Dole Says He’ll Use Guard In War On Drugs

Criticizing President Clinton for increasing drug use among teens, Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole pledged Sunday to expand the National Guard’s role in fighting illegal narcotics.

“If I am elected president of the United States, America will once again set about the business of winning the war on drugs,” Dole told the annual convention of the National Guard Association. “I will get the Guard back where it belongs - in the forefront.”

In response, the Clinton administration’s drug czar praised Dole’s ideas, but said the government already was using most of them.

Dole’s plan revolves around using existing military capabilities to combat the illegal influx of banned drugs, often with the National Guard acting on its own or providing equipment or training to local and state authorities.

Dole’s plan calls for the restoration of the National Guard budget to $230 million - its level when President Bush left office - from the current $153 million figure.

Dole would also use the National Guard to assist in drug interdiction efforts at U.S. borders, particularly in California and throughout the Southwest.