Pubdate: Tue, 26 Mar 2002
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Associated Press
Author: Jared Kotler (AP)

U.S. ANTI-DRUG CHIEF PREDICTS BROADER U.S. AID TO FIGHT COLOMBIA INSURGENTS

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- The United States should soon be able to help 
Colombia defend itself against insurgent groups and not just drug 
traffickers, the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration predicted 
Tuesday.

During a visit to the world's main cocaine producing nation, DEA chief Asa 
Hutchinson said he expects the Congress will approve a Bush administration 
request for authority "in fighting both the terrorists and the drug 
traffickers" here.

U.S. and Colombian officials are increasingly using the term "terrorists" 
to refer to leftist guerrillas and an illegal right-wing paramilitary group 
fighting in Colombia's 38-year war. Both have terrorized civilians and each 
is believed to rely on profits from the drug trade.

But until now, U.S. military aid to Colombia has been restricted largely to 
anti-narcotics purposes.

Although no direct U.S. combat role is envisioned, the Bush Administration 
- -- under a request made last week -- is reportedly considering more direct 
counterinsurgency aid and training. Some critics worry that could draw 
Washington too deeply into Colombia's 38-year conflict.

With rebels moving ever deeper into the drug trade -- and in some instances 
becoming "one and the same" as traffickers -- Hutchinson said broader 
military aid is justified.

"President Bush remains committed to continuing the U.S. support of 
Colombia in its fight against terror, terror which the world now knows is 
funded to a large extent by drugs," he said, during a speech at police 
headquarters in Bogota.

The DEA chief pointed colorfully to the case of a Colombian guerrilla 
leader indicted in the United States this month for drug trafficking.

"As he and others hide in the jungle, waiting as a crouching lion to pounce 
on his next victim, he believes he is above the law. He is wrong. He must 
be brought to justice," Hutchinson said.

At a later news conference, Hutchinson declined to comment on whether an 
operation was afoot to capture the rebel, Tomas Medina, of the 
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. U.S. prosecutors say his 
unit, based in jungles near the Brazilian border, conspired with Brazilian 
traffickers to ship cocaine to the United States.

Hutchinson said Colombia's main paramilitary leader, Carlos Castano of the 
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, is also under U.S. 
investigation for drug trafficking.

The DEA has cited Castano before as a drug trafficker, but he has not been 
indicted in the United States.

Whether Castano -- and other guerrilla leaders beside Medina -- are 
indicted will depend on how much evidence U.S. authorities can collect, 
Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson was also asked about a message posted on the Internet Tuesday by 
Castano, in which the paramilitary leaders says he has been trying to help 
dozens of Colombian drug traffickers turn themselves over to U.S. justice 
- -- apparently in plea deals.

"We do not negotiate with narco-traffickers unless they simply want to know 
how to surrender," the DEA chief said.
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