DATE=6/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE / COLOMBIA (L)
NUMBER=2-263946
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A package of more than one-billion dollars in 
anti-drug aid for Colombia has cleared its final 
hurdles in the U-S Congress.  The House and Senate 
approved the measure (Thursday and Friday), sending it 
on to the president, who has been waiting to sign it 
into law.  V-O-A's David Swan has details.

TEXT:  The plan was held up for much of the year by 
various procedural issues and questions about its 
cost.  Opponents also fear it will drag the United 
States into Colombia's long war against leftist 
guerrillas -- which, the critics charge, could become 
a Vietnam-style defeat.

However, most lawmakers feel they have no alternative 
but to help Colombia battle the cocaine and heroin 
trade.  Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle argues the 
situation is too grave to ignore, even though he 
shares the concern about a military quagmire. 

                  /// DASCHLE ACT ///

      I think that is a possibility and we have to be 
      concerned about it.  But I also don't think we 
      have any choice here.  We will lose Colombia.  
      It will be gone if we don't do something soon.  
      We've got to act. We've got to commit resources.  
      We've got to show leadership.

                  /// END ACT ///

Much of the one-point-three-billion dollars will be 
used to train and equip special anti-drug battalions, 
which will operate in guerrilla-controlled regions.  
The package contains 60 helicopters, including some of 
the advanced "Blackhawk" models the Colombian armed 
forces and the Clinton administration sought.  The 
measure also provides for human-rights programs, in 
Colombia, Bolivia and other nearby states.

The funds are attached to a larger spending bill, 
which will also help pay for the U-S peacekeeping 
troops in (Yugoslavia's) Kosovo (province).  Congress 
may still try to impose limits or timetables on that 
operation.  But for now the money is on the way, for 
both the troops in the Balkans and the Colombian drug 
war.   (Signed)

NEB/DS/WTW



30-Jun-2000 14:04 PM EDT (30-Jun-2000 1804 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.