Pubdate: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 Source: Tulsa World (OK) Copyright: 2001 World Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463 Website: http://www.tulsaworld.com/ QUESTIONS What Happened In Peru? The tragic mistake made in Peru that left an American missionary and her infant dead has raised more questions than answers. And it again brings the United States' drug-war policy under scrutiny. It might be awhile before we know what went so terribly wrong. The conflicting stories coming from the United States and Peru will have to be sorted out. And the questions: Why was the private plane shot from the sky when standard procedure is to force drug planes to land? Did the pilot of the private plane file a flight plan? Were the international rules of engagement followed by the Peruvian fighter planes? Did Central Intelligence Agency agents on the tracker plane try to call off the fighters? The private plane was in an area frequented by drug traffickers. But were the Peruvian pilots too eager to put a notch in their guns? Did they ignore precautions that could have avoided this tragedy? This incident, which also wounded the pilot of the private plane, brings into question again the United States' role in drug wars in South America. The joint drug interdiction program approved by Congress in 1994 has been controversial. Billions of dollars have been spent in trying to discourage or eradicate coca- growing operations in Peru, Colombia and Bolivia. Anti-drug armies have been funded and crop eradication efforts have been financed. Some critics believe that much of the money for the military has gone to combat rebel forces rather than drugs. Poisoning crops from above has also taken its toll on legitimate farmers, many of whom are too poor to start over. Realizing that it is easier and more profitable to grow coca than corn, those farmers have turned to growing the plant used in making cocaine. The fact is, America's drug problem will never be solved until Americans quit using cocaine and other illegal drugs. Spending billions of dollars abroad is not going to solve the problem. Spending even half the $25 billion spent in the last decade in South America would go a long way toward helping get America unhooked. These are questions and problems that surely will arise again. We can only hope that it won't follow the death of another innocent bystander. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk