Jon Kyl: “I note as recently as yesterday on the ``Meet the Press'' television program, Senator Joseph Biden said: ``The President…”

“I note as recently as yesterday on the ``Meet the Press'' television program, Senator Joseph Biden said: ``The President is silent on the matter. He has failed to speak.'' Of course, we are talking about the matter of drug abuse and, more broadly, the war on drugs. Actually, I am very heartened that the President has rediscovered his enthusiasm to fight this war on drugs. When he campaigned for the Presidency in 1992, candidate Bill Clinton said, ``President Bush hasn't fought a real war on crime and drugs. I will.'' During the first 3 years in office, the President virtually ignored the drug problem. The moving trucks had barely arrived from Little Rock when the President slashed the office, the so-called drug czar's office, by 80 percent. The drug problem received little attention thereafter from his administration. Whatever the motivation, some might say election year politics, I assume it is an obvious realization that the policy has not worked and has had a disastrous effect. The President has now reversed course and is exercising very needed leadership in our efforts to combat drugs.”