Pubdate: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 Source: Baltimore Sun (MD) Copyright: 2002 The Baltimore Sun, a Times Mirror Newspaper Contact: http://www.sunspot.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?172 (Peruvian Aircraft Shooting) DRUG FLIGHTS MAY AGAIN BE TARGET OF U.S. Bush Expected To Resume Program In S. America WASHINGTON - The program to force down or shoot down airplanes suspected of carrying drugs in Latin America is expected to be resumed, a senior Bush administration official said yesterday. The timing of President Bush's decision remains uncertain, said the official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity. The program was stopped after an American missionary and her infant daughter were killed in Peru last year when their plane was shot down by mistake. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer confirmed that administration officials have formally recommended that Bush "resume this program with new safeguards." "This is something the president is very interested in," Fleischer said. Cautioning that Bush "has not yet made a formal decision on this matter," Fleischer added: "The president very much wants to take strong actions to fight drug narcotics trafficking in South America. We will work closely with our allies there." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth