The military has been engaged in the war against drugs for some 17 years. Nevertheless, the United States still finds itself firmly in the grip of this unyielding enemy. The military is not the lead agency in this endeavor, but it has the resources required to reduce illicit drug flow significantly. Several factors have contributed to this failure. Fundamental problems exist in understanding and accommodating the challenges experienced by the United States allies in Latin America. Lack of coordination and cooperation among United States agencies is another stumbling block. Reductions of funding for counterdrug and other programs such as nation assistance, security assistance and military-to-military contacts have damaged the efforts of the United States and its allies. More importantly, reduced funding and emphasis have damaged the required confidence and credibility among the allies of the United States. These problems all point to the need for a balanced effort by a unified team. Notes and 39 references