USA: Attorney general details efforts to curb meth

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was in Indianapolis on Wednesday to highlight provisions in the freshly renewed USA Patriot Act designed to curb the scourge of methamphetamine. Following is a question-and-answer with him:

Q: The most visible effects of the crackdown on methamphetamine have been the restrictions on over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines that include the need to show identification to buy these medicines. Do these efforts go too far?

A: That's really a question to be discussed and debated within the legislatures and in Congress. These were considerations certainly within the administration as to what was the appropriate strategy. We obviously didn't want to support legislation that would make it too difficult for law-abiding citizens who have a cold and want to get relief quickly.

I think this strikes a right balance, and if not, we'll have a period of time to see how it works. If modifications have to be made, then modifications will be made.

Q: People can now get an identification card that allows them to get through airport security more quickly. Would you support a similar identification card that allows people with allergies to buy cold medicine?

A: This is all part of the ongoing discussion or debate as to what is the appropriate policy. We have no intention at the federal level to deny access to those who are sick.

Q: Police in Indiana have been finding fewer basement and barn-based meth labs, but evidence shows factories in Mexico are producing the drug and smuggling it into the United States. What does the Patriot Act do to fight meth production in other countries?

A: The efforts to be successful against methamphetamine require dealing with importation of meth across our borders, particularly our southern borders. I've had several discussions with the Mexican attorney general about this. In fact, he and I are attending an anti-meth conference in Dallas, Texas, in May to discuss additional ways we can be more effective in dealing with meth. We've encouraged Mexico to limit the access to certain kinds of chemicals used in the production of meth.

We have good communications with respect to our Mexican and Canadian counterparts. We're also talking with our counterparts in other countries like China and Germany where we have an issue of large amounts of these precursor chemicals being imported into countries like Mexico.

Q: What is the gravest threat folks in Indiana face from terrorism?

A: Indiana has events that, from time to time, that I think might prove enticing targets. Let me just say I have no information at this time about threats to Indiana, but you're always worried about that. You have an enemy that's very patient, very smart, and I think they're always looking and evaluating what might be attractive targets.


Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thurs, 16 March 2006
Source: IndyStar.com (USA - Web)
Reporter: Vic Ryckaert
Copyright: 2006 IndyStar.com.
Website: http://www.indystar.com