06 August 1999
(McCaffrey, Beers, Sheridan, Ledwith, Shifter, Burton, Gilman testify) (950) By Bruce Carey USIA Staff Writer Washington -- "Go where the drugs are." That is the advice Clinton administration officials and key members of Congress offer as the best means of stopping the flow of illicit drugs from Colombia and other producing countries. White House drug policy director Barry McCaffrey, Assistant Secretary of State Rand Beers, and other officials told a panel of the House of Representative Government Reform and Oversight Committee that demand-reduction through education, treatment, and law enforcement must be accompanied by allocating significant resources to eradicate crops and interdict trafficking to end the drug scourge in the Western Hemisphere and the whole world. Destroy as much of the drug harvest as possible where it is grown before it can be transported and capture the rest while it is moving, the officials said in testimony to the Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources Subcommittee August 6. Two key House members -- International Relations chair Ben Gilman and Government Reform and Oversight Chair Dan Burton -- voiced strong criticism of the Clinton administration for failure to support Bogota adequately in that effort. But all the witnesses agreed that the effort is essential to keep the drug menace from further endangering the security of the United States and democratic governments everywhere. McCaffrey said that cocaine production is "exploding," drawing focus on the need for eradication and interdiction. He declared that the entire national life of Colombia is under "brutal attack" by drug cartels, who corrupt democratic institutions and bankroll insurgents. Enhancing Bogota's ability to respond is the way to stop drug supplies, regardless of the number of forces involved, McCaffrey asserted, adding that Colombia has economic, political, social and security challenges that must be resolved if drug trafficking is to be stopped. "The will to cooperate is strong. However, the police, military, judicial and intelligence capacity to act in a meaningful way is weak," he said. Strengthening Colombia's democratic institutions is basic to victory over drugs, he noted. Beers said that while the United States supports the peace process in Colombia as well as current anti-drug programs, it is also necessary to back the strategy as it moves to "new directions to stay on top of a very dynamic narcotics trade." The administration is "currently examining the needs of the Colombian military forces involved in counternarcotics and searching for better ways to steer the appropriate resources toward them," he said. Beers said that active aerial interdiction program "is absolutely necessary. "In Peru, we have seen the dramatic effect such a program can have on the economics of the drug trade, and we would like to recreate the effect in Colombia." He observed that "the Colombian air force is willing, but requires considerable assistance to carry out the mission." Gilman's critique focused largely on that aspect of the program. "Colombia is bigger than Texas and Kansas combined. Its rugged terrain makes operations difficult for law enforcement. Accordingly, air mobility for anti-drug operations is critical. The courageous Colombian National Police ... have estimated the need for 100 helicopters to do the job right. Ninety percent of their anti-drug operations require helicopters. "Today, the CNP has fewer than 25 helicopters operating," said Gilman. "We in Congress have appropriated money to purchase, and directed delivery of, over 30 new, high-performance, long-range, high-altitude helicopters for the CNP to eradicate drugs at the source. To date, the administration has delivered only two." Burton testified that the administration "is finally recognizing the need for a source-country strategy. We have gotten an unbalanced approach, heavy on domestic treatment and prevention and light on interdiction and eradication." He complained that "this administration has promised ... more than 40 new helicopters. Why can't the State Department get these helicopters to General Serrano?" Defense Department official Brian Sheridan cited the success of the air eradication and interdiction program in Peru, telling the lawmakers that the Pentagon is working to upgrade Colombia's A-37 aircraft, "which is the key" to the air program. But the Pentagon also assists Colombia in the river interdiction program, which employs 18 boats designed to stop drug traffic, and which will eventually have a fleet of 45. Ground efforts and intelligence activities also are part of the strategy, he said. The Drug Enforcement Administration's William Ledwith reminded the subcommittee that drug traffickers are criminals and must be treated as such, regardless of anti-drug strategy. "We will continue to work with our partners in Colombia ... but the ultimate test of success will come when we bring to justice the drug lords who control their vast empires of crime and which bring misery to the nations in which they operate. They must be arrested, convicted, and sentenced -- or extradited to the United States to face American justice," he said. Michel Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue was the only subcommittee witness not from the administration or Congress. He declared that political consensus is what Colombia needs most. Only after the government of President Andres Pastrana has succeeded in achieving reconciliation can a strategy be articulated against the drug cartels. U.S. policy, said Shifter, oversimplifies by regarding insurgent forces and drug cartels as the same basic enemy. "Important consequences flow from failing to distinguish between guerrillas ... and drug producers," he pointed out, arguing that the two enemies "cannot be pursued at the same time." "It is crucial, however, that the support provided by the United States and the international community be consistent with and help reinforce the strategic purposes set by the Pastrana government," Shifter warned.