cannabisnews.com: U.S. To Review Anti-Drug Plan





U.S. To Review Anti-Drug Plan
Posted by FoM on June 20, 2001 at 09:18:45 PT
By Frank Davies
Source: Miami Herald
With skepticism arising in Congress over a program to intercept aerial drug shipments in Colombia and Peru, the State Department has named Morris Busby, a former ambassador to Colombia, to oversee a ``broad review'' of the policy and delayed a final report on the April shoot-down of a missionaries' plane mistaken for a drug flight.On Capitol Hill, where support for the aerial interdiction program has eroded since the accident, Busby can help defend the seven-year program to track and intercept drug flights, a big part of the drug war in Peru and Colombia, said two GOP staffers involved in drug issues.
Members and staffers also said Tuesday that the delay in releasing the report on the shoot-down of the missionaries' plane could buy time for the State Department and other agencies to revamp and promote the program.Busby is a respected ex-foreign service officer and counterterrorism expert experienced in dealing with Congress. He helped secure massive U.S. aid for Colombia during the war on drug kingpins in the early 1990s.July Deadline:His review, along with the results of the investigation of the accident, will be released in late July, a State Department official said Tuesday.``We need to make sure that every possible safeguard is in place to prevent the accidental loss of civilian life as a result of the anti-drug program in the Andes,'' said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.A CIA surveillance plane on April 20 provided data to a Peruvian air force plane on a suspected drug flight. The Peruvians shot down the pontoon plane over the Amazon, killing Baptist missionary Roni Bowers and her baby, Charity. Bowers' husband Jim, their son Cory and pilot Kevin Donaldson survived the attack.After the accident, President Bush suspended the surveillance and interception program so it could be reviewed. U.S. officials had hailed the program as a successful partnership in deterring drug flights, noting that coca production in Peru was cut 70 percent, with much of it shifting to Colombia.The delay in issuing the report was greeted with mixed reaction.``It's appropriate to look at the broader context of the policy at the same time this tragic incident is fully investigated,'' said Sen. Bob Graham, the Florida Democrat who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. He said he would ``withhold evaluation'' of the merits of the interception program, but others were not reticent.Rep. Benjamin Gilman, R-N.Y., citing recent Colombian reports of an upsurge of drug flights in the region, said: ``We need to do all we can to get this program up and running as soon as as possible.``While not excusing or minimizing the tragedy, we must bear in mind that nearly 16,000 Americans lose their lives each year from the use and sale of illicit drugs, many of which originate in the Andean region,'' said Gilman, a former chairman of the House International Affairs Committee.But Rep. Peter Hoekstra, a Michigan Republican who represents the Bowers family, said he was ``not pleased with the decision'' to delay the report.``There are families and organizations that want a resolution on this,'' Hoekstra said. ``We ought to get closure on what happened in the accident and then have the policy debate, which could be quite lengthy.''Hoekstra, a staunch conservative, said he will not support any revival of the interdiction program that includes shoot-downs as a last resort.Seeking Data: The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Republican Porter Goss of Sanibel, said he is seeking recent data on whether there has been a big increase in drug flights with the program in ``stand-down mode.''But he said he hopes the interdiction program can eventually resume. ``It's a shame what happened, but this is a war, and unfortunately there are casualties,'' Goss said.Source: Miami Herald (FL)Author: Frank DaviesPublished: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Miami HeraldContact: heralded herald.comWebsite: http://www.herald.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Colombia Drug War Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htmTreachery Over The Andeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9484.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Bowsershttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Bowers
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Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on June 21, 2001 at 09:34:25 PT:
The Truth Hurts
I recommend that everyone read in info on the last link to Narconews. It really blow up the myth of godless Marxist tools. This is an intelligent and impassioned viewpoint that demands consideration. Not all will agree, but they would be hard pressed to refute all that it contains. Amerika needs to clean its own house, and be honest about our true intentions in Plan Colombia.Legalize and Regulate! Amerika out of Amazonia!
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Comment #2 posted by Sudaca on June 21, 2001 at 09:08:05 PT
let the man speak 
thanks to Al Giordano and his effort at providing "authentic journalism" I invite you read these comments by someone on the other side of the fence in Colombiahttp://www.narconews.com/gabrielangel1.htmlcheck it out, FARC leader speaks about Plan Colombia
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Comment #1 posted by lookinside on June 20, 2001 at 10:18:54 PT:
say what?
"but this is a war, and unfortunately there are casualties."i guess that justifies everything...a war on americans byamerikans...congress feels safe making life and death decisions inwashington D.C... sometimes i wish somebody would make thatpile of marble on the potomac the front line instead a safehaven for out of touch, hypocritical, jerks like Goss... 
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