DATE=5/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232774
TITLE=U-S FORCES COLOMBIA (S)
BYLINE=MIKE BOWMAN
DATELINE=SANTIAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR U-S DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS ELITE U-S TROOPS HAVE
CONDUCTED TRAINING EXERCISES IN COLOMBIA WITH UNITS THAT BATTLE
BOTH DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND LEFTIST GUERRILLAS. V-O-A'S MICHAEL
BOWMAN, TRAVELING WITH U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN ON A
TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA, HAS MORE ON THIS STORY.
TEXT: A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL, WHO SPOKE WITH V-O-A ON THE
CONDITION OF ANONYMITY, SAYS SPECIAL FORCES HAVE TRAINED IN
COLOMBIA FOR MANY YEARS. THE OFFICIAL SAYS ALL ACTIVITY
CONCERNING THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MEMBERS OF U-S
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES THAT DEAL WITH DEFENSE MATTERS.
MONDAY, THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER REPORTED U-S SPECIAL FORCES
WERE OPERATING IN COLOMBIA UNDER LEGISLATION THAT EXEMPTS THEM
FROM U-S POLICY RESTRICTING MILITARY AID, DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT
HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES. THE SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL TELLS V-O-A
THE RESTRICTION ON U-S AID TO COLOMBIA DOES NOT COVER
COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS, AND IS THEREFORE LEGAL.
THE OFFICIAL SAYS U-S MILITARY ACTIVITY IN COLOMBIA HAS AN IMPACT
ON THE COUNTRY'S LEFTIST GUERRILLAS, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THE REBELS
ARE FINANCING THEIR ACTIVITIES BY ENGAGING IN DRUG TRAFFICKING.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MB/CB-T/WTW
26-May-98 1:25 AM EDT (0525 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
