DATE=2/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS-COLOMBIA  (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259180
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  The Clinton Administration is waging an all-
out campaign for congressional approval of one-point-
six billion dollars in aid for Colombia.  The money 
will be used to combat narco-trafficking.  V-O-A's 
Paula Wolfson reports, overall, Congress appears to be 
supportive.


TEXT:   The President's Drug Policy Director arrived 
on Capitol Hill armed with charts and fresh 
statistics.  Barry McCaffrey told the House 
Subcommittee on Drug Policy that the numbers tell the 
story.

            /// FIRST MCCAFFREY ACT ///

      Cocaine production in Colombia has gone up 140 
      percent in a little less than four years.

            /// END ACT ///

Point by point, he made the administration's case for 
an enhanced anti-drug effort.  He said there have been 
dramatic reductions in coca production in Bolivia and 
Peru, but the alliance of drug producers and leftist 
guerrilla forces in Colombia poses an ever-growing 
threat.

            /// SECOND MCCAFFREY ACT 
///
      They have more machine guns than the Colombian 
      infantry battalions have. They have planes and 
      helicopters and wire-tap equipment. And they are 
      assassinating mayors and intimidating 
      journalists and corrupting public officials

            /// END ACT ///

Most of the administration's aid request will buy 
information technology and military equipment for the 
Colombian armed forces.  A few members of the House 
panel wondered aloud about the danger of such U-S 
involvement.

Hawaii Democrat Patsy Mink said the United States must 
move cautiously.

            /// MINK ACT ///

      We must consider the grave consequences to the 
      United States of the introduction of increased 
      numbers of U-S service personnel who may become 
      the next casualties in the Colombian civil 
      unrest. Americans have a long-standing 
      skepticism about intervention in other 
      countries' civil wars.

            /// END ACT ///

Indiana Republican Dan Burton took a different view.

            /// BURTON ACT ///
      The war in Colombia is our war as well as the 
      Colombians'. Every year, 14-thousand Americans 
      die from drugs and drug-related violence.  And 
      those drugs are coming mainly from Colombia.

            /// END ACT ///

Republican leaders in Congress have come out in 
support of the one-point-six billion-dollar aid 
package.  But they say the administration waited too 
long, and was forced to act by the legislature.

            /// REST OPT ///

The White House Drug Policy Director responded to the 
criticism by urging lawmakers to put politics aside.

            /// THIRD MCCAFFREY ACT ///

      I am worried that we not get involved in anemic 
      political theatre over who lost Colombia.  
      Nobody lost Colombia, and we are not going to 
      save it.  Thirty-six-million Colombians are.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. McCaffrey plans to go to Colombia next week for a 
first hand look at the situation.  He will hold many 
more meetings with members of Congress when he 
returns.  (Signed)

NEB/PW/gm



15-Feb-2000 13:08 PM EDT (15-Feb-2000 1808 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.