Discredited report cited on Colombia’s president

Re “Newsman at Risk in Colombia Gets Help,” Oct. 2

It is unfortunate that in telling the frightening story of Daniel Coronel, The Times resurrects previously discredited allegations against Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Coronel is, as the article rightly points out, one of Colombia’s corps of courageous journalists. But to illustrate the dangers Coronel faces, The Times cited a 1991 report by a “U.S. intelligence official” tying Uribe to narcotics.

I recall that report clearly. As deputy assistant secretary of State at the time, I was struck by how error-filled it was and asked the U.S. Embassy in Bogota to follow up. The embassy’s assessment, agreed to by all Bogota-based U.S. agencies, forcefully contradicted the earlier report and credited Uribe with being one politician strongly opposing narcotics traffickers. That assessment was declassified in 2004. The Times should have considered a fairer view of Uribe’s past and his present record of fighting drugs and violence.

PHILLIP MCLEAN

Senior Associate Center for

Strategic and International Studies

Washington