Pubdate: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2002 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: Alfredo Corchado, The Dallas Morning News Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) BUSH HAILS COLOMBIAN LEADER, VISION FOR PEACE He says U.S. strongly supports Uribe's fight against drugs, rebels WASHINGTON - President Bush lauded Colombia's newly elected president Wednesday, calling him a "man of freedom" and reiterating U.S. support for the South American country in its decades-old civil war. In his first meeting with President Alvaro Uribe, Mr. Bush said he was "incredibly impressed" by Mr. Uribe's vision for peace in Colombia. "The Colombian people believe him, and so do I," Mr. Bush said. "And today I want to affirm our country's strong desire to help the Colombian government and the Colombian people prosper and to live in freedom." The gathering in the Oval Office, followed by a two-hour working lunch with Mr. Bush and Cabinet officials, capped Mr. Uribe's 48-hour visit, which included meetings at the Pentagon, Capitol Hill and the State and Treasury departments, and with policy analysts. Colombian government aides said the meetings were aimed at spotlighting the country's new aggressive strategy to combat drug and armed outlaw groups as it endures enormous economic sacrifice. Financial Help Sought During the meeting with Mr. Bush and members of his Cabinet, Mr. Uribe said, he asked for help in meeting Colombia's financial commitments with international institutions, while creating jobs and still fighting its drug war. Afterward, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said the administration supports "current discussions between Colombia and the international financial institutions to mobilize financing to advance reform and to meet the needs of the challenging period ahead." U.S. and Colombian officials have estimated that Colombia supplies more than 90 percent of the cocaine and more than half the heroin to the United States. "Illicit drugs are the most powerful chemical weapon in the world," Mr. Uribe said. "If we want to restore law and order in Colombia, if we want to stop the spread of drugs into other neighboring countries, we have to defeat drugs and we have to defeat terrorists in my country." Upon taking office in August, Mr. Uribe launched a new military offensive against leftist rebels and right-wing paramilitary organizations. On Tuesday, Attorney General John Ashcroft unsealed an indictment against the leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, Carlos Castano, and two other members of the paramilitary group. Drug Role Denied In a radio interview broadcast Wednesday in Colombia, Mr. Castano denied involvement in the drug trade. He said his primary condition for surrender is that his children be taken to the United States for their safety. The United States has previously indicted the largest rebel organization, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, on drug trafficking charges. The indictments, analysts said, were aimed at helping Mr. Uribe press his case to human-rights organizations and U.S. lawmakers who have been critical of widespread abuses by paramilitary groups. Mr. Uribe, who has denied allegations of ties to the groups, said he is serious about pursuing criminals evenly. The United States has spent more than $2 billion in Colombia since 2000 to combat drug traffickers, with about $450 million in new assistance requested by the Bush administration for next fiscal year. "I want President Uribe to succeed, and I told him that. We all do," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. "But I also want to be sure that when the United States gives aid, we do not compromise our principles or our commitment to human rights and the rule of law." During his visit, Mr. Uribe's underlying message was the sacrifice Colombians are making to support a new strategy that he said has already led to the arrests of more members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia than in the four years of the previous administration. Mr. Uribe has said he plans to enlist 1 million civilians to serve as informers and create a supplemental army of part-time peasant soldiers. He is also instituting a 1.2 percent "war surtax" on upper-middle class and wealthy Colombians during tough economic times. Colombia's unemployment rate is 18 percent and climbing, with fears of future economic troubles akin to those facing Brazil and Argentina, officials said. Already, tens of thousands of Colombians have fled for the United States, Mexico and other Latin American countries. Some policy analysts viewed Mr. Uribe's trip a success but cautioned that in spite of the continued flow of U.S. aid to Colombia, the issue in Washington has been relegated to second-tier news, replaced by events in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. "He's preparing the road for the kind of support he will need over his years in office," said Michael Shifter, a Colombian expert at the InterAmerican Dialogue. "I think he left a good impression." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager