The U.S. Statement Department has increasingly favored militarization as its chosen strategy in the fight against cocaine, but human rights abuses represent an inevitable component of militarization. Further, recent U.S. experience in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia suggests that winning the drug war requires the support of Latin governments and societies. Andean governments, however, have tended to resist the U.S. drug strategy. Militarization of the drug war has increased human rights violations, even though State Department officials believe U.S. involvement in Latin America allows the United States to have more influence over military practices. Probably the most compelling reason not to militarize the drug war is that coca and cocaine prevention programs do not require militarization. For example, Colombian police made 80 to 90 percent of all drug seizures and raids on airstrips in that country but received only 16 percent of the $65 million emergency aid package the United States sent to Colombia in 1989, with the remaining 84 percent going to the military. The author recommends a drug strategy that emphasizes human rights and nonmilitary solutions. 2 illustrations