WATCH

ADMINISTRATOR PEROT
by Ed Magnuson

Although few DEA Agents will argue that Mexico deserves recertification and further aid for combating narcotics, Secretary of State Albright has suggested that aid could be continued for reasons of national security. Appearing on "Meet the Press", self made millionaire and former Presidential candidate Ross Perot stated that DEA officials had told him that they had been advised to go easy on Mexico so that aid could continue.

Perot, an undeniable patriot, put bluntly what many Americans would have said,"Now, can you imagine poisoning our children so that they can clean up the Mexican economy. I can't, and that's unacceptable."

In times of national crisis, it is not unusual for successful well-to-do citizens to come to the aid of their country; history does repeat itself. World War 2 caused the expansion or creation of intelligence services everywhere. And the US, which virtually had no peacetime intelligence gathering capability, created the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of the Central intelligence Agency. A millionaire Wall Street lawyer named William Donovan was named it's 1st Director at a salary of $1 dollar a year. Some complained that Donovan's only qualification for the job was his friendship with President Roosevelt.

However, although Donovan had to contend with the institutional mind-sets of the Army, Navy, and Department of State and the ire of J Edgar Hoover who believed that the FBI should be in charge of everything including intelligence, Colonel Donovan's OSS flourished beyond all anticipated expectations. The great proof being today's CIA.

And Pres Clinton should learn from the example set by fellow Democrat Franklin Roosevelt and using America's best talent in a crisis which threatens the very existence of our great nation. In our failed War on Drugs, a successful no-nonsense patriot such as Ross Perot may he just what is needed.

When thought about seriously, Ross Perot would make an outstanding DEA Administrator.