Pubdate: Tue, 27 July 1999 Source: Tribune, The (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Luis Obispo County Newspapers Contact: P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Website: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/ Author: Associated Press DRUG CZAR ADVOCATES MORE AID FOR COLOMBIA U.S. Continues The Search For Missing Spy Plane BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Washington's top anti-drug official pushed for increased military aid Monday to counter rebels in Colombia, where rescuers tried to reach what might be the wreckage of a U.S. spy plane lost on an anti-narcotics mission. Visiting the world's No. 1 cocaine-producing country, Barry McCaffrey said peace talks to end the nation's 35-year conflict would only work if Colombia's security forces were strengthened against the threat of "narco-guerrillas." "The United States has paid inadequate attention to a serious and growing emergency," he told reporters after meeting with President Andres Pastrana. America should provide more battle helicopters and training for Colombian military and police units, he said. The missing de Havilland RC-7 plane, packed with sophisticated radar and eavesdropping equipment, apparently slammed into an uncharted mountain in bad weather, likely killing the five American soldiers and two Colombian air force officers on board, McCaffrey said. It was reported missing Friday. The names of those missing have not been released. Low cloud cover and rugged terrain have prevented searchers from reaching the site. "It's extreme terrain," said Steve Lucas, a spokesman for the Southern Command in Miami. Lucas said specially trained searchers could jump from aircraft, be lowered down by ropes, or hike up to the wreckage lodged high on a mountainside. The plane dropped off radar screens while over Putumayo, a major drug-cultivation area dominated by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. It was gathering intelligence on a "routine" counter-narcotics mission, the Army said. Peace negotiations begun in January are going slowly, amid doubts about the FARC's sincerity. Hoping to increase pressure on the rebels to negotiate, Patrana's defense minister recently visited Washington to lobby for an additional $500 million in military aid. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D