The Nation - News from May 11, 1988

The military should not become deeply involved in fighting illegal drugs because soldiers are not properly trained to enforce civilian laws, Defense Secretary Frank C. Carlucci told Congress. “I think it is unwise to get the military into the law enforcement question,” Carlucci said at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee. Carlucci was trying to deal with a rising wave of sentiment in Congress for using the military more heavily to block the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Last week, the House voted 385 to 23 to order President Reagan to have the military seal U.S. borders against drug traffickers.