World Notes COLOMBIA

Is Colombia giving up the drug war? Or just playing mind games with the traffickers? That question has been raised by President Cesar Gaviria Trujillo's plan to forgo extradition and cut prison sentences as much as 50% for drug dealers who voluntarily cooperate with authorities and help prosecute other traffickers. Colombian Attorney General Alfonso Gomez Mendez supported $ Gaviria last week when he charged that the drug war "has been a failure because it has represented more costs to the nation than benefits for the community."

While Gaviria's move is at least partly attributable to his frustration over what he sees as a lack of support from Washington, some U.S. officials contend that the President's action is also a psychological master-stroke. They say the decree has the dual effect of moderating an unpopular policy and sowing doubt among the narcotraffickers, who will be forced to wonder who among them has been cooperating with the government.