Military

DATE=8/7/02

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=LOUIS GOODMAN

NUMBER=3-284

BYLINE=RAY KOUGUELL

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

HOST: Bloodshed has marred the inauguration of Colombia's new president, Alvaro Uribe. A suspected rebel mortar attack rocked Bogota as Mr. Uribe was sworn in Wednesday. Several thunderous explosions killed at least 17 people and injured 69 others. Three of the blasts went off just blocks from the parliament building, while inside Mr. Uribe was taking the oath of office. Explosions also blew out windows in the nearby presidential palace. There's been no immediate claim of responsibility.

The blasts happened despite elaborate security measures in place to protect the new president. Twenty thousand police and soldiers were patrolling city streets and combat helicopters were flying overhead. Mr. Uribe won a landslide election victory in May after pledging to crack down on leftist rebels and illegal right-wing paramilitary groups.

Dr. Louis Goodman is dean of the American University School of International Service in Washington. He told VOA News Now's Ray Kouguell that while Mr. Uribe represents considerable change for Colombia he still faces many difficulties:

MR. GOODMAN: Since winning the election, he has been very bold and forthright in the kinds of policies and actions that he has taken. He has named a cabinet which is composed of people from across the political spectrum. He has the first female Defense Minister in the history of the country. He has six females in the cabinet. He stated clearly after he won the election that he was willing to negotiate with the rebels but under terms that he considered to be realistic. And he is also very committed to raising funds for the government that are needed to confront the security issues that the country has and to professionalize, which is very important, the police and the armed forces, because the non-professional nature of some of the armed forces has been a serious problem for the country in the past.

So he has huge problems that are facing him. I'm of the opinion that his predecessor improved the situation, helped to create a platform that will make it more possible for him to be successful, but it's a huge problem that he has facing him.

MR. KOUGUELL: As you said, he inherits many problems, including a decades-old war with rebels and violence. What are some of his promises to counter that?

MR. GOODMAN: His key promise is to have a serious, focused attempt to counter that. And his approach is not an approach of negotiating peace but of guaranteeing security for the country, which is a different approach than the approach that his predecessor, President Pastrana, took, and finally concluded had not been successful. And the elements of that have to be a solid, properly financed government effort and certainly a solid, highly professionalized security team. And that aspect of Colombia's state apparatus has been improving little by little in recent years and it now needs an even more serious focus.

MR. KOUGUELL: How is the United States expected to help him out?

MR. GOODMAN: He views the United States as an important ally and the United States views Colombia as an important ally. We have been supporting Plan Colombia. In our Congress there has been important discussion of allowing our funds to be used to support military actions that don't necessarily have to do with the drug war, that have to do with insurgency and terrorism. And allowing our support to more broadly back up the Colombian Government's program of trying to create a situation of security in the country will be very important.

What I don't expect to happen is for the United States to send troops to Colombia in large numbers, but to send money and technical advice.

MR. KOUGUELL: What about the crackdown on drugs and drug trafficking under an Uribe presidency?

MR. GOODMAN: I would presume that the crackdown on illegal industries would continue. Any industries that operate beyond the pale of government control undermine the rule of law in Colombia or any other country. And the huge assets that the drug industry has accumulated and puts at the disposal of insurgent forces has been a critical element in the escalation of the war in the past decade and one that has to be reversed, and he has pledged to reverse that.

HOST: Dr. Louis Goodman is dean of the American University School of International Service in Washington. He spoke to VOA News Now's Ray Kouguell.