Pubdate: Wed, 23 Aug 2000
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company
Contact:  229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036
Fax: (212) 556-3622
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/
Section: Letters
Author: Cindy Franklin, New York
Ref:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1198/a07.html

DRUG WAR CASUALTIES 

Re "Colombia Pledges to Investigate Killing of 6 Children by Troops"
(news article, Aug. 20):

How can the United States build up the military in Colombia, to the 
tune of $1.3 billion in aid -- even with the benevolent purpose of 
fighting drug trafficking -- when there is such clear evidence that 
this same military is waging a war of terror against the country's 
villagers?  

We have no choice but to look not only at our intentions but also at 
the results of our actions.  

What is the actual result for the lives of average Colombians? Is it a 
decrease of narcotics trafficking? Or does the narcotics trafficking 
just end up in better armed and more deadly hands?  

Whatever the United States does in Colombia, fostering human rights and 
the safety of Colombians should be No. 1 on our agenda.  
- ---
MAP posted-by: John Chase