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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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