A War Colombia Must Not Lose

In October 1998, a time when drug dealers, right-wing paramilitary groups and left-wing guerrillas were tearing his country apart, Colombian President Andres Pastrana flew to Washington to meet with President Clinton and key members of Congress. He made his case for desperately needed financial, military and moral support. The United States had a stake in the crisis--90% of the cocaine that reaches America comes from Colombia--so Pastrana’s plan found favor. What was needed was money.

Pastrana’s Plan Colombia, a comprehensive program, was to be funded by Colombia at $4 billion, European countries at $2 billion and the United States at $1.3 billion. It was designed to support counter-narcotics activities and other initiatives to shore up the embattled country economically, strengthen its democratic institutions and spur economic development.

To date, only the United States has delivered on its pledge of support. The bulk of the U.S. assistance will purchase military equipment, mostly combat helicopters. Under the commitment already approved in Congress and signed by Clinton, the Colombian army and police would do the fighting and the United States would provide the equipment and the training. But no U.S. ground troops or combat aircraft, including helicopters, would take part. The dark debacles of U.S. participation in the Central American wars of the 1970s make that clear.

Under the law adopted by Congress earlier this year, there is a cap of 500 U.S. trainers in Colombia at any one time, mainly training Colombian troops in counter-narcotics operations. So far the number has not exceeded 300, and it should go no higher. Nor should U.S. soldiers take part in any military actions.

Military equipment and training alone cannot do the job, however. The court system needs to be strengthened; the army and the police must be taught to respect human rights; farmers need alternative crops and other incentives to forsake the dangerous game of producing opium and coca.

The European Union must deliver a good share of the money needed to bolster the government’s institutions. The chemicals used to manufacture drugs in Colombia are imported, and that makes for a two-way street.

According to Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (R-N.Y.), “up to one-third of the cocaine from Colombia is now going to Europe.” So far, Spain has pledged $100 million and Norway $20 million. The time has come for all drug-affected countries, whether producers or purchasers, to step up to meet the crisis. No country is safe from this plague. Some consume the drug, others profit from it, all to their detriment. The Pastrana government cannot win this war without help. Colombia must not be lost to the drug lords.