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DATE=8/6/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CONGRESS - COLOMBIA (L ONLY) NUMBER=2-252554 BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The U-S Congress and the White House are at odds over the Administration's policy on combating the flow of drugs from Colombia. Republican lawmakers say the policy is a complete failure. But a top adviser to President Clinton says the situation in the region is evolving, and the White House is adapting. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports from Capitol Hill. TEXT: The atmosphere in the hearing room was tense as White House drug policy advisor Barry McCaffrey faced some of his toughest critics in Congress. Florida Republican Dan Mica wasted no time beginning the assault. He accused the Administration of ignoring for too long the twin dangers posed by Colombian drug traffickers and the guerrilla insurgency challenging the government in Bogota. /// MICA ACT /// Colombia's narco-terrorism now poses the single greatest threat to the stability of our entire hemisphere. ///END ACT/// Mr. McCaffrey responded with a series of charts showing progress in fighting drugs in South America throughout this decade - - particularly in Peru. But he said there are signs some of the gains are being reversed, and the Administration is rethinking its policy. ///McCAFFREY ACT/// Clearly, the situation has changed. Colombia today is not what it was two years ago. It is my own view that it takes us about three years to see an idea and turn it into money and an appropriation. ///END ACT/// A recurring theme throughout the hearing, which was hosted by the House Subcommittee on Drug Policy, was the fate of U-S helicopters authorized by Congress for use by the Colombian national police in fighting narco-traffickers. Most of the military equipment has not been delivered. California Republican Doug Ose (Oh'-see) could barely contain his anger. ///OSE ACT/// I know if there is anybody who can do this, you are the man. I don't understand why we can't get ten stinkin' helicopters (only ten helicopters) to Colombia. I am completely frustrated. (OPT) I got kids dying in my district. I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, I yield back (I won't finish my time.) (END OPT) ///END ACT/// (OPT) There were other types of frustration voiced during the hearing. Maryland Democrat Elijah Cummings spoke of the children he watched grow up in the poor drug-infested neighborhoods of Baltimore. He said more money for drug interdiction alone is not enough to save their lives. He said there must be a greater focus on education and treatment. ///CUMMINGS ACT/// Let me tell you something, if you don't have a demand, you don't have to worry about Colombia. You don't have to worry about it! (END OPT) ///END ACT/// A number of committees in the House of Representatives have focused in recent years on the Colombian problem. It's a top priority of Illinois Congressman Dennis Hastert, who became Speaker of the House in January. Before he assumed the top job, Mr. Hastert led a special congressional panel on drug policy. (Signed) NEB/PW/KL 06-Aug-1999 13:38 PM EDT (06-Aug-1999 1738 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .