Pubdate: Sat, 16 Feb 2002
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe (KS)
Copyright: 2002 The Dodge City Daily Globe
Contact:  http://www.dodgeglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1473
Author: George Gedda, Associated Press Writer
Note: George Gedda has covered foreign affairs for The Associated Press 
since 1968.

U.S. SEEKS NEW WAYS TO HELP EMBATTLED COLOMBIA

WASHINGTON -- Colombia is Latin America's most embattled democracy. The 
country is buffeted by guerrilla groups of the left and right and by 
widespread human rights violations.

War has driven 2 million Colombians from their homes. There are drug 
cartels, organized corruption syndicates, the worst economic crisis in a 
century and kidnappings at world record levels.

The list of woes is much longer.

The United States has been trying to be helpful, but on most fronts it's 
hard to detect much progress. U.S.-sponsored drug eradication has managed 
only to slow the rate of increase of illicit crop production. A peace 
initiative begun by President Andres Pastrana in 1998 has made little 
headway, although hopes for a cease-fire have risen lately.

CIA Director George Tenet said last week that leftist insurgents in 
Colombia "who make much of their money from drug trafficking are escalating 
their assault on the government, further undermining economic prospects and 
fueling a cycle of violence."

Congress supports efforts to counter traffickers who peddle cocaine in U.S. 
markets, but lawmakers have been resistant to any U.S. role in helping 
Colombia defeat leftist rebels. However, in the post-Sept. 11 
anti-terrorism atmosphere, officials believe they have a bit more room to 
maneuver.

Of the 30 or so groups designated by the State Department worldwide as 
foreign terrorist organizations, three are Colombian -- the FARC and ELN 
leftist rebel groups and the AUC rightist paramilitary group.

The FARC has been attempting to paralyze the Colombian economy through 
attacks on the infrastructure. It came close to knocking out a dam that 
provides water to Bogota.

More successful have been attacks on a 480-mile oil pipeline that runs from 
northeastern Colombia to the Caribbean coast. Attacks put the pipeline out 
of commission for 266 days last year at a reported cost of $500 million to 
the Colombian economy. Also damaged were the interests of the U.S. oil 
companies that use it.

Amid misgivings by some in Congress, the Bush administration wants to spend 
$98 million to train and equip the Colombian military to protect the 
pipeline. It would be the first time support for the military would extend 
beyond counternarcotics activities. The administration is hopeful that, 
given the anti-terrorism mood these days, Congress won't object to the 
policy shift.

The most outspoken critic has been Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., an 
influential voice on foreign aid matters. He said the proposal "draws us 
further into a military quagmire, and the Congress should be very reluctant 
to go down that road."

The administration has visions of also providing training to help the 
Colombian military protect other key installations from rebels, including 
power plants. It also wants to share intelligence with the Colombian 
military to help its pursuit of FARC rebels.

Officials admit they must move in Congress with caution in the more 
assertive approach, lest they sabotage the bipartisan congressional 
consensus on Colombia. Congress approved $1.3 billion in assistance two 
years ago and an additional $439 million this year.

It imposed human rights performance requirements that Colombia must meet or 
face an aid cut. At month's end, the administration is expected to certify 
compliance with the requirements.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Washington Office on 
Latin America are likely to challenge the certification. All said last week 
that the rights situation in Colombia has deteriorated.
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