Index

Blue-Ribbon Task Force Issues Report on Colombia's Problems

Council on Foreign Relations Inter-American Dialogue Press Release October 12, 2000 Blue-ribbon Group Highlights Colombia's Massive Problems, Urges Different U.S. Approach Graham-Scowcroft group emphasizes need for U.S. policy to go beyond drug question to reverse Colombia's deterioration, focus on lawlessness, insecurity, and corruption Washington, D.C., October 12, 2000 -- An independent task force, led by Senator Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and former national security adviser General Brent Scowcroft today urged the United States to undertake a major, long-range commitment to Colombia. The task force said that assistance should be directed toward building state authority and the rule of law and, most urgently, toward dealing with Colombia's security crisis. The group warned that if the U.S. role in the Andean country is to be effective it has to go beyond the current, narrow focus on fighting drugs. The task force, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and the Inter-American Dialogue, calls for reframing U.S. policy. The report sets out an alternative strategy that responds to Colombia's lawlessness, insecurity, and corruption and that points to ways of achieving greater peace and security. It stresses efforts to professionalize the country's military and police forces, protecting Colombians against all lawless actors. The strategy should also seek to curtail widespread human rights abuses, strengthen political, judicial, and social reform measures, and restore the economy. While the responsibility for finding a solution to the crises depends on the Colombians, the task force maintains, the United States and the international community can and must help the troubled country on all fronts, and put Colombia even higher on the policy agenda. "Toward Greater Peace and Security in Colombia: Forging a Constructive U.S. Policy" follows President Clinton's visit to Cartegena, Colombia and his signing of a $1.3 billion aid package to support the government of President Andr6s Pastrana. "The challenge now," said Senator Graham, "is to build on our current policy and devise a strategy that better responds to Colombia's condition of lawlessness, and that advances U.S. interests and values. This will call for continued high-level political attention in Washington, and a stronger commitment to significant reforms and progress in Bogota. It will also call for solid support and joint action with our partners both in the hemisphere and in Europe." Some of the policy recommendations of the report include: -- U.S. aid should be directed to apolitical solution to Colombia's internal conflict. -- Colombian armed forces must be professionalized to improve both their effectiveness and commitment to human rights standards. -- Greater efforts must be devoted to the drug problem on all fronts, including curbing demand in the United States. -- The U.S. should support efforts at institutional reform in the social, political, and justice areas to contribute to Colombia's long-term prospects. -- The U.S. should take steps to give Colombian products greater access to markets. -- The U.S. should play a leading role in mobilizing essential international support for Colombia. Senator Bob Graham, former governor from Florida, is now in his third term as senator from that state. General Brent Scowcroft, president of the Forum for International Policy, served as national security adviser under President Bush. Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue is the project director. A distinguished and diverse group of task force members and Colombian advisers participated in this effort. Senator Graham and General Scowcroft are planning a visit to Colombia over the coming months to discuss the task force's work. Task Force Members include: -- Elliott Abrams, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center -- Stanley S. Arkin, Senior Partner, Arkin Schaffer & Kaplan LLP -- Cynthia Arnson, Assistant Director, Latin American Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars -- Bernard Aronson, Chairman and Partner, Acon Investments LLC -- Joyce Chang, Managing Director, International Fixed Income, Chase Securities -- Robert Charles, President Direct Impact LLC -- Mike DeWine, Senator (R-OH), United States Senate -- Jorge I. Dominguez, Clarence Dillon Professor of International Relations and Director, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University -- Mathea Falco, President, Drug Strategies -- J. Samuel Fitch, Professor of Political Science, University of Colorado at Boulder -- Sergio J. Galvis, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell -- Michael Gavin, Director, Economic and Financial Research, Warburg Dillon Read LLP -- Charles A. Gillespie, Jr., Resident Senior Fellow, Forum for International Policy -- Richard N. Haass, Director, Foreign Policy Studies Program, Brookings Institution -- Henry Allen Holmes, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University -- James R. Jones, Senior Counsel, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips -- George Joulwan, Former CINC, U.S. Southern Command -- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Lieutenant Governor, State of Maryland -- Anthony Lake, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University -- Abraham F. Lowenthal, President, Pacific Council on International Policy -- Thomas F. McLarty, Vice Chairman, Kissinger McLarty Associates -- Thomas McNamara, President, Americas Society -- Ambler Moss, Jr., Director, Dante B. Fascell North-South Center, and Professor of International Studies, University of Miami -- Lilia, L. Ramirez, Director, Congressional Relations, Raytheon Corporation -- Ervin J. Rokke, President, Moravian College -- David J. Rothkopf, President, Newmarket Company -- Viron P. Vaky, Senior Fellow, Inter-American Dialogue Alexander F. Watson, Vice President and Executive Director, Latin American and Caribbean Division, The Nature Conservancy The report is available on the web sites of the Council on Foreign Relations (www.cfr.org) and the Inter-American Dialogue (www.thedialogue.org). A Spanish version will also be available on the Dialogue's web site.