Pubdate: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 Source: Free Lance-Star (VA) Copyright: 2000 The Free Lance-Star Contact: 616 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Website: http://fredericksburg.com/news/ Author: Ellen Herndon Atkins U.S. POLICY IN COLOMBIA WON'T STOP DRUGS I am outraged that President Clinton has committed U.S. tax dollars and military forces to the futile effort of abolishing the cocaine trade in Colombia. When has force ever hurt the illegal drug trade? Has it ever occurred to U.S. leaders that the $1.3 billion aid package being used to support Plan Columbia could be used to support services that are desperately needed in our own country? The huge U.S. aid package is a grave mistake that only will escalate violence in and around Colombia. How much death and destruction have to occur before the American people stand up against this debacle and say, "Enough is enough"? Ellen Herndon Atkins Mineral - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens