02 December 1998
(Increased aid not for fighting guerrillas) (540) By Eric Green USIA Staff Writer WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials say that an increase in aid to Colombia will be used for the counter-narcotics fight in that country, not for assistance to counter-guerrilla operations. In separate briefings December 1, spokesmen from the State and Defense Departments refuted suggestions that the increased aid could be used to help Colombia's military fight anti-government rebels. State Department spokesman James Rubin emphasized that U.S. aid is "provided to combat narcotics production and trafficking and may be used to counter all those who are actively involved in the drug trade. When personnel and equipment are attacked during counter-drug operations, whether by guerrillas, paramilitary or narcos, they will return fire in self-defense. The U.S. government does not provide assistance for any counter-guerrilla operations." Rubin said the funding increase is needed because 80 percent of the cocaine used in the United States is grown, processed or transported through Colombia. More than half of the heroin used in the eastern part of the United States comes from Colombia, he noted. Rubin said the current U.S. counter-narcotics program, which supports eradication of illicit coca and opium poppy, alternative development, interdiction, and judicial and legal cooperation, will be expanded. Meanwhile, Pentagon deputy spokesman Mike Doubleday said the United States has "no intention of getting involved in any kind of counter-insurrection activities" in Colombia. "Our focus is on the counter-drug activities. That's what we've done in the past, that's what we plan to do in the future, and we have no interest in any kind of other operations." The primary funding for the insurrection that is going on in Colombia, he said, "is based on drug money, extortion and kidnapping. But our focus is on the counter-drug part of that situation ... primarily with law enforcement agencies and with those military units that have been given the mission of counter-drug activities. We are not involved in counter-insurrection activities." Doubleday said the United States sees Colombia as a country that provides a significant portion of the drugs that flow into the United States, "and as such our effort is focused on controlling that to the extent that we can through this relationship we have with primarily the law enforcement portions of the Colombian government, but to some extent also with the military in Colombia." About 80 percent of U.S. training in Colombia "is focused on law enforcement agencies in Colombia, which are assigned the responsibility of this counter-drug activity that goes on down there," Doubleday said. "Our training and activities with regard to military units and personnel are for those units that are designated with a mission for this counter-drug activity." The officials made their comments after it was reported that U.S. aid to Colombia will total $289 million in 1999, nearly triple previous levels. The aid will come mostly in the form of weapons, helicopters and surveillance planes, designed for use against drug-crop growers and drug traffickers.