Pubdate: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Copyright: 1998 The Dallas Morning News Author: David LaGesse / The Dallas Morning News EQUIPMENT SOUGHT IN ANTI-DRUG BILL; $690 MILLION ADDED WASHINGTON - Republicans added $690 million in new anti-drug aid in a broad spending bill slated for final approval next week. Most of the money would go to adding planes, ships and other equipment for fighting traffickers in South America and the Caribbean. To win White House support, Republicans deleted a clause that might have barred any counter-drug aid for Colombia, as well as one calling on Mexico's government to give unqualified permission for U.S. drug agents to carry guns in Mexico. The legislation, which also calls for an added $1.8 billion in spending during the next two years, would mark a shift in U.S. strategy in the counter-drug effort, Republicans said. The Clinton administration has emphasized domestic programs, including law enforcement and drug treatment programs, and neglected efforts to stop narcotics before they get to U.S. borders, said Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. "This is our effort to restore balance to our anti-drug efforts," he said. White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey, who helped negotiate the spending with Republican leaders, through a spokesman called it a "bipartisan agreement." Mr. McCaffrey also has argued that the administration maintained effective foreign anti-drug operations while increasing money for domestic programs. This year's added spending includes $100 million for large radar machines, border barriers and surveillance gear for the border with Mexico. It also includes: * $184 million for helicopters and planes, bases and equipment for Andean countries, mostly six Blackhawk helicopters and 34 Vietnam War-era Huey helicopters for the Colombian National Police * $134 million for the U.S. Coast Guard, including two new cutters and eight patrol boats * $191 million for U.S. Customs, including six P-3 tracking planes, crews and related equipment * $23 million for crop eradication and alternative crop development The equipment spending, particularly in Colombia, could help resolve a long-running dispute between the administration and Republicans. House members have fought administration resistance to get new Blackhawk attack helicopters to the Colombian police. Administration officials said money could be better spent than on the expensive Blackhawk helicopters, which will cost about $16 million each. Republicans argued the Colombians lacked the equipment needed to reach mountains where heroin poppies are grown. "That's why we have included the Blackhawk helicopters - so the Colombian National Police can get up there,' said Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., a key architect of the Republican effort. The White House, in turn, won changes that gives the administration more flexibility in the counter-drug programs, Mr. DeWine said. Those changes included removing the provisions on Colombia and Mexico. The House added the potential bar on Colombian aid when it passed the bill last month. Republicans cited concerns that new Colombian President Andres Pastrana might halt counternarcotics operations in a planned demilitarized zone dominated by guerrillas. Colombia's government would establish the zone when peace talks are convened in November. "We took into account the concerns expressed by President Pastrana of Colombia and by the White House," Mr. DeWine said. - --- Checked-by: Mike Gogulski