Pubdate: Wed, 27 Mar 2002
Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 Pulitzer Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism)

EXPANDED U.S. ROLE SEEN IN COLOMBIA

DEA Chief Tells of Need to Fight Terror

BOGOTA, Colombia - 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 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 are 
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 that could draw 
Washington too deeply into Colombia's 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 in a speech at police 
headquarters in Bogota.

The DEA chief referred to a Colombian guerrilla leader indicted in the 
United States this month for drug trafficking.

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.
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