Pubdate: Mon, 30 Oct 2000
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053
Fax: (213) 237-7679
Website: http://www.latimes.com/
Forum: http://www.latimes.com/discuss/

A WAR COLOMBIA MUST NOT LOSE

In October 1998, a time when drug dealers, right-wing paramilitary
groups and left-wing guerrillas were tearing his country apart,
Colombian President Andres Pastrana flew to Washington to meet with
President Clinton and key members of Congress. He made his case for
desperately needed financial, military and moral support. The United
States had a stake in the crisis--90% of the cocaine that reaches
America comes from Colombia--so Pastrana's plan found favor. What was
needed was money.

Pastrana's Plan Colombia, a comprehensive program, was to be funded by
Colombia at $4 billion, European countries at $2 billion and the
United States at $1.3 billion. It was designed to support
counter-narcotics activities and other initiatives to shore up the
embattled country economically, strengthen its democratic institutions
and spur economic development.

To date, only the United States has delivered on its pledge of
support. The bulk of the U.S. assistance will purchase military
equipment, mostly combat helicopters. Under the commitment already
approved in Congress and signed by Clinton, the Colombian army and
police would do the fighting and the United States would provide the
equipment and the training. But no U.S. ground troops or combat
aircraft, including helicopters, would take part. The dark debacles of
U.S. participation in the Central American wars of the 1970s make that
clear.

Under the law adopted by Congress earlier this year, there is a cap of
500 U.S. trainers in Colombia at any one time, mainly training
Colombian troops in counter-narcotics operations. So far the number
has not exceeded 300, and it should go no higher. Nor should U.S.
soldiers take part in any military actions.

Military equipment and training alone cannot do the job, however. The
court system needs to be strengthened; the army and the police must be
taught to respect human rights; farmers need alternative crops and
other incentives to forsake the dangerous game of producing opium and
coca.

The European Union must deliver a good share of the money needed to
bolster the government's institutions. The chemicals used to
manufacture drugs in Colombia are imported, and that makes for a
two-way street.

According to Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (R-N.Y.), "up to one-third of the
cocaine from Colombia is now going to Europe." So far, Spain has
pledged $100 million and Norway $20 million. The time has come for all
drug-affected countries, whether producers or purchasers, to step up
to meet the crisis. No country is safe from this plague. Some consume
the drug, others profit from it, all to their detriment. The Pastrana
government cannot win this war without help. Colombia must not be lost
to the drug lords. 
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