Pubdate: Fri, 23 Feb 2007
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2007 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kcstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: Peter Brooks

PRO-CON: MORE AID FOR THE DRUG WAR IN COLUMBIA? YES

In largely unheralded good news, the Bush administration has made 
great strides helping Colombia fight the double-barreled threat of a 
deadly insurgency and ultra-powerful drug lords. The bad news is that 
if we're not careful, these hard-fought gains could slip right 
through our fingers.

With progress in fighting drugs uneven in much of Latin America, 
Colombia has been a singular success story. With $4 billion in 
training and aid from the United States since 2000, Colombian 
President Alvaro Uribe is successfully prosecuting a 20-year-old war 
on drugs, while also defeating a 40-year guerrilla insurgency.

Without sustained U.S. aid, Colombia won't be able to increase its 
security forces. It's not just about helping a friendly, 
democratically elected government fight drugs and an insurgency. It's 
about security in this hemisphere.

Peter Brookes

Heritage Foundation
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman