine, but the looser emergency disclosure rules could be easily misused. "Providers are often approached by government agents and asked to voluntarily disclose communications ... for investigations the government claims involve a danger to life and limb," he said. This activity completely circumvents necessary judicial oversight of law enforcement investigations, he added.

The ACLU also called for more protections against abuses of this provision.

(Thanks to UPI Science News Writer Scott R. Burnell)

9/11 FUND

Though close to 3,000 people died in the terror attacks almost five months ago, the number of families or injured survivors applying to the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund continues to be remarkably low. Survivors and victims who take advantage of the Justice Department-administered fund give up their right to sue the airlines or anyone else for the attacks.

The total number of claims received by the fund, as of close of business last Thursday, was 276, the Justice Department reports.

(From UPI's Capital Comment)

MARDI GRAS

Additional security precautions sparked by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks did not slow down the revelry in the streets of New Orleans Tuesday on the final day of the Mardi Gras celebration.

Members of the Louisiana National Guard were deployed to assist police during the Carnival season, but there were few other visible signs of the security precautions taken for the annual debauchery that precedes the Lenten season.

There were, however, some reports that the size of the crowd was down from last year. "They are having a lot of fun, but the crowd is a little smaller," said Judy Polgar, office manager at Pat O'Briens in the French Quarter. "They are still out all night. There's just not as many of them."

Sgt. Paul Accardo, a New Orleans police spokesman, said there were no major problems as the Zulu and Rex krewes paraded down St. Charles in the uptown area, tossing beads to the crowd.

But some parade watchers were angered Monday when city sanitation crews began removing ladders traditionally used to view the parades on the popular routes. Many of the ladders were thrown in garbage trucks and crushed.

Top city officials were reluctant to talk about the crackdown, which ended quickly, but the city sanitation department said it was intended to remove safety hazards. "Our fundamental mission is to provide for public safety so that citizens can have a safe and enjoyable Mardi Gras," the statement said.

The festivities ended at midnight with the rolling out of street sweepers to clear the streets.