Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2001
Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Contact: http://www.caller.com/commcentral/email_ed.htm
Website: http://www.caller.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/872

UNITED STATES, PERU TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF TRAGEDY

Downing Of Missionaries' Plane Underlines Potential Costs Of U.s. Involvement

The United States and Peru are still trying to sort out the facts regarding 
the tragic incident last week in which a Peruvian fighter jet shot down an 
aircraft carrying U.S. missionaries. The attack resulted in the deaths of a 
35-year-old American woman and her 7-month-old daughter.

The Peruvian pilot apparently acted on the mistaken belief that the pontoon 
plane was involved in the drug trade. To date, the Peruvian military 
continues to insist that the pilot of the light aircraft had not filed a 
proper flight plan, and that he did not respond to attempts to establish 
contact.

However, Americans aboard a U.S. surveillance aircraft that monitored the 
drama suggest the Peruvian pilot acted precipitously, ignoring carefully 
crafted rules of engagement. The survivors from the missionary plane 
support that interpretation.

Undeniably, there is a reason why Peruvians and American are patrolling the 
skies over Peru: These missions have hurt drug smugglers' efforts to move 
their illicit goods.

This incident, however, reminds that we must count the cost - especially as 
we move ever closer to heavy involvement in neighboring Colombia's drug 
war. The drug trade takes a terrible toll, but so, too, may American 
involvement in foreign theaters under conditions we understand imperfectly, 
if at all.
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MAP posted-by: Beth