Pubdate: Sat, 07 Apr 2001
Source: Erie Times-News (PA)
Copyright: 2001 Erie Times-News
Contact:  http://www.goerie.com/timesnews/
Address: 205 West 12th Street, Erie, PA 16534
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Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Colombia (Reports about Colombia)

BOGUS OFFER FROM BOGUS ARMY

This offer is too good to be true. According to The Washington Post, "The 
leader of Colombia's paramilitary army has offered to help arrange the 
surrender of as many as 20 of Colombia's top drug traffickers wanted for 
trial in the United States. Carlos Castano, commander of the United 
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), said his suggestion, if carried out, 
would fundamentally alter the multibillion-dollar war on drugs, creating a 
de facto alliance between himself and the U.S. government."

American and Colombian officials say the offer is bogus. They say, Castano 
cannot do what he promises; or that what he promises benefits his own 
paramilitary army by cutting off funds for his enemies. Colombia's 
terrorist rebels rely on the drug trade for funds.

We wonder why Colombia's top 20 drug traffickers would be so civic-minded 
as to surrender.

But isn't all this beside the point? Let these 20 surrender -- let 200 
surrender. They will find replacements at once. So long as the demand 
exists, so will the supply. That is bad, but it is true.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager