Some Democrats Wary of Bush's Colombia Aid Plan

By REUTERS

March 19, 2002

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration will ask Congress for power to help Colombia fight its bloody guerrilla war as well as its illegal drug trade, but some Democrats said on Tuesday they feared the White House may only enlarge a failed policy.

With Colombia descending into worsening violence, President Bush will seek authority to use U.S. aid to help Bogota fight terrorism -- in this case, rebel insurgents -- as well the drug trade that has fueled four decades of violence and supplies much of the cocaine in the United States.

Congressional sources said the plan also will include measures to help Colombia's police stem frequent kidnappings and to establish a police presence in rural areas that have been wracked by violence between guerrillas and paramilitary groups that also are blamed for brutality and drug-running.

The aides said the plan also will call for accelerating use of $98 million to protect an oil pipeline near Colombia's northern border that was closed most of last year by guerrilla attacks. Bush originally asked for that money to be used next fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1.

The plan would "essentially open the door to any kind of activity that could be described as countering a threat to Colombia's security,'' a congressional aide said on condition of anonymity.

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