Pubdate: Sun, 11 Nov 2001
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Juan Forero

ASKING FOR AID, COLOMBIANS CITE TERROR; U.S. DEMURS

BOGOTA, Colombia, Nov. 10 - As he made the rounds in Washington this week, 
President Andres Pastrana of Colombia was greeted with hearty handshakes 
from the friends he has cultivated in his three years in office.

In meetings with such powerful officials as the House speaker, J. Dennis 
Hastert, and Attorney General John Ashcroft, Mr. Pastrana was reassured 
that the United States remained committed to supporting Colombia's grinding 
antidrug battle.

But the United States, which is providing $1.3 billion in aid for Colombia 
and its neighbors, is not about to become further engaged against rebel 
groups that enrich themselves from cocaine, Colombian and American 
officials said this week.

After the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, many Colombians concluded 
Washington would become more involved in the country's brutal civil 
conflict. They anticipated more support for aerial fumigation of drug crops 
and even for counterinsurgency operations.

Newspaper columnists and commentators have predicted an increase in 
American support, noting that the two rebel groups and a right-wing 
paramilitary organization that operate here are on the State Department's 
list of international terrorist organizations. Colombian officials have 
hardened their talk against the largest rebel organization, the 
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, calling it a terrorist group that, 
like Osama bin Laden's network, Al Qaeda, has worldwide reach.

Mr. Pastrana called on worldwide antiterrorism efforts to include Colombia. 
He also is asking American officials to lift restrictions that permit the 
use of American helicopters only for antinarcotics operations, not 
counterinsurgency.

"If we are going to combat terrorism, we need all the arms are our disposal 
to do it, "Mr. Pastrana told reporters in Washington on Friday.

But American officials who work on Colombia policy, as well as a top 
Colombian official, said they did not expect the United States to change 
course. "It is wishful thinking on the part of those Colombians who would 
like us to become more involved," a State Department official said by 
telephone from Washington.

American policymakers, preoccupied with the war in Afghanistan and anthrax 
scares, believe that Colombia policy is safely on "auto pilot," said one 
Congressional aide.

"There is interest in Congress in Colombia, and there will continue to be," 
said Tim Rieser, an aide to Senator Patrick J. Leahy, chairman of the 
appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations. "But I would think it's 
fair to say it is not getting the same degree of attention as it did a year 
ago."

Some Colombia experts say that while Colombia will continue receiving aid, 
Mr. Pastrana's visit is also aimed at ensuring that his country's problems 
continue to be addressed in Washington. He is scheduled to meet with 
President Bush on Sunday.
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