By Thom Shanker and Mary Duenwald New York Times Service WASHINGTON -- A military hearing into the deaths of four Canadians in an airstrike by two American pilots in Afghanistan has focused attention on the military's long-held but little-known practice of using drugs to keep its weary forces awake and alert -- or to help them sleep off the stress of combat.
Amphetamines and tranquilizers -- "go pills" and "no-go pills" -- are considered useful tools for a modern U.S. military that likes to fight at night, given its technological superiority in finding targets in the dark, and to an Air Force that must order its pilots to fly longer missions from fewer overseas bases. Scientists are researching ever more potent pills, including some that may keep combat forces alert for 40 hours or more. Full: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/01/20/201.html --- Sent from UnionMail Service [http://mail.union.org.za]