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| U.S. Officials Weigh Colombia's Aid Needs |
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Posted by FoM on August 25, 2001 at 08:40:58 PT By Michael Hedges Source: Houston Chronicle 
The Bush administration is conducting an "agonizing" review of its policy toward Colombia, weighing options to bolster a democracy battered by drug cartels and guerrillas. That review include a look at ways to enhance U.S. help to Colombia in its war against Marxist rebel forces. At present, U.S. policy is directed toward fighting drug traffickers in the nation but not the leftist guerrillas, who control a significant portion of the country. The review is exploring whether the White House should acknowledge that the rebels and drug traffickers are inextricably linked. "It's some agonizing decisions there," Peter Rodman, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, said this week. "And I think there is a consensus that there is an important American interest, but there is not necessarily a consensus about what the right way to serve that interest is." Next week, a delegation of U.S. officials representing the National Security Council, the State Department, Justice Department and other agencies is going to Colombia to meet with President Andres Pastrana. Keeping the democratic government in Colombia sovereign in a country wracked by civil war and ravaged by drug cartels has become one of the administration's top foreign policy priorities, along with the Middle East and Iraq, high-ranking officials said. Balancing the desire to help Colombia is the fear of getting involved in a conflict with guerrilla groups that makes any policy shift in the region difficult. So far, that balancing act has been maintained by agreeing to help Colombia fight the cartels, but not the guerrillas with whom the cartels are aligned. But, a congressional aide said, "In reality, it is already a distinction without a difference. Things have gotten so blurred in Colombia between the drug cartels and the guerrillas that the whole thing is just one giant security problem three hours from Miami." Among questions considered, Rodman said, is, "Should our policy, which obviously includes a military component, have a rationale beyond just narcotics?" Any U.S. policy shift with Colombia would be a long-term process that could not occur without first being requested by Colombia and backed by bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. So far, Pastrana has asked for American help in fighting drug cartels, but has avoided complicating his war with insurgents by seeking outside involvement. A Bush foreign policy official said, "As of now, our Colombia policy remains as it has been, the three-D policy of fighting drugs, aiding economic development and upholding democracy." There are no immediate plans to make a "drastic" shift in that policy, the official said. But "it is difficult to draw a clear line. The drug cartels are supporting the rebels by giving them money for arms in return for protection. So our policy has been that by helping to fight the drug cartels you are helping support the effort to restore rule of law to Colombia," said the official. The Colombian government is involved in a more than a 40- year-old struggle with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and other insurgent groups. The war is complicated by the involvement of well-armed right-wing paramilitary groups that have attacked towns and outposts in guerilla territory. During their meetings next week, the U.S. officials will inform Pastrana that the Bush administration has deep concerns about his policy of giving leftist guerrillas control over a huge zone in Colombia. Pastrana gave the Switzerland-sized chunk of Colombia to the FARC as a demilitarized zone in 1998. In October, Pastrana must announce whether that territory will continue in that capacity. Recent reports of terrorists, including Irish Republican Army bombers, training in the FARC zone have troubled Bush foreign policy aides. Three alleged IRA terrorists, Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan, were charged this week by the Colombian government with training FARC guerrillas. "No one should be in any doubt that the United States would be greatly concerned about any assistance, information sharing, training or collaboration with the FARC," said U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker. The Bush administration has so far backed a plan passed by Congress and signed by former President Clinton called Plan Colombia. It has provided $1.3 billion to Colombia to train troops and provide them with helicopters and other weapons to attack cocaine and heroin growers and processors in southern regions. Colombia has received about $1 billion so far, officials said, including helicopters and U.S. training of several battalions of troops. "To go from counter-narcotics to counter-insurgency will be a tough sell up here," conceded a senior Republican staff member involved in international issues. "The fear, of course, is that Colombia will be another place where we are going to get mired down in a war." Many congressional leaders are on record opposing any expansion of U.S. involvement in Colombia. The precise way in which U.S. aid to Colombia can be used has been the subject of heated debate on Capitol Hill. Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Related Articles & Web Site: Colombia Drug War News Bush Policy in Colombia is Unchanged Broader Role by U.S. Likely in Colombia Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by Robbie on August 25, 2001 at 09:56:43 PT |
| That review include a look at ways to enhance U.S. help to Colombia in its war against Marxist rebel forces. At present, U.S. policy is directed toward fighting drug traffickers in the nation but not the leftist guerrillas, who control a significant portion of the country *waving arms* Warning! Warning! Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Yep, the FARC are inextricably linked to the drug trade in Colombia. Just as inextricable as George Doublespeak Bush is to the oil industry, who could truly care less about the cocaine. "Protect the oil! Protect the oil!" If the US declares war on the FARC, the best protest would be to head to the area and fight with the FARC. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Robbie on August 25, 2001 at 09:49:26 PT |
| That review include a look at ways to enhance U.S. help to Colombia in its war against Marxist rebel forces. At present, U.S. policy is directed toward fighting drug traffickers in the nation but not the leftist guerrillas, who control a significant portion of the country *waving arms* Warning! Warning! Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Yep, the FARC are inextricable linked to the drug trade in Colombia. Just as inextricable as George Doublespeak Bush is to the oil industry, who could truly care less about the cocaine. "Protect the oil! Protect the oil!" If the US declares war on the FARC, the best protest would be to head to the area and fight with the FARC. [ Post Comment ] |
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